Bacopa Monnieri – Is this the Best Natural Nootropic?

Bacopa Monnieri is among the most commonly used natural nootropics with proven effects for boosting memory, cognitive ability and brain health.

Of all the herbal brain supplements available, Bacopa is the closest thing to natural Piracetam and is much stronger than equivalent products.

The Bacopa Monnieri extract (also known as Brahami) comes from an herb that is native to North India and has a history of use dating far back into Ayurvedic medical practices.

While alone it may not give you the power of some of the other cognitive enhancers out there, it makes a great addition to any nootropic stack. You will find Bacopa sold as a supplement on its own or in the best-selling Alpha Brain stack from Onnit Labs.

Bacopa Monnieri

Natural Nootropic

Brain Function

Memory

Stress

How It Works:

• Increases communication between neurons
• Supports memory, focus & cognition
• Reduces anxiety & stress

Dosage:

Between 50 - 500mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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Bacopa Monnieri Uses

Bacopa was used by traditional Indians to improve thought clarity and increase brainpower.

It was also administered as a treatment for asthma, epilepsy, tumors, ulcers, indigestion, inflammation and many other ailments.

In the present day, it is often taken as an anti-aging supplement for the brain known to protect neurons from several types of damage that accumulate over time.

It is both an anti-oxidant and a neuroprotectant with evidence that it can slow down cognitive decline and may even improve learning skills.

Bacopa Monnieri is quite remarkable in that it uses a completely unique mechanism of action to enhance brain activity compared to many of the other supplements available.

In a nootropic stack, it is typically combined with stronger nootropic supplements like Piracetam, Aniracetam or Noopept to enhance the effects of these memory-boosting substances.

Bacosidess

The main compound in Bacopa extract is Bacosides which have been found to improve synaptic transmission in the brain. It is believed to increase nerve pulse transmission which has to do with the electrical conductivity of various signals between your neurons.

The active ingredient Bacoside-A leads to increased kinase activity which basically means that your synapses are more receptive to nerve impulses and this triggers more stimulation in your nerve cells.

This effect is especially targeted in the hippocampus which is the part of the brain involved in long-term memory formation, consolidation (or encoding) and recall. By increase the rate of transmission, taking Bacopa can ultimately produce better memory formation and lead to a faster speed of recall.

Many studies have undertaken to examine to medical and nootropic benefits of Bacopa with a number of positive findings.

Memory & Cognition

One of the clear indications is that using Bacopa Monnieri can improve memory retention and increase specific dimensions of cognition like working and spatial memory.

You may find that when studying or listening to presentations while taking this herbal nootropic, you are able to remember more information both in the short term and long term.

This supplement can also keep your memory function high as you age by slowing down some of the symptoms of cognitive decline associated with decreased nerve impulse transmission. As you age, your neurons tend to naturally become less responsive and activity in the hippocampus decreases.

By reversing this trend, Bacopa Monnieri may even be used as a treatment for memory loss in the elderly population.

Mood & Sleep

Bacopa also reportedly exhibits anxiolytic properties. This refers to drugs or supplements that have anti-anxiety effects and may reduce stress and improve sleep patterns.

The Bacopa Monnieri herb contains Hersaponins which are believed to demonstrate relaxation-inducing effects. This herb is said to help users asleep at night and promote more REM sleep so that you wake feeling fully rested. Because of the sedative effects of Bacopa, some people do not like to use this supplement during the day to prevent untimely fatigue.

However, you can stack Bacopa with another more stimulating supplement to reverse this effect or instead reserve it for use later in the day. If you do experience drowsiness after taking this herbal supplement, try using a smaller dosage to see if that corrects the problem.

Bacopa has also been observed to improve conversation and social interaction skills which is why some people take it to help with social anxiety symptoms.

Is Bacopa Safe?

Bacopa Monnieri is generally considered to be safe and you are not likely to experience any type of adverse reactions if you are healthy and follow recommended dosage guidelines. A suggested dose of 500 – 1000 mg will keep you safe and usually out of harm’s way.

However, there are some side effects and drug interactions to be aware of which is why many people ultimately use Piracetam or another Racetam instead of Bacopa.

Some of the possible Bacopa side effects include fatigue, nausea, indigestion, increased perspiration and urination, irregular heart rate, impotence, liver toxicity and the formation of ulcers.

You should not take Bacopa if you are currently using Anti-Depressants, Thyroid Medications, Calcium Channel Blockers or other sedatives including alcohol. As a precautionary measure, it would be a good idea to check with a qualified health care professional before you decide to use Bacopa.

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