I. Background on Brahmi:
Brahmi – History and Background:
The name, Brahmi, is thought to be derived from “Brahma,” or creator 10. Since the brain is considered to be the centre of creative activity, the herb which best improves the brain’s functioning was called Brahmi.10 Traditionally it was used to anoint newborns, in order to improve their intelligence and “‘open the gate of Brahma.’”10
This plant is referred to in Sanskrit as Brahmi and in Latin as Bacopa monniera-Folium. It is also known as Jalabrahmi, or “water brahmi.”1 It is a perennial herb found in wet and marshy regions throughout India.15 Sebastian Pole described that Brahmi is a water-loving herb that is a “creeping annual that spreads along banks of rivers as creativity and awareness spread throughout us.”1 Bacopa monniera is the authentic brahmi and is preferred by vaidyas for treatment. Brahmi is often confused with gotu kola, which is also known as brahmi in North India. Gotu kola’s other name is mandukaparni. 1
The use of Bacopa in Ayurvedic medicine is reported from some sources to date as far back as 3000 BCE 2 and by other sources to approximately the 6th century AD.3 In the classical Ayurvedic text of Caraka, it is classified as medhya-rasayan (medhya: memory enhancing and rasayan: rejuvenating). Caraka described the efficacy of bacopa in treating old age and age-related diseases, promoting memory and intellect, increasing the life span, providing nourishment and improving clarity of voice, complexion and luster. In the Susruta-Samhita, it describes that a three week course of bacopa juice will produce photographic memory and a “person can retain hundred words uttered only twice daily.” 15
The Properties of Brahmi:
Brahmi has a rasa that is bitter and sweet, virya that is cooling, and vipaka that is sweet. It has a neutralising effect on vata, pitta, and kapha, but in excess can increase vata. It has an affinity for all tissues, especially plasma, blood, and nerve, and for the circulatory, digestive, nervous, and excretory srotas. 1
The Actions of Brahmi:
It’s Ayurvedic actions include calming vata and redirecting the flow of vata downwards1. It’s biomedical actions include that it is a sedative, nervine, cardiotonic, antispasmodic, anticonvulsant, and anti-inflammatory.1 Brahmi is recognised by Ayurvedic practitioners as an adaptogen, an agent that naturally increases one’s ability to tolerate physical and emotional stress. It is the “main revitalizing herb for the nerves and brain cells.”3
Brahmi is one of the main brain tonics used in Ayurvedic medicine.6 It is regarded as an herb that builds and improves mental performance, improves long- and short-term memory, increases intelligence, increases longevity, decreases senility and ageing, relaxes the whole nervous system, increases circulation to the brain, and stimulates the cerebrovascular system.3 Brahmi has traditionally been used to improve mental capacity and memory in children.6 It is attributed with improving learning ability and concentration. It is used for the following disorders: mental disorders, epilepsy, mania and hysteria. It improves the quality of sadhaka pitta, thus influencing one’s consciousness. It can be used externally as a head rub for headaches, to clear the mind, as a brain tonic, and to help with hair growth.1
Brahmi is considered to be a rejuvenative, particularly to the nervous system. It strengthens the mind and promotes energy as well as sleep; it is often used to treat insomnia. 1 Brahmi is used to help with recovery from exhaustion, stress, and vata imbalance. It is indicated for all conditions with deficient majja dhatu, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, autism, depression, and drug abuse. 1
Brahmi is a circulatory stimulant and it accelerates wound healing. It fortifies the immune system by both cleaning and nourishing it.3 It is very helpful for skin conditions where there is an underlying imbalance in the nervous system.1 It is also a strong blood purifier and is used for chronic skin conditions, such as leprosy, syphilis, eczema, and psoriasis. 3 It is helpful for intermittent or periodic fevers, like malaria. It strengthens the adrenal processes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. 3
Brahmi helps to relieve tension throughout the body, so it is good for constipation and muscle tightness due to stress, as well as menstrual pain. Brahmi leads pitta out of the mutravaha srota, thus it can be used to cool the heat of cystitis and the pain of dysuria. It can be used externally as a medicated oil for joint pain. 1
