Bacopa: Can This Nootropic Herb Support Brain Health and Mood?

Bacopa is an herb often used to support brain function. Some studies suggest it might protect against conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Researchers are also looking into its potential to improve symptoms of ADHD and mood disorders.

Clinical trials show that bacopa may help reduce hyperactivity, impulsivity, and learning problems. It might also boost emotional health by easing symptoms of depression and improving overall well-being. While these findings are promising, more research is needed to understand its health effects.

Research on Bacopa

Bacopa has several plant chemicals, like saponins, which may include bacosides A and B. These plant substances are likely responsible for how bacopa works.

As with many natural products, more, extensive research is necessary. But people might use bacopa for various reasons.

Memory and Attention

A meta-analysis (a review of a collection of studies) examined bacopa's potential use for memory and attention in healthy people. In general, bacopa did not have that big of an effect. However, bacopa might help with logical and verbal memory.

Logical memory is your ability to assign meaning to something you learned. Verbal memory is your ability to pay attention, collect information in an organized way, process the information, store the information, and recall the information on demand.

While bacopa may affect these two types of memory in positive ways, these results have been invalidated due to a high likelihood of publication bias. More extensive and better-designed clinical trials are necessary.

Bacopa may have benefits for children with memory and attention problems. A 2022 study found improved brain function in young males aged 6 to 14 years who were taking bacopa extract. No changes were observed in activity levels, but those who took bacopa saw cognitive, mood, and sleep benefits.

ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a very common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder. Its hallmark symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Bacopa seems to have the ability to improve functioning in people with ADHD.

A 2016 scientific review examining the benefits of bacopa in children and adolescents with ADHD found this treatment option was able to improve memory span as well as verbal and visual memory. It also improved hyperactivity and attention with few mild side effects.

A 2022 review and meta-analysis looked into the effects of bacopa and other herbal remedies on ADHD. The results showed bacopa treatment has the potential to be an effective treatment for managing ADHD. However, more research is needed before this therapy can become established.

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are a wide group of conditions causing a loss of neurons. This group includes Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and more.

Alzheimer's Disease

In a six-month study party of the aforementioned meta-analysis, people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) benefited from 600 milligrams (mg) of bacopa daily.

While this might sound promising, this study was small. Moreover, bacopa wasn't compared to a placebo (a substance with no medicine) or a standard treatment. For these reasons, additional better-designed research with more extensive and longer-term clinical trials is still necessary. These future studies could also compare bacopa to standard AD treatment, such as Aricept (donepezil).

According to another clinical trial, results suggest that bacopa may also help people with AD. But in this 12-month study, bacopa was combined with other herbs.

While it's difficult to know if bacopa is directly responsible for the results, the herbal mixture was similar to Aricept in terms of effects in people with AD. In addition, in people without AD, the combination of herbs also seemed to help these participants on brain function exams compared to a placebo.

In the group of participants taking the herbal mixture, fewer markers or substances in the blood point to inflammation (swelling) and oxidative stress. In general, oxidative stress is when there aren't enough naturally occurring antioxidants in your body to attack unstable atoms known as free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Although these results were positive, additional high-quality and extensive research is still necessary. These future clinical trials should also assess the effects of each component (ingredient) in the herbal mixture.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease affects motor function. It can cause tremors, slowed movements, stiffness, imbalance, and other symptoms.

Research suggests that bacopa is associated with better quality of life and motor function in people with Parkinson's disease. Bacopa may also be able to improve emotional function. However, this was a small study and more studies are needed to confirm these results.

Mood

In a meta-analysis, study results were mixed on whether bacopa—by itself—relieves depression or anxiety symptoms compared to placebo. Interestingly, in one clinical trial, bacopa was linked to some improvement in anhedonia compared to the Celexa (citalopram) antidepressant. Anhedonia is the inability to find pleasure in things you used to enjoy. This is a common symptom of depression and other brain-related conditions.

When bacopa was combined with other herbs, on the other hand, results from a couple of studies suggest that the herbal mixtures may relieve symptoms of depression and stress. Depression symptoms seem to improve in both people with and without AD.

Future clinical trials must consistently use the same tests to study these mental health conditions. This will allow for better analysis and interpretation of the results, leading to a better understanding of bacopa's effects.

What Are the Side Effects of Bacopa?

Like many medications and natural products, side effects are possible with bacopa.

Common Side Effects

Common side effects may include:

• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Excessive tiredness
• Nausea
• Stomach cramps

Severe Side Effects

In general, there is little information on the safety of bacopa. But in a meta-analysis, many studies didn't seem to mention any serious side effects.

However, potential severe side effects may include:

Severe allergic reaction: A severe allergic reaction can occur with any medication. Symptoms may include breathing difficulties, swollen airways, itchiness, and rash.

Metal toxicity: According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), some Ayurvedic products may have toxic metals, such as lead and mercury. The NCCIH referred to a survey that showed high blood levels of lead in 40% of people using Ayurvedic products—with some also having high levels of mercury. Moreover, this survey showed that nearly 25% of Ayurvedic products tested high for lead, and roughly 50% tested high for mercury.

Arsenic poisoning: While rare, according to the NCCIH, arsenic poisoning is possible with Ayurvedic products.

Call 911 and get medical help immediately if you're having a severe allergic reaction or any of your symptoms feel life-threatening.

