Water hyssop commonly called brahmi in India is an ancient herb that has been used for more than 3000 years. Brahmi plants are called neerbrahmi in Tamil and it’s botanical name is Bacopa Monnieri. Bacopa extract is known for it’s amazing use in increasing memory and for combating stress effectively.
Every part of this plant is used as a medicine and though I prefer to use fresh herbs all the time, those of you who don’t get brahmi plant easily, you can make use of brahmi powder that is easily available everywhere. Brahmi oil made with brahmi leaves is very very effective in promoting hair growth and in India, the oil is quite popular.
Brahmi Plant:
Brahmi grows all over India and it can be easily found near river beds. I have been wanting to grow brahmi in my garden for a long time, but somehow or the other I kept postponing it. Last week a very kind, local herbalist gave me a bunch of seedlings for planting, I was so very happy!
Since the rains have started, I am waiting and hoping that the brahmi plants will grow fast. Brahmi produces small white flowers, since my brahmi plants are very young, they didn’t have any flowers to photograph. I will update the post with pictures of brahmi flowers when they start flowering.
Brahmi & Stress:
Almost all of us including children live in a constant state of stress. Especially the stress that children go through during examination is terrible and needless to say, we adults always and forever live in a state of constant stress. I know it will be next to impossible to live a life free of stress, but we can learn to deal with it and certain herbs make it easier. Brahmi occupies a very important place in keeping us stress free.
Using brahmi externally as an oil and internally in the form of tea or capsules will help us pass through rough times in life without undue anxiety and depression. Try to make use of this herb often and combat stress effectively. Many confuse brahmi with Indian pennywort | gotukala (vallarai in Tamil and it’s botanical name is Centella Asiatica). Though vallarai is also very good in improving the brain function, they both are different plants and have their own distinctive qualities….
5 Top Benefits & Uses Of Brahmi For Hair, Skin & Health:
1. Brahmi For Hair Growth:
Brahmi oil when applied on the hair regularly will help in promoting hair growth. It treats all the problems of the hair effectively. Brahmi oil prevents split ends if applied till the hair end, prevents dandruff if massaged into the scalp regularly and strengthen the hair roots. You can either buy brahmi oil from the shops or make your own.
As usual I prefer to make my own from scratch and I will be posting brahmi oil soon. Brahmi oil can also be used to reduce stress when used externally. If you add a few drops of this brahmi oil in the bath before going to bed, it will help you sleep better. Brahmi has a positive effect on our skin tone, Since brahmi is rich in antioxidants, it removes the toxins from the body thus it helps improve the skin complexion.
2. Brahmi For Memory:
Like vallarai plant, brahmi also can be used for enhancing memory. Especially for children who have trouble memorizing, brahmi powder will come to the rescue very effectively. There was a study conducted on 76 adults on the affect of brahmi on human memory. Half the people in the group were given brahmi capsules and the other half were not (placebo group).
They were tested at 8 weeks and 3 months. After three months the participants were asked to discontinue the tablets and then they were tested again after 6 weeks of stopping the medicine. The results showed no difference in long term memory or short term memory acquired before conducting the experiment but there was a significant variation with the brahmi group in retaining new information compared to the placebo group.
The scientists have concluded that brahmi extract has got significant effect on the hippocampus part of the brain which is responsible for memory. Brahmi will greatly benefit kids with attention deficient disorder and will help kids learn new things faster. Brahmi can be safely given even to infants without any side effects.
3. Brahmi For Brain:
Brahmi protects the brain cells. It prevents and treats many diseases that are related to brain. For instance, scientists are now considering brahmi for treating Parkinson disease which affects the brain. It is also being researched as a potential medicine for patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s diseases which results in rapid degeneration of brain cells.
One of our family friends mother suffered during her old age till her death because of Alzheimer disease. She was an amazingly good cook and it was heart breaking to see her forget everything she loved and was good at. I used to pray to god that they find a complete cure for brain degenerative diseases fast and hopefully herbs like brahmi will be the answer that scientists are looking for…
4. Brahmi For Anxiety, Depression & Sleep:
Brahmi has been used for thousands of years for treating anxiety and depression. When consumed internally, it is said to increase the serotonin levels in the brain which is the main reason for a calm mind. You can either take brahmi in tablet form which is cheaply and easily available in the markets or try brahmi tea.
