Bacopa Monniera known as Water hyssop, Herb of grace and Brahmi in India is an ancient Ayurvedic herb thought to have brain boosting properties. Here in Malaysia, its known as Beremi and can be found in local wet markets but is less common nowadays. Its usually served as a vegetable side, stir fried with belacan much like how kangkong is prepared. Bacopa is a waterside plant that grows in sandy bank and the edges of padi fields
Culinary Uses
It is attractive when picked as young shoots which makes it perfect for garnish. It has a mild bitter flavour like Arugula so is a great addition to a salad mix. It can be dried and used as a tea or incorporated into a tea blend.
Wellness Uses
Bacopa might increase certain brain chemicals that are involved in thinking, learning, and memory, thinking skills, anxiety, and ADHD, but there is no good scientific evidence to support any of these uses.
It might protect brain cells from chemicals involved in Alzheimer disease, Bacopa’s brain impacts haven’t been studied in humans, but trials in animals have “established a biological rationale for protective properties. The small trials have made it challenging to draw firm conclusions, but a systematic review of the research reported at least one statistically significant improvement on at least one neuropsychological measure in the majority of trials it analyzed.
Bacopa is an adaptogen- a groups of plants and herbs that can reduces oxidative stress in the aging brain. It is believed they work by interacting with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: a group of three endocrine system organs that initiate the body’s stress response.
Several studies have found that bacopa can reduce inflammation in the central nervous system and related pain.