Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)

Common names: Brahmi, Water Hyssop, Indian Pennywort, Memory Herb

Taxonomic name: Bacopa monnieri

Family: Plantaginaceae

Uses: Memory improvement, anti-inflammatory, stimulant

Area of origin: Across the northern hemisphere

Warnings:

Can cause nausea and gastrointestinal upset

Brahmi is a sprawling herb that is home in the wet, even brackish, conditions of marshes throughout Asia.

It is one of the Ayurvedic herbs that are used to improve one’s memory and may even be useful in degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Being quite bitter, it helps digestion and increases energy through stimulating the liver and gall bladder.

Improving memory as well as increasing energy and general well being marks Brahmi as a herb that can help anxiety as well.

Description

Brahmi is a sprawling, almost succulent herb with thick leaves that are an elongated oval in shape. They arranged opposite my on the stems. It has small, white flowers that have five petals.