To make brahmi tea, collect the leaves and sun dry them till crisp and store. To make the tea, boil 1tsp of dried brahmi leaves in 1/2 cup of water, strain and sweeten with honey. If you don’t want to go to all the trouble of collecting fresh leaves, drying and making the tea, try dry brahmi leaves that are readily available in the markets.
Especially if you are going through a very stressful period of time, try drinking brahmi tea regularly, it will greatly help. In India, we get tulsi-brahmi tea combination, give it a try….
5. Brahmi Side Effects:
Brahmi when taken internally can cause stomach discomfort like cramping, nausea and boating if had in empty stomach so try having brahmi after food. Brahmi can be safely used during pregnancy but I would suggest using it only after consulting an ayurvedic physician.
And don’t overconsume brahmi, if you consume too much of brahmi at one time, it may cause stomach discomfort, so don’t go above the suggested dosage of 250 mg to 350 mg. Though brahmi is said to increase the serotonin levels, taking brahmi does not cause any discomfort by inducing sleep while driving. In short, brahmi is a safe herb to consume but don’t consume it in large doses…..
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Ramya can you also post the recipe of bhrami ghee. Ekta. Bless.
I was actually thinking of doing it, Ekta…:)
From where we can buy these plants ?
You can find brahmi plant in large nurseries, many nurseries now stock herbs too…
YOU WILL GET IN THE AYURVEDIC MEDICAL SHOPS…(AS GREEN PLANTS)
Hi Ramya, is this plant really helpful for destressing?
Brahmi is really helpful in reducing stress..
when you dry brahmi leaves..it should be shade dried..donot expose it to direct sunlight
I have two of these wonderful plants. My memory has been improved greatly. They do taste pretty awful though. I take 3 10 cm sprigs twice a day and chew on them.
After reading your comment I'm a bit confused as I have been told only to use about 4 leaves a day, could you please tell me what the correct amount is ?
Hi Suzanna, first of all I am very sorry for the late reply. The recommended daily dosage is around 2 to 3 grams of either the powder or the leaves…
Dear Ramya When you say 2-3 grams how many spoonfuls is it? Please clarify clearly.Also is it safe to buy this brahmi powder in nattu marundhu kadai. Adulteration risis? Any recommended nattu marundhu shop in Madras u can share the name of the shop.
Can brahmi and ashwaganda taken along with honey
You can take brahmi and ashwagandha with honey….
What is the best way of taking Dried Brahmi Powder ?Is it ok to ok put some in Lentils while cooking or some other way ?
I would suggest mixing brahmi powder with pure honey for consumption….
Hello, a ayurvedic doctor suggested me brahmi plus tablet (Dosage: 1 every night) for depression! Does it heal or useful for depression & stress also ??
Yes, brahmi is very useful for treating both depression and for reducing stress…
You mentioned it is safe during pregnancy. Is it nourishing and helpful for the pregnancy?I have found it helps me sleep well and I am trying to conceive.
It is generally a safe herb to be taken for short duration's during pregnancy. I would suggest not taking it for longer duration's and that too please don't over dose on it…
Where can I get this oil?
You can easily make brahmi oil yourself, there is a recipe for it in the blog please check it out…
Water or honey which one is preferred?And should we have it instantly after mix or wait for some hours?Explain with both water and honey mama
For making brahmi tea: Boil 1/2 tsp of dried brahmi leaves in water till the color changes, switch off, strain and then add honey to taste. Best to have this brahmi tea fresh….
Does brahmi cause more sleepiness in teens
Brahmi helps a person relax so it helps one get a restful sleep at night thus preventing sleepiness and lethargy during the day. But if it causes undue sleepiness during the day consult an ayurvedic physician for the correct dosage…
Hello, I bought brahmi oil for oral intake, it says 3-6 drops daily but I could not find any info on the internet about oral consumption of oil. Is it safe to take it like this..Thank you for yor answer
Can you please tell me whether it is brahmi oil or brahmi extract?
Is Brahmi helpful in curing anxiety disorder?
Yes Brahmi is very helpful for anxiety disorder…
Hello I was given a Brahmi plant, would you be able to tell me how much I can take each day?Thank you
Usually 2 to 3 grams of the dried brahmi leaves or the powder is the daily recommended dosage…
Hello Rama,I stay in Delhi and am concerned about purity level of Brahmi which is available in market.I want to use it for my three year old daughter.Can you please guide from where to buy and how to use it for toddlers.
