Why bacopa?

Bacopa monnieri is a herb that has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is well-known for its cognitive-enhancing effects and has been shown to improve memory, attention, and learning in a number of clinical studies. 

Many Bacopa users describe it as giving their brain "double" the amount of power it otherwise has, so it's no surprise that we included a dosage of 400 MG in our product titled Brain Power. 400 MG is the upper end of the reference range and a much higher dosage than our competitors. Alpha Brain has a dosage of 100 MG (estimated from proprietary blend), MindLabPro has a dosage of 150 MG, and Qualia Mind has a dosage of 300 MG.

There are man benefits to be expected from supplementing with Bacopa.

One study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that a standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri improved cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in elderly individuals (Calabrese et al., 2008). Another study, published in the journal Phytomedicine, found that Bacopa monnieri had anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects in animals (Bhattacharya & Ghosal, 1998).

Bacopa monnieri has also been shown to have antistress effects, as demonstrated by a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research (Chowdhuri et al., 2002). In this study, bacosides, a component of Bacopa monnieri, were found to modulate the expression of certain proteins and enzymes in the brain and reduce stress in animals.

In addition to its cognitive-enhancing and stress-reducing effects, Bacopa monnieri has also been shown to have other potential health benefits. For example, a study published in the journal Neurotoxicity found that Bacopa monnieri extract had neuroprotective effects against aluminum-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus of rat brain (Jyoti & Sharma, 2006). This suggests that Bacopa monnieri may have protective effects on the brain and could potentially reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

One of the more encouraging studies supporting the efficacy of Bacopa is a double-blind, placebo controlled study done on medicalstudents. Sixty medical students of either gender from second year of medical school, third term, regular batch, were enrolled from Government Medical College, Nagpur, India. Baseline biochemical and memory tests were done. The participants were randomly divided in two groups to receive either 150 mg of standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize) or matching placebo twice daily for six weeks. All baseline investigations were repeated at the end of the trial. Students were followed up for 15 days after the intervention Statistically significant improvement was seen in the tests relating to the cognitive functions with use of Bacopa monnieri. (Kumar, Abichandani, Thawani, Gharpure, Naidu, & Ramana, 2016)

We took the liberty of proving summary of seven studies that support the efficacy of Bacopa, if you chose to go down the rabbit hole yourself. 

1.  "Effects of a Standardized Bacopa monnieri Extract on Cognitive Performance, Anxiety, and Depression in the Elderly: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial" (Calabrese et al., 2008), investigated the effects of Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in elderly subjects. The study found that Bacopa monnieri extract significantly improved cognitive performance and reduced anxiety and depression in the study participants.

2.  "Anxiolytic activity of a standardized extract of Bacopa monniera: an experimental study" (Bhattacharya & Ghosal, 1998), examined the anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects of Bacopa monnieri extract in animal subjects. The study found that Bacopa monnieri extract had a significant anxiolytic effect, suggesting that it may be useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

3.  "Antistress effects of bacosides of Bacopa monnieri: modulation of Hsp70 expression, superoxide dismutase and cytochrome P450 activity in rat brain" (Chowdhuri et al., 2002), investigated the effects of Bacopa monnieri extract on stress-related pathways in the brain of rat subjects. The study found that Bacopa monnieri extract modulated the expression of certain stress-related proteins and enzymes in the brain, suggesting that it may have a protective effect against stress.

4.  "The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects" (Stough et al., 2001), examined the effects of Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. The study found that Bacopa monnieri extract significantly improved several measures of cognitive function, including memory and information processing speed.

5.  "Examining the nootropic effects of a special extract of Bacopa monniera on human cognitive functioning: 90 day double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial" (Stough et al., 2008), aimed to examine the effects of a special extract of Bacopa monniera on human cognitive function. A total of 76 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study and were randomly assigned to receive either the Bacopa monniera extract or a placebo for 90 days. The subjects were assessed for cognitive function using a variety of standardized tests at the beginning and end of the study period. The results of the study showed that the Bacopa monniera extract significantly improved several measures of cognitive function, including verbal learning, memory consolidation, and speed of information processing, compared to the placebo. These improvements were observed after 90 days of treatment with Bacopa monnieri extract.

6.  "An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood" (Benson et al., 2014), investigated the effects of two doses of Bacopa monnieri extract on stress reactivity and mood in healthy human subjects. The study found that both doses of Bacopa monnieri extract significantly reduced stress reactivity and improved mood in the study participants.

7. "Efficacy of Standardized Extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize®) on Cognitive Functions of Medical Students: A Six-Week, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial" (Kumar et al., 2016) examined the effects of Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive function in medical students. The study found that Bacopa monnieri extract significantly improved several measures of cognitive function, including memory and attention, in the study participants.

When surveying fellow nootropic enthusiasts, Bacopa was one of the most beloved compounds. Some time ago, we asked a friend who experimented with nootropics in college to write us a summary of their experience with Bacopa to be used as a testimony- 

"As a full-time college student, I have always been on the lookout for ways to improve my focus and concentration during long study sessions. When I heard about Bacopa monnieri, a supplement that is supposed to improve memory and cognitive function, I was intrigued and decided to give it a try.

I started taking Bacopa about a month ago, and I have to say, I have been pleasantly surprised by the results. I definitely feel more focused and able to retain information at a higher rate during study sessions. I have also noticed that I am able to recall facts and concepts more quickly during tests, which as you could imagine, helped my grades out a lot.

In addition to the cognitive benefits, I have also noticed some other positive effects. For one, I feel less stressed and anxious, which is a big plus as a college student. I have also noticed that my mood has been more stable and positive since I started taking the supplement.

Overall, I am very happy with the results I have experienced while taking Bacopa monnieri. It has definitely helped me to perform better academically and has also improved my overall well-being. I would definitely recommend it to other students who are looking for a natural way to boost their cognitive function and reduce stress."

If you not only want a high dosage of Bacopa monnieri, but a high dosage of other well-researched nootropics, than Brain Power is for you. For $1.16 per serving, and the upper end of the reference range for every product included, Brain Power has the best "bang for your buck" of any nootropic on the market." 

Make sure to get yourself a bottle (months supply) of Brain Power for $34.99.