The Chemistry of Brahmi:
The active constituents of Brahmi are derived from the leaves and are called steroidal saponins, which include the bacosides, the primary active principles. 10
There is now good evidence that bacosides have cognitive and nootropic effects via multiple mechanisms. This includes activation of the serotonergic and cholinergic systems and enhancement of synaptic plasticity.22 Bacosides have been found to enhance the metabolism of neurotransmitters (chemicals that send messages between neurons), thus increasing the functioning of the brain.6 They have been found to have anti-oxidant and mitochondrial stabilisation activities.22 They have been attributed with enhancing nerve impulse transmission, thereby strengthening memory and general cognition.10 Its anti-oxidant activity appears to result from direct free radical scavenging as well as increasing endogenous antioxidant systems in the brain and liver. 22
Precautions:
Bacopa has been shown to significantly elevate thyroxine levels, thus caution is advised in hyperthyroidism. Brahmi may cause gastrointestinal symptoms in people with: coeliac disease, fat malabsorption syndrome, vitamins A/D/E/K deficiency, dyspepsia, or pre-existing cholestasias due to it’s high saponin content. 22 There are no known drug-herb interactions. However, it is recommended to use caution when combining with antiepileptic and antidepressant medications. 1
Brahmi Dosage and it’s Use in Formulas:
The standard dose is 300 mg per day, with the total active component (bacosides) content being 55% of the extract by weight. Bacopa is fat soluble and requires a lipid transporter to be absorbed, thus it is recommended to take with a meal or some sort of animal fat.13
For formulas, it is recommended that Brahmi is combined with digestive stimulants (e.g. ginger) due to its cold nature and appetite suppressing effects. If there is high kapha as well, it is recommended to combine it with Vacha to enhance the mind-opening effects. To increase Brahmi’s sedative actions, it is recommended to combine with gotu kola, jatamamsi, and tagarah. For a nervine tonic, it can be combined with ashwagandha, kushta, kappikachhu, and shankhapushpi. For skin conditions with heat, Brahmi can be used with neem, manjishta, and turmeric. To relax the intestines, it can be combined with cumin, fennel, and ajwain.1
Sebastian Pole describes combining cloves (2 parts), cardamom (1 part), pippali (1 part), brahmi (10 parts), and 40 grams of sugar to create a brahmi rasayana for anti-inflammatory and nerve tonifying actions. It is often combined with ghee or milk to increase its tonifying, nervine, and pitta-cooling effects.1
II. Background on Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
ADHD – Western Definition:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) manifests in childhood with symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention. The symptoms affect cognitive, academic, behavioral, emotional, and social functioning. The reported prevalence of ADHD in children varies from 2 to 18 percent. The prevalence in school-age children is estimated to be between 8 and 11 percent, making it one of the most common disorders of childhood. ADHD is more common in boys than girls (male to female ratio 4:1 for hyperactive type and 2:1 for inattentive type). According to the 2011 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), among those with current ADHD, 69 percent were being treated with medication at the time of the survey. Children and adolescents with ADHD often have comorbid psychiatric disorders, including oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and learning disabilities. Estimates for the coexistence of learning disorders and ADHD range from 20 to 60 percent. Neuropsychologic testing suggests that patients with ADHD have impaired executive functions (processes involved in planning, including abstract reasoning, mental flexibility, working memory) and/or difficulties with response inhibition.19 Medications combined with behavioral/psychologic interventions is the Western medical recommendation for most school-aged children (≥6 years) and adolescents with ADHD. Stimulant medications are first-line agents. There are many potential side effects of stimulants, including: decreased appetite, poor growth, dizziness, insomnia/ nightmares, mood lability, rebound, tics, and psychosis.20 Many are seeking alternatives for treatment without the associated side effects of Western medications.