Hi I would suggest buying brahmi from reputed ISO companies. One best way to do it is going through the rating and comments of other people in different brahmi powders brands available in online shops like amazon, usually it is correct. Regarding dosage, I would suggest using the dosage given in the bottle you are buying as a guide line but start with low dosage and once it is well tolerated you can increase it slowly….
I bought brahmi powder three years before . Do you think still it is good to use ? my daughter has anxity or mental illness? how can I help her using home remedies ? she is 34 years old. please help me.thanks
I would suggest discarding and buying a new pack of brahmi powder. Brahmi, gotu kola and ashwagandha are the three herbs that greatly helps with anxiety. I would suggest brahmi tea for her…
Mam… wat s it in tamil… wer can I get it at Madurai… tamil name solunga…
Brahmi is called neer brahmi in Tamil. Unfortunately we don't get brahmi plants easily in regular nurseries, look out for brahmi in nurseries that sell herbs…
Hi Akka , Please let me know the recipe of Brahmii oil . I got brahmi from a herbal shop and it has grown nicely . Can I pluck leaves alone so that it grows next time
You can pluck the brahmi leaves for making the hair oil, it will grow back fast, you can find the recipe for brahmi oil here: brahmi oil
Can u tell me how to treat Parkinson's disease with brahmi
Brahmi has neuroprotective properties which will greatly help people suffering from Parkinson's disease. Bacopa monnieri can be taken in the form of tea daily by people suffering from Parkinson's disease…
can i give brahmi for 3 year 6 month children, and can u tell how i uses that for my child & also quntity
Can we make any fresh recipe with fresh vallarai leaves?Thanks in anticipation.
Here is a recipe for making vallarai tea with fresh leaves: vallarai tea
Hello Ramya, I have been suffering from anxiety disorder and have been under treatment for 3 months but coz of friends suggestions I left that I may get addicted. After that I was ok and doing good. But at sometimes it feels very stressed n makes me think a lot and worry. So can I seek brahmi, if so how long I have to take, please suggest.
Brahmi can be very helpful in easing the anxiety. You can also find the research that proves it here. I would suggest taking brahmi but don't go beyond 2 to 3 grams per day and take it after food. You can take it for 8 to 12 weeks. But if planning on taking it for longer duration, I would suggest consulting an ayurvedic physician…
Mam, can we use vallarai leaves instead of neer vallarai for hair oil preparation. Please kindly suggest me how to make good hair oil for my son who is going abroad as d water used for bath would make his hair damage. Please mam..
Dear Mam, I would suggest using only brahmi for making this oil. T would suggest curry leaf hair oil from the blog for sending it along with your son. The oil has good shelf life and it will keep his hair healthy and strong..
Hai Dr my son has ASD with language delay, iam giving him brahmi with honey twice a day but someone told can't consume brahmi more than 10 days it give side effects especially for Autistic kids is that true.
Mam iam giving brahmi 1tsp with honey twice a day to my kidoo who has ADHD , but someone told me its not good to give brahmi more than ten days is that true plz give reply. thanks
Brahmi if given in the correct dosage can be given safely given for up to 12 weeks. Brahmi produces the best results if given for 8 to 12 weeks and there is even a research that proves it, you can read it here
Dr, is there any problems for using brahmi while taking allopathic antidepressant medicine?
You should be cautious while taking brahmi and anti depressant together. I would suggest doing it under medical supervision…
Dr is it useful for bipolar disorder syndrome?
