Herb of Grace, Brahmi, Smooth Water Hyssop

Bacopa monnieri

Physical Characteristics

Bacopa monnieri is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Distribution

Found through most of the tropics.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves Edible Uses: Edible portion: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable. The leaves can be eaten raw in mixed salads, or cooked as a vegetable, added to soups or pickled[ 301 ]. The flowers are eaten in times of food shortage.

Medicinal Uses

Antiasthmatic Antitussive Aperient Cancer Cardiac Diuretic Epilepsy Hypotensive Infertility Nervine Sedative Skin Tonic Vasoconstrictor Brahmi is a very important Ayurvedic herb, being particularly valued for its beneficial effect upon the nervous system. Its main active substances are steroidal saponins, including bacosides[ 254 ]. The whole plant is used - roots, stems and leaves[ 304 ]. It is cardiac, nervine tonic, sedative and vasoconstrictor[ 304 ]. The leaves and stalks are aperient and diuretic[ 304 ]. An alcohol extract of the whole plant has been shown to have anticancer activity against Walker carcinoma[ 304 ]. An alcohol extract of plant is a muscle relaxant and cardiovascular relaxant[ 348 ]. Research in India suggests that brahmi improves mental function, memory and concentration, and also reduces learning time[ 254 ]. The plant contains the alkaloid brahmine, which has been shown to raise blood pressure when administered in therapeutic dosage, but to be hypotensive when given in very strong dosage[ 348 ]. A tranquilizing saponin that resembles reserpine is also present[ 348 ]. The plant is used principally in the treatment of a range of nervous system disorders including neuralgia, hysteria, epilepsy, insanity, neurasthenia, aphonia and hoarseness[ 254 , 304 ]. The plant is also taken internally in a number of other conditions including indigestion, ulcers, wind, constipation, asthma, bronchitis and infertility[ 254 ]. A poultice made of the boiled plant is applied to the chests of children in the treatment of acute bronchitis and other coughs[ 304 ]. A juice made from the plant is applied as a wash on burns[ 272 ].

Known Hazards

The most commonly reported adverse side effects of Bacopa monnieri in humans are nausea, increased intestinal motility, and gastrointestinal upset.