ADHD from an Ayurvedic Perspective:
In Ayurveda, ADHD as an entity is not described. However, there are some references to abnormal behaviour that can be correlated with ADHD. 5 The Caraka Samahita refers to the following: vitiation of dhee (rational thinking), dhriti (intellect/ retaining power of the mind), and smriti (memory). This causes abnormal conduct leading to “improper contact of the senses with their objectives.” This results in inattention, overactivity, and impulsivity, characteristic of ADHD.5
The Kaumarabhrtya is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda, specifically dealing with paediatrics. This text refers to ADHD as a Vata Pitta predominant condition, with various causes, including genetics and environment. “Children are basically alpasatwa (weak mind/ psyche) in nature. In the presence of Suklaartava Dushti (vitiation/pollution of shukra or reproductive channels) or Garbhaja Kaaranas (causes in the womb) supplemented by an appropriate environment favouring vata pitta aggravation, the child becomes prone to a number of clinical conditions, one of which is ADHD.”4 Vata symptoms include: emotional instability, tics/ convulsions, echolalia, talkativeness, aggravated symptoms at the end of digestion, and lean body mass index. Pitta symptoms include: prominent anger, disruptive, “upasaya with cool articles,” self-ruining behaviour, increased surface temperature, and discolouration of eye/ sclera/ skin.”4
Gupta and Singh describe that there are two subdoshas involved in smriti (memory): prana vata (controls the brain, the mind, and sensory perception) and sadhaka pitta (controls emotions and their effects on the heart’s functions).5 Gupta and Singh propose that since Ayurveda points towards these two subdoshas in the etiology of ADHD, then medhya drugs (nootropic herbs – substances which improve one or more aspects of mental function) and Vata pacifying herbs are the main line of treatment. This includes nootropic, cognitive, learning aid, and neuroprotective herbs, such as Brahmi, Mandukaparni, Glycyrrhiza glabra, N. jatamansi, Ashwagandha, T cordifolia, and W. somnifera. After a review of current research, they concluded that Brahmi, Mandukaparni, and Ashwagandha are “proved very potent to control inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and distractibility, though further clinical studies are required to establish it in scientific world.” 5
III. Review of Research on Brahmi as a Potential Treatment for ADHD and Associated Symptoms:
Research Studies on the Effects of Brahmi/ Bacosides on the Central Nervous System, including Learning/ Cognition:
Brahmi and its constituents, Bacosides, have been found to have central nervous system effects, including increasing learning ability and cognitive skills, in several animal and human studies.
Animal Studies:
A study on mice using an extract of Bacopa monnieri suggested that it had a stimulant effect on the central nervous system as well as anti-stress and adaptogenic activity.3
In one study, maze learning (learning performance) of rats was improved when they were treated with alcoholic extracts of Bacopa monniera. The active constituents were saponins, bacosides A&B.5
In another study, the effects of an alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri on newly acquired learning responses (brightness discriminating, condition avoidance, and continuous avoidance) were studied. On the brightness discrimination task, there was a significant improvement in the treatment group compared to placebo: they learned faster, retained more of what they learned, and remembered it longer. On the condition avoidance task, the treatment group showed a significantly shorter reaction time than controls. On the continuous avoidance task, the treatment group performed better than controls. It was concluded that Bacopa can improve the performance of rats in various learning situations. 9 The chemicals responsible for these effects were identified as a mixture of bacosides A and B. These substances were found to enhance protein activity and protein synthesis in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for long-term memory. 5
In a review of the current animal research, it was concluded that a Bacopa extract aids memory and learning in a wide variety of responses, both in negative reinforcement (shock-motivated brightness discrimination reaction, conditioned and continuous avoidance responses) as well as positive reinforcement (conditioned taste aversion). It was found to aid responses susceptible to the effects of punishment as well as reward. It was concluded that a Bacopa extract is significantly effective in increasing memory in a wide variety of responses.16
Human Studies – Typically Developing Children:
In 1987, a single-blind trial was conducted in India, administering Bacopa (1.05 grams/ day for three months of the dried plant, extracted into a syrup form) to 40 children ages 6-8 years. Maze learning, immediate memory and perception, and reaction/performance times all improved. No side-effects were seen. 10
In a small double blind randomized study, 36 normal children 8 -10 years old were either treated with 50 mg of Bacopa two times per day or placebo for 3 months. Results showed significant improvements in: sentence repetition, logical memory, and pair associative learning (matching related items) in all children treated with Bacopa.5
In another study, 50 normal school age children were split into two groups, with half receiving Bacopa and the other half placebo. At the end of the trial, their attention, concentration, and memory were tested. Those in the Bacopa treatment group were found to have significantly improved mean reaction time (auditory and visual). 5
Research Studies on the Effects of a Bacopa Extract – CDRI 08 (Keen Mind®):
Keen Mind® is a product manufactured by the company Flordis in Australia. It contains a unique extract of Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) – CDRI 08. CDRI 08 was the result of 30 years of research and development by the Indian government’s Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI).2 This extract contains Bacoside A and B, the steroidal saponins believed to be essential for the product’s clinical efficacy. It is a high quality extract of Bacopa, with 55% bacosides, based on spectrophotometry.11 Each capsule contains 150 mg of Bacopa monniera extract (20:1), equivalent to 3 g of dried herb. Keen Mind® was studied further in Australian, rigorous clinical trials, which demonstrated cognitive enhancing benefits. Studies have shown that is well tolerated, with no side effects in all age groups, including children and the elderly. It is recommended, however, only for children 7 years and older. The benefit of this product is that it has been extensively tested and the same specific product has been used in various clinical trials. This is important because many products may use the same active ingredient, but there can be a lot of variability in the actual products due to variation in the part of the plant that is used as well as the growing, harvesting, and manufacturing methods. The product description states that full benefits of KeenMind® can be expected after 90 days of regular administration, but may be noticed soon after commencing treatment or after a few weeks.2
