A very attractive vision is the improvement of brain efficiency through the use of appropriate supplementation. For this purpose, adaptogenic herbs used in traditional Far East medicine, which also have nootropic properties, are becoming increasingly popular. The herb that’s extremely effective on the functioning of the nervous system is Bacopa Monnieri, mainly due to its neurogenesis-stimulating properties.
Bacopa Monnieri - basic information
Researchers decided to check the effects of Bacopa supplementation (Brahmi) on cognitive abilities on a group of people who have to maintain them at a high level - on medical students.
Bacopa Monnieri - clinical study
60 healthy people who did not take any drugs or medicine influencing the functioning of the nervous system were selected for a double-blind study. They were randomly assigned to a group receiving 150 mg of Bacopa Monnieri or a placebo twice a day, receiving identical-looking tablets that didn’t have any function. Before starting the test, a blood sample was taken from the participants to determine the basic parameters and neuropsychological tests were carried out.
The study lasted 45 days, with control every 15 days. Finally, re-tests were carried out to compare the results. The tests consisted, among other things, in repeating the heard sequence of digits in the same or reverse order, on finding a pair of words in the memory for the heard word, based on the words that they were previously presented and asked to memorise, or clicking the appropriate key as soon as possible after displaying the proper image on the monitor, determining the reaction time.
Results of study
The results of the experiment showed an improvement in memory, recording a greater ability to absorb new information, and then to recall and process it in a short time. The effects are interesting because the trial was relatively short and low doses of extract were used. Usually, doses exceeding 300 mg per day are used, and some supplements contain bigger amounts even in a single capsule. This indicates that regular use of the Bacopa Monnieri extract can be a procedure that effectively supports cognitive functions and learning abilities.
