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Summary
Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri, is a tropical, perennial, non-aromatic herb used in Ayurveda medicine. It grows in rice fields and damp areas. Its leaves are succulent, oblong, thick, and arranged alternately. The flowers are small and white, with four to five petals. The leaves are edible - it can be eaten raw in mixed salads or cooked as a vegetable. Brahmi is considered to be of a high value herb due to its beneficial effects upon the nervous system. It is used as treatment for epilepsy, asthma, ulcers, tumors, gastroenteritis, ascites, enlarged spleen, anemia, inflammations, and leprosy. It is grown by stem cuttings.
Physical Characteristics
Bacopa is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Insects.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Anisocalyx limnanthiflorus (L.) Hance Bacopa micromonnieria (Griseb.) B.L.Rob. Bacopa micromonnieria
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible portion: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable. The leaves can be eaten raw in mixed salads, or cooked as a vegetable, added to soups or pickled[ 301 ]. The flowers are eaten in times of food shortage.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Brahmi is a very important Ayurvedic herb, being particularly valued for its beneficial effect upon the nervous system. Its main active substances are steroidal saponins, including bacosides[ 254 ]. The whole plant is used - roots, stems and leaves[ 304 ]. It is cardiac, nervine tonic, sedative and vasoconstrictor[ 304 ]. The leaves and stalks are aperient and diuretic[ 304 ]. An alcohol extract of the whole plant has been shown to have anticancer activity against Walker carcinoma[ 304 ]. An alcohol extract of plant is a muscle relaxant and cardiovascular relaxant[ 348 ]. Research in India suggests that brahmi improves mental function, memory and concentration, and also reduces learning time[ 254 ]. The plant contains the alkaloid brahmine, which has been shown to raise blood pressure when administered in therapeutic dosage, but to be hypotensive when given in very strong dosage[ 348 ]. A tranquilizing saponin that resembles reserpine is also present[ 348 ]. The plant is used principally in the treatment of a range of nervous system disorders including neuralgia, hysteria, epilepsy, insanity, neurasthenia, aphonia and hoarseness[ 254 , 304 ]. The plant is also taken internally in a number of other conditions including indigestion, ulcers, wind, constipation, asthma, bronchitis and infertility[ 254 ]. A poultice made of the boiled plant is applied to the chests of children in the treatment of acute bronchitis and other coughs[ 304 ]. A juice made from the plant is applied as a wash on burns[ 272 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Other uses rating: Low (1/5). Its ability to grow in water makes it a popular aquarium plant. Attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Plants can be grown in warmer temperate climates through to tropical zones[ 254 ]. Requires a wet soil to shallow water[ 200 ]. Tolerant of saline conditions[ 200 ].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - Division Softwood cuttings
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Other Names: ae_ae, Brahmi, Brahmisak, Brithmi-sak, Herpestis, Kleines Fettblatt, Lunuwila, Neerbrahmi, Nira-brahmi, Niirpirami, Nirbrahmi, Nirubrahmi, Phak mi, Rau dang, Smau snao, Thyme leaved Gratiola, Timare.
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Hainan Sheng, Taiwan, Yunnan Sheng,China. TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, NORTHERN AMERICA: United States, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia (southeast), United States, Texas, Mexico, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Baja California (Norte), Baja California Sur, Mexico, Aguascalientes, Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán, Ciudad de México, SOUTHERN AMERICA: Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominican, Republic, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad, United States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S., Virgin Islands (British), Tortola, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, AUSTRALASIA: Australia, New South Wales (east), Queensland (east), AFRICA: Somalia, Nigeria, Mozambique (pantropic), Eswatini, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Madagascar.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Possibly invasive in India, Uttar Pradesh, Iraq, Yemenv, Mexico, Florida, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Peru, Portugal.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Least Concern
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.) Wettst.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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