Human Studies (Adult):
A study was conducted on the effects of Keen Mind® on cognitive functioning in healthy human (adult) subjects. This was a double-blind, placebo controlled independent group design study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either treatment (300 mg Bacopa monniera) or placebo. Neuropsychological testing was conducted at baseline and at 5 and 12 weeks post drug administration. Results showed that subjects in the treatment group had significantly improved visual information processing speed, learning rate and memory consolidation, as well as anxiety compared with placebo. Greatest effects were seen after 12 weeks. The authors concluded that Bacopa monniera “may improve higher order cognitive processes that are critically dependent on the input of information from our environment, such as learning and memory.” 8
A double-blind, placebo-controlled research investigation was conducted on the effects of Bacopa monniera extract (KeenMind® – 150 mg x 2/ day) on the cognitive functioning of healthy adults for three months. Significant improvements were found on the Working Memory subtest (specifically spatial working memory accuracy) on neuropsychological testing. In addition, improved performance on the Rapid Visual Information Processing Task was found in the treatment group. Overall, it was concluded that this extract had cognitive enhancing effects in healthy humans.7
Stough et al (the Australian group studying the effects of Keen Mind®) conclude that there is strong evidence that CDRI 08 has chronic cognitive enhancing effects. In a recent review of the existing research, the authors concluded that a significant improvement in cognition was observed in all randomised controlled trials which use a 3 month chronic administration.11
There are some recent studies also suggesting that it has acute enhancing effects, but there is less evidence for this. This indicates that CDRI 08 “shows promise as a cognitive enhancer across a range of ages but significantly more research with child and adolescent samples are required.”11 More research is also necessary to characterise the metabolites responsible for the cognitive changes.11 Stough claims that “studies have shown that taking this extract improves anti-oxidant defence, changes inflammatory markers and has other direct effects on the brain which all may be important for memory, cognition and our ability to concentrate.”12
ADHD Studies in Children using a Bacopa Extract or Formulas containing Brahmi:
Studies conducted by the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in India using CDRI 08 have found reductions in hyperactivity and inattention against baseline readings in ADHD diagnosed children.12 In one double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial at CDRI, only those children diagnosed as having ADHD were included. The treatment group received CDRI for 12 weeks daily; from the 13th to the 16th week all the children were given placebo only. They were evaluated initially on day 0, and then at 4, 8, 12 weeks of drug administration. The last evaluation was done 4 weeks after stopping the medication, when all children were given placebo only. The tests administered were personal information, mental control, sentence repetition, logical memory, word recall (both meaningful and non-meaningful words), digit span, picture recall, delayed response, and paired associate learning. Significant to highly significant results were obtained on all the parameters after 4–8 weeks.14
A double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of 36 children with diagnosed ADHD was conducted over a 16-week period. Nineteen children received an extract of bacopa (Memory Plus), standardized to contain 20% bacosides at a dosage of 50 mg twice daily for 12 weeks, and 17 subjects were given a placebo. Active drug treatment was followed by 4 weeks of placebo and the children were evaluated on numerous cognitive function tests at baseline, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. A significant benefit was observed in the treatment group at 12 weeks, evidenced by improvement in sentence repetition, logical memory and paired associated learning tasks. Evaluation showed that these improvements were maintained at 16 weeks after 4 weeks of placebo administration. 17
A randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted in India using Mentat, an herbal formulation containing Bacopa, in 60 school-aged children with ADHD. Mentat contains Bacopa monnieri, Withania somnifera, Centella asiatica and Nardostachys jatamanasi in their optimum concentrations. Children were treated for 6 months with either Mentat or placebo. There were statistically significant improvements in the Conner’s ADHD rating scale and on a subtest of psychological test (Gestalt closure subtest on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children ).18
A study was conducted in Israel using a patented herbal and nutritional combination of nutritive, food-grade herbs prepared as a stable, dilute ethanol extract called Nurture and Clarity. Bacopa was one of the main herbal ingredients, but there are several other herbs in the supplement, including Paeoniae alba, Withania somnifera, Centella asiatica, Spirulina platensis, and Melissa officinalis, together with a range of essential nutrients, including essential fatty acids, phospholipids, essential amino acids, B-vitamins, minerals and other micro-nutrients. A double blind, placebo-controlled study of 120 children with ADHD was conducted. After 4 months of treatment, the treatment group showed statistically significant improvement in the four subscales and overall Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) scores, compared with no improvement in the control group21
A study is currently being conducted by Stough et al at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia to investigate the effects of Keen Mind® and its ability to reduce symptoms related to hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity in boys.12
Conclusion:
There is growing evidence regarding the use of Brahmi for it’s cognitive and nootropic effects. Specifically, there is limited but promising evidence that Brahmi is effective in treating the symptoms of ADHD, including in children. Some studies have included Brahmi in a formula, thus it is difficulty to ascertain the specific impact of Brahmi. However, studies of Brahmi as a single herb also suggest efficacy for ADHD treatment. More research in this field is necessary; however, Brahmi can be considered in treating ADHD and its associated cognitive effects, especially given its safety profile.