Hello Rajasri, I am not a doctor 🙂 brahmi will be very useful for bipolar disorder…
Can brahmi be taken along with allopathy medicines given for bipolar disorder ? Can it be taken in capsule form ? It is available in US as capsules
Yes brahmi can be taken for bipolar disorder.It can be taken either as a tea or in the form of capsules like you mentioned. But I would kindly suggest consulting an ayurvedic physician for the precise dosage…
Hi Ramya,I live in Canada. I have history of chronic anxiety disorder and depression. Last year I consulted Aurvedic physician on phone(Planet Ayurveda, in Chandigarh)and he prescribed me to take Brahmi, Ashawgandha, Jatamansi etc…I took this for almost 3 months and then stopped it due to some reason. It really helped me a lot to fight with anxiety disorder by increasing serotonin level, and significantly improved my mental health. After one year, I had to start it again because symptoms came back. For first 4 weeks week, I was taking this medicine in the morning after breakfast and then later on I started taking it empty stomach, before breakfast. Due to this, I got headache, nausea, drowsiness, leg pain and very bad anxiety. Now even if I take it after meal side effect problem does not go away. I have stopped this medicine now as it is worsening my health conditions. Can you please advise me what should I do. I am very upset and disappointed with these side effects. I want to start it again but don't know how. Please help.Thanks,Pal Singh
Mam,Can I give brahmi to my 1yr old daughter.@ What dose is it safe for her.which is the best solvent that I can use to extract the ingredients from fresh brahmi leaves.Thanks in advance for your expert advice.
You can give brahmi for 1 year old. The water decoction is the best, boil the leaves in water till it reduces(5 grams for a cup of water) and give about 7 to 8 drops. You can give it for a month or two at a time. If planning to give for long duration's, I would kindly suggest consulting an ayurvedic physician….
HI ITS AQEEL AHMAD I AM CONFUSED THAT WHICH LEAF IS OF BRAHMI EITHER PEACOKE FEATHER SHAPE OR ALMOND SHAPE
Brahmi leaves (bacopa monnieri)are tiny and almond shaped as shown in the picture…
is it ok to use brahmi by just putting fresh leaves to a glass of water then drink it together with the leaves. if i chew it…. the taste is awful
is it ok to use brahmi by just putting fresh leaves to a glass of water then drink it together with the leaves. if i chew it…. the taste is awful
is it ok to use brahmi by just putting fresh leaves to a glass of water then drink it together with the leaves. if i chew it…. the taste is awful
is it ok to put the brahmi in a glass of water and drink it together with the water?coz its taste awful if i chew it
If you don't like the fresh leaves, dry the brahmi leaves till there is no moisture left and then store. To make the tea, steep the leaves in hot water and add honey to sweeten…:)
How Brahmi plant will look like? I have in my home similar to that of what you have shown. What's the taste of it?
Brahmi leaves like shown in the picture is small and is almond shaped…
Can i use patanjali brahmi sharbat
Usually patanjali products are good, you can take patanjali brahmi sharbat…
How is the powder made pls
To make brahmi powder at home, collect fresh brahmi leaves. Spread on a plate and shade dry till crisp, powder, sieve and store in an airtight bottle.
Hi can Brahmin be given to a child who had seizures and what should be the correct way to give her
Brahmi can be given for a child who had seizures, usually brahmi ghirta (brahmi ghee) is prescribed. But I would kindly suggest taking it after consulting an ayurvedic physician to determine the correct dosage according to the age and body type…
Mam my 14 months old is hyperactive can i give him brahmi. If yes in what form and the dosage
Brahmi can be taken in low dosages for infants, usually brahmi is suggested in the form of brahmi ghirtham (brahmi ghee which is made with brahmi juice, ghee, thirikadugam and other herbs)for infants. But it is best to give very young kids brahmi only after consulting an ayurvedic physician to determine the correct dosage and duration…
Is brahmi and vallarai are same
Vallarai and brahmi are not same. The botanical name of vallarai is Centella Asiatica and brahmi's is Bacopa Monnieri, we call brahmi "Neer Brahmi" in Tamil…
I'm 2 weeks on brahmi and noticed that it causes bigger permanent memory loss than before. In those 2 weeks I forgot at least 3 important things which caused me problems. I'm writing in the middle of the night and few mins ago just closed a garden tap which was running for 2 days. I heard it running at night when everything is quiet around. I'm actually shocked.
I am surprised because usually brahmi helps retain memory….
Hi Mam. I recently bought medha kwath of patanjali. It contains some other herbs in addition to brahmi. I consumed it in morning empty stomach before breakfast by making the kwath as the method indicated in the labels. I think i might have taken some overdose. Though, i feel some good effect on mind, but surprisingly that day and the day following, i felt some uneasyness in mood, change in appetite , uncomfortableness in stomach and sleepiness also. I am not sure why it caused such results. Whether i might have taken overdose(leading to indigestion) or the herbs in it might be contaminated with pollutants. Please help. I have a good faith in Ayurveda.
