Bacopa
Practitioners of Ayurveda, the 5,000-year-old traditional medicine system of India, use bacopa for improving anxiety, intellect and memory, epilepsy, and as a mild sedative.
Bacopa has been revered for centuries in the Ayurvedic herbal tradition of India to enhance clear thinking and support memory function. Studies have shown that Bacopa supports learning and memory in humans.
Traditional application suggests that Bacopa has a direct effect on improving brain functions, increasing concentration, and in promoting memory functions. Bacosides play a protective role in the synaptic functions of the nerves in the hippocampus, which are the seat of memory. Nerve impulses are transmitted across the synapses and their degeneration is believed to contribute to impaired memory and cognition.
Now, contemporary research proves that this ancient tradition has legs: Bacopa is tops at improving memory.
A very telling study revealed that when bacopa was administered with a memory-blocking drug, drug-induced memory impairment was reduced, and memory acquisition and retention improved.
Moreover, bacopa's proven antioxidant activity may make it useful in preventing age-related memory loss.