References:
1 Sebastian Pole, Ayurvedic Medicine: the Principles of Traditional Practice. p. 149-50 (Edignburgh: Churchill Livingsone/ Elsevier, 2006).
2 Flordis, Floridis Staff, Keen Mind Product. http://www.flordis.com.au/product/keenmind
3 Anju, “Bacopa monnieri – a Preliminary Study Evaluating Its Anti-Stress Activity in Swiss Albino Mice,” Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological, and Chemical Sciences, Volume 2 Issue 4 (October – December 2011): 786- 794
4 Dinsesh, K.S., Kaumarabhrtya – Updated, p. 392-393 (New Delhi: Chaukhambha Publications, 2014).
5 M. Gupta, M. Singh, “Recent researches on Ayurvedic Herbs in the Management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) in Children, ” Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine, Volume 2, Issue IX (January 2015): 52-55.
6 Dr John Douillard, Perfect Health for Kids: Ten Ayurvedic Health Secrets Every Parent Must Know, p. 333 (Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books, 2004).
7 Stough, C., et al., “Examining the nootropic effects of a special extract of Bacopa monniera on human cognitive functioning: 90 day double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial,” Phytotherapy Research, Volume 22, Issue 12 (December 2008): 1629-1634.
8 Stough, C., et al., “The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human adults,” Psychopharmacology, Volume 156, Issue 4 (August 2001): 481-484.
9 Singh, H and Dhawan, B., “Effect of Bacopa monniera Linn. (Brahmi) extract on avoidance responses in rat,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 5, Issue 2 (March 1982): 205-214.
10 Kidd, P., “A review of nutrients and botanicals in the Integrative Management of Cognitive Dysfunction,” Alternative Medicine Review, Volume 4, Number 9 (1999): 144-161
11 Stough et al, “Examining the Cognitive Effects of a Special Extract of Bacopa Monniera (CDRI 08: Keen Mind): A Review of Ten Years of Research at Swinburne University,” Journal Pharm Pharm Sci, Volume 16, Number 2 (2013): 254-258.
12 Swinburne University, Swinburne University Staff, Bacopa Monieri and ADHD. http://www.swinburne.edu.au/media-centre/news/2015/01/can-a-natural-supplement-improve-hyperactivity-in-boys.html
13 Examine.com staff. http://examine.com/supplements/bacopa-monnieri/
14 Stough, C and Scholey, A., Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, p. 279 (Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, 2013).
15 Stough, C and Scholey, A., Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, p. 254 (Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, 2013).
16 Stough, C and Scholey, A., Advances in Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals and Neurocognition, p. 262 (Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, 2013).
17 Negi KS, Singh YD, Kushwaha KP, Rastogi CK, Rathi AK, Srivastava JS, et al. “Clinical evaluation of memory enhancing properties of Memory Plus in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.” Ind J Psychiatry 2000;42:Supplement
18 Kalra V, Hina Z, Pandey RM, Kulkarni KS. “A randomized double blind placebo-controlled drug trial with Mentat in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”Neurosciences Today 2002; 6(4): 223-227.
19 Krull et al., “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: Epidemiology and pathogenesis” (UpToDate article)
20 Krull et al., “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: Treatment with medications” (UpToDate article)
21 Katz et al., “A compound herbal preparation (CHP) in the treatment of children with ADHD: a randomized controlled trial,” Journal of Attention Disorders, 2010, Volume 4, Number 3: 281-291
22 Braun, L and Cohen, M.: Herbs and Natural Supplements, Volume 2: An Evidence-Based Guide. P. (Australia, Elsevier, 2015): 118