Patanjali is a good company and the products are usually good. But in my personal experience, I find it best to take half the suggested dosage of any herbal product first to help our body adjust to the dosage and then gradually increase it over the weeks to the suggested dosage that way we will have minimal side effects. I would suggest decreasing the dosage and if you still feel the symptoms you mentioned, please stop taking it and take it only after you consult an ayurvedic physician…
Hello Mam is buying Brahmi extract capsules is good or taking brahmi leaves directly is Good?
Hi Brahmi leaves have got their name from brahma , and it is in the shape of cerebellum, the pic indicated is wrong…it is a leaf from a single stem.
Hi vishnavi, what you are referring to is gotu kola also called as brahmi | vallarai (you can read about it in the blog). This plant is called neer brahmi in Tamil. Since both are referred to as brahmi, it leads to a lot of confusion…..
I have severe anxiety in social places(agoraphobia) and while travelling due to which my pulse rate increases and i feel nauseous.I took clonazepam and some other antidepressants for some time but stopped taking them as they are habit forming and have many side effects so i stopped taking them.Can brahmi be helpful for me.I also read somewhere that brahmi increases thyroid hormone is that true ?
Brahmi will help reduce anxiety attacks and I would suggest taking it. In an animal study very high doses of brahmi increased the T4 thyroid hormone while T3 remain unchanged but the dosage was very high. However I couldn't find any research proving this effect in humans…
Hii how to use for brahmi in hair growth
Hii
Hi Madam .. How to use Patanjali Brahmi Sharbat for adults( I mean once or twice a day& qty..)
How can I get barhmi here in Nigeria, my son is suffering from continuous convlusion . can barhmi cure convulsion final in someone's body? Can the capsule do the same?
Hii mam!!!… I have a brain problem called 'Epilepsy'. I heard that Brahmi helps to reduce seizures. Can you please say where can I get this Brahmi plant to grow in my garden?…
Hii mam!!!… I have a health issue called 'Epilepsy'. I heard that Brahmi helps to reduce the seizures and also controls this problem. So can you please say where this Brahmi plant is available?. Because I want to grow this in my garden. Thanks in advance!!!….
Hiii mam
I have a plant that looks like neer brahmi but has yellow flowers, is it the same variety or a different one?
Dear RamyaIt seems Brahmi leaves can also be used fresh. How? Boiled as tea? How many leaves, how much water, how long to boil? Can the leaves be eaten, too, boiled and/or fresh?
Hello mam, I guess its available as a "keerai" in road side shops, am not sure.How can I send u the pic to confirm?Moreover is "vallarai keerai" too used as brain tonic?
Hi ..i am in 10th week of 1st pregnancy… can i have oly fresh brahmi leaves or along with that any like water,jeera,sugar ? If yes daily how many leaves and at what time? N for how long.. plz rply me thank you
Hi ..i am in 10th week of 1st pregnancy… can i have oly fresh brahmi leaves or along with that any like water,jeera,sugar ? If yes daily how many leaves and at what time? N for how long.. plz rply me thank you
Does these leaves benefit in epilepsy.
Does these leaves benefit in epilepsy.
Your leaf photo is incorrect. It isnt Bramhi leaf
Dear Ramya Venkateswaren, Myself Ramesh Samydurai from Salem past 3 years I'm struggling my health issue slow digestion process and I consultant with gastrology specialist doctor and I taken all test including endoscopic also doctor said nothing to you only depression I mean chemical imbalance but I took medicine also 1 year it's not cure fully.. Please mam suggest me what I have to do.. Then I seen YouTube videos for this all shown ayurveda and siddha medicine only for this like aswakandha, neer brambii… Etc c….
Whether boiled concentrate of root, leaves of Brahmi can be used as medicine.?
Hi Ramya,Please share steps to make Brahmi hair oil with fresh leaves.I tried making it in coconut oil but it makes splaterring noise when heating.Please help.
Hi, my fren suffering frm Alzheimers, should i givd her this advice to use brahmi!
Can we take brahmi tablets regularly or we have to stop its consumption after a certain period of time??
Madambrahmi can cure hearing loss. If So, how can I use it. I am suffering hearing problem in both ears.Reply