Precautions When Using Bacopa

A healthcare provider may advise against using bacopa if any of the following applies to you:

Severe allergic reaction: If you have a severe allergic reaction to bacopa or its components (ingredients or parts), you shouldn't take this medication.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding: There are likely no bacopa product labels that target pregnant or breastfeeding people. What's more, there is little information about the effects and safety of bacopa while pregnant or breastfeeding. For this reason, contact a healthcare provider to discuss the benefits and risks before taking bacopa.

Children: There are likely no bacopa products for infants, but a few products for children do exist. In studies containing children and teenagers, bacopa, when combined with other herbs, caused few or no side effects in these groups. If there were side effects, they were mild and temporary.

However, Ayurvedic products may have high levels of toxic substances in general. More information is necessary on safety in children, so talk with a healthcare provider if you're considering bacopa for your child.

Adults over age 65 years: While older adults participated in some bacopa-related clinical trials, additional, extensive research is necessary. Since some older adults may have a higher likelihood of medication side effects, bacopa should be used with caution in this population.

Dosage: How Much Should I Take Bacopa?

While there are some studies on bacopa in humans, more high-quality clinical trials are still necessary. For this reason, there are no guidelines on the appropriate dosage to take bacopa for any condition.

If you take bacopa, follow a healthcare provider's recommendations and the label instructions.

What Happens if I Take Too Much Bacopa?

There is little information about bacopa toxicity and overdose in humans.

Symptoms of overdose with bacopa would likely be similar to its potential common and serious side effects, but more severe. Since some Ayurvedic products have been found to contain high levels of toxic substances, poisoning from these substances is also possible.

If you suspect you're experiencing life-threatening side effects, seek immediate medical attention.

Interactions

There is limited information about possible medication interactions with bacopa. Most data are based on bacopa's potential uses. Use caution when taking bacopa with the following medications:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) medications: Bacopa may affect memory and brain function. For this reason, bacopa might interact with other medicines that affect memory and brain function, including Aricept (donepezil).

Anticholinergic medications: Acetylcholine is a naturally occurring substance in your body. In people with AD, there is a low level of acetylcholine. When taken with anticholinergic drugs, bacopa can cause an even greater reduction.

Anticholinergics—like Ditropan XL (oxybutynin) for overactive bladder (OAB)—might worsen this problem and work against AD medications. Since bacopa may help improve AD symptoms, anticholinergic medications might also work against bacopa.

Anti-inflammatory medications: Bacopa can impact inflammation. For this reason, bacopa might interact with other medicines that affect inflammation. For example, bacopa might have additive effects (problems caused by combining the medications) with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as Advil (ibuprofen).

Mood medications: Bacopa has had mood effects. For this reason, bacopa might have additive effects when combined with other mood medications, such as antidepressants.

It is essential to carefully read a supplement's ingredients list and nutrition facts panel to learn which ingredients are present and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.

How to Store Bacopa

Since storage instructions may vary for different natural products, carefully read the directions and packaging label on the container. Keep your medications tightly closed and out of the reach and sight of children and pets, ideally locked in a cabinet or closet. Store in a cool and dry place.

Ask a pharmacist or healthcare provider any questions you may have about how to store and dispose of your medications or supplements.

Similar Supplements

Bacopa may have potential uses for memory, brain function, and depression. So, other potentially similar supplements may include:

Certain vitamins: According to NCCIH, people with Alzheimer's disease might benefit from vitamin E. Vitamin E might allow people with AD to do more things on their own for longer. Long-term use of certain B vitamins may slow down worsening memory problems in older adults. These B vitamins may include pyridoxine (vitamin B6), folic acid (vitamin B9), and cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

Omega-3 fatty acids: Based on available data, omega-3 fatty acids from eating more fish may prevent worsening memory problems in older adults. However, current evidence for omega-3 fatty acids is inconclusive when its effects on depression.

Saint-John's-wort: Saint-John's-wort might be effective for depression, but it interacts with many medications.

In general, don't combine multiple natural products until you first talk with a healthcare provider or pharmacist. Getting advice can prevent possible drug interactions and side effects and ensure you're giving these supplements a fair trial at appropriate doses.

Sources of Bacopa and What to Look For

There are several different sources of bacopa.

Food Sources of Bacopa

Bacopa is naturally available as an herb. You may also find bacopa in the following items:

• Biscuits
• Cereals
• Drinks, such as tea
• Jellies
• Syrups
  

Bacopa Supplements

Bacopa is available in a few different forms, including capsules and tablets. If you have difficulties swallowing pills, bacopa may also be available in liquid and powder dosage forms.

Vegetarian and vegan options might also be available. You may also see bacopa in combination with other herbs.

Your specific product will depend on your preference and what you hope to get in terms of effects. Each product may work a bit differently, depending on the form. So, following a healthcare provider's recommendations and label directions is important.

Summary

Bacopa is an herb from the figwort family. It's used in Ayurvedic medicine, which is a traditional Indian medical system. Bacopa is also sometimes known as brahmi, but it's not the same as gotu kola, which is from the parsley family.

In general, it might have some potential use for brain health. But similar to many medications and natural products, side effects and medication interactions are possible.

Additional higher-quality clinical trials are still necessary to better assess the effectiveness and safety of bacopa. Before taking bacopa, be sure to involve a pharmacist or healthcare provider to help you safely achieve your health goals.