Figuring out the best Bacopa Monnieri dosage can be challenging.
This ancient herbal remedy has been used as a folk medicine for countless centuries, but was not studied as modern cognitive enhancement supplement until recently.
At low doses, it can provide very light relief for pain and stress. At high Bacopa Monnieri doses, significant side effects do kick in. The “sweet spot” dose for optimum effects and no side effects is what most people are looking for, but there is not a lot of literature to explore on the topic.
Here is a summary of what is known about Bacopa Monnieri, along with some general guidelines of how to safely consume it. We’ll also offer a few safe nootropic alternatives with similar effects and more of a scientific record for comparison.



- Increases communication between neurons
- Supports memory, focus & cognition
- Reduces anxiety & stress
Bacopa Monnieri’s Origins in Ayurveda
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Long before Bacopa Monnieri was considered a modern brain booster, it was used in Indian Ayurveda medicine. Known as the “herb of grace” or Brahmi, the remedy was harvested from a creeping wetland vine found in marshes in Nepal, Vietnam, Sri Lank, and throughout India.
Its leaves were ground into a tea or infused into a medicinal topical oil. Bacopa was used as an antidote for excess “pitta” energy, indicated by inflamed tissues, high body heat, poor digestion, headache, and anxious thoughts.
Under these conditions, the correct Bacopa Monnieri dosage was not calculated in milligrams, but according to the evolving emotional state of each patient.
We still use a form of this methodology today, even in Western medicine. Asking a patient how they feel and what they believe to be the source of their discomfort is taught in medical schools as an excellent way to begin a diagnosis.
When it comes to choosing the right nootropic supplement for cognitive enhancement, in the right amount, following your own assessment of your current emotional and mental conditions will indeed be your first and best guideline.
How a Bacopa Monnieri Dosage Affects Brain Function
In the few formal studies of Bacopa that have been performed in recent years, the “baseline” Bacopa Monnieri dosage is 300 mg, per day.
This would translate into 2-3 cups of traditional Bacopa or Brahmi tea, which contains about 100 mg per cup. At these dosages, we see good but moderate effects upon mood and mental focus.
Bacopa contains natural compounds known as the bacosides. Bacosides protect and stimulate levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain.
These neurotransmitters are the guardians of good mood combined with alert, focused thoughts and energy.
If we over-stimulate these chemicals we could risk side effects like deficiencies or withdrawals that actually make it difficult to feel joy and focus. So, a good dosage of supplements like Bacopa is critical.
Prevent Stress Before it Occurs
Next, Bacopa Monnieri’s active compounds support GABA activity in the brain.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) is an organic inhibitory chemical which limits the amount of stress-related nerve cell firing. Supplements which support GABA function are known as the ultimate stress relievers.
We call these supplements anxiolytics because of their ability to soothe anxiety symptoms. Well-known anxiolytics include L-Theanine and 5-HTP.
Many people looking for Bacopa supplements end up choosing L-Theanine instead because it has less risks of toxicity and a more predictable effective dosage than Bacopa.
Individuals with more severe anxiety may find that 5-HTP produces the best results.
Benefits from Regular Bacopa Monnieri Use
In traditional cultures, use of Bacopa Monnieri might have transpired over months or years. In fact, this is how long it takes for true cognitive benefits to present from a typical Bacopa Monnieri dosage.
In that time, negative conditions in the body which relate to stress factors, such as poor digestion, inflammation, and chronic pain can be reduced.
A general sense of mental focus and even improved recall can develop over time. The ability to deal with stress triggers effectively is enhanced.
While not the most dramatic supplement when taken on its own, most users report that regular Bacopa supplementation is worthwhile and produces these very positive results.
For faster onset of effects and more pronounced benefits, most people choose to combine Bacopa Monnieri with a complementary nootropic stack.
The effects of the herb can be greatly amplified when paired with compounds like the ones included in Alpha Brain, one of the more popular cognitive enhancers on the market.
Within that formula, the Bacopa dosage serves to alleviate stress which gets in the way of clear thinking, while other natural ingredients boost neural health and improve brain communication.
Safe Bacopa Monnieri Dosage
If you take Bacopa within a pre-packaged stack like Alpha Brain, the optimum dosage will already be calculated and you’ll face far less guesswork.
Taken on its own, the best Bacopa Monnieri dosage is between 200 and 400 mg per day total. This total amount should be broken up into 3 equal servings, taken in morning, mid-day, and late afternoon or early evening.
Based upon your individual sensitivities, you can decide if it is appropriate to take Bacopa at bedtime.
For many people, Bacopa aids natural sleep, but in some cases, thoughts can be so sharp that sleep is difficult. Until you are experienced with the herb, limit your consumption to earlier parts of the day.
In conclusion, Bacopa Monnieri is a time-tested, perfectly safe herbal remedy for stress and improving mental energy.
It has been used successfully as a calming agent in Ayurvedic medicine, and now presents an interesting addition to contemporary nootropic therapies.
The safest Bacopa Monnieri dosage is best taken as a part of a stack product like Alpha Brain.
Or, benefits can be replicated with more potent anxiolytics like Phenibut. Either way, advanced stress relief is absolutely possible with the help of these constructive natural supplements for the mind.
- Kapoor R, Srivastava S, Kakkar P. Bacopa monnieri modulates antioxidant responses in brain and kidney of diabetic rats. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2009
- Rauf K, Subhan F, Sewell RD. A Bacoside containing Bacopa monnieri extract reduces both morphine hyperactivity plus the elevated striatal dopamine and serotonin turnover. Phytother Res. 2012
- Morgan A, Stevens J. Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2010
- Rastogi M, Ojha RP, Prabu PC, Devi BP, Agrawal A, Dubey GP. Prevention of age-associated neurodegeneration and promotion of healthy brain ageing in female Wistar rats by long term use of bacosides. Biogerontology. 2012
- Roodenrys S, Booth D, Bulzomi S, Phipps A, Micallef C, Smoker J. Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2002
- Rauf K, Subhan F, Abbas M, Ali SM, Ali G, Ashfaq M, Abbas G. Inhibitory effect of bacopasides on spontaneous morphine withdrawal induced depression in mice. Phytother Res. 2014
- Shinomol GK, Mythri RB, Srinivas Bharath MM, Muralidhara. Bacopa monnieri extract offsets rotenone-induced cytotoxicity in dopaminergic cells and oxidative impairments in mice brain. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2012
Article last updated on: April 27th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
Enjoy the article. But i do not see an explanation of the strenth of the extract defined for the dosage. Bacopa is extracted in various strenths, typically 10%, 20%,30%.
Thanks