It is quite common that a plant has several names in different languages and sometimes even in one language. It is rare that one name is used for two entirely different plants. The case in point is Brahmi. Brahmi a plant to be honored, revered and used. Grow it in your garden or in a hanging basket and munch a leaf or two every day. Enjoy the many benefits of this amazing herb.
Though to many this name may be familiar due to its usage in hair oils and ayurvedic drugs, the plant itself many not be familiar. The pictures of two plants are shown here.
Though in common parlor both the plants are known as Brahmi, we shall call one on the left side ( Gotu kola in English) as Brahmi and the that on the right side as Bacopa ( its English name) for exact identification.
Another interesting thing is that not only these two plants have a same name but they have same attributes
Brahmi is described by Swami Sivananda as “… a brain tonic par excellence.” and “… possessed of peerless therapeutic values,” Brahmi has been used for centuries to strengthen the mind, purify the body and even enhance communion with the divine.
While it’s native to India, it has since spread to tropical regions all over the world. It is an edible plant that is frequently used for medicinal purposes.
The Difference Between Brahmi and Bacopa:
Brahmi is a common name used for two very important Ayurvedic herbs used for enhancing and caring for brain function. Bacopa monnieri is called Brahmi in south India, and Centella asiatica is called Brahmi (or Gotu Kola) in the north India, where it more commonly grows.
Centella asiatica, also known as Hydrocotyle asiatica, Gotu Kola or Brahmi in the north of India, is also a small creeping plant with delicate leaves and small white flowers that bear small fruits. Centella is generally thought to be more cooling than the Bacopa, but both are considered good for all three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha.)
Both herbs have a strong affinity for the lymph, blood, nervous tissue, and urinary tract, as well as the circulatory, digestive, and nervous systems. In addition, gotu kola works on the muscle, adipose, and bone tissues whereas bacopa resonates with all of the tissues in the body as well as the channels of elimination. Both herbs are non-stimulating brain tonics that support mental clarity, cognitive function, memory, mood and focus as neuro-protectives, antioxidants and mood-stabilizing agents. Centella, however, has unique properties not in Bacopa that support the skin (inner and outer), the lymph, and the microcirculation channels of the body. While bacopa is generally preferred for vata aggravations and mental debility due to stress and exhaustion, gotu kola is preferred in mental or emotional aggravations involving both vata and pitta.
How to grow Brahmi (Gotu kola) in Home garden?
It’s a low growing, creeping herb that reaches a maximum of about 6 inches in height and grows outward in a sprawling pattern.. It prefers part to full sun and will grow in a wide range of soils. As long as it gets sufficient water, it can thrive in rock, sand and mud. It will even grow directly in water, forming its foliage as floating mats. Feed the plants moderately with slow release fertilizer. They’re not heavy feeders, but they do appreciate the nutrients. If you’re growing brahmi in water, however, don’t use any fertilizer, as this will just encourage algae growth.
It is known as Indian Penny Wort in English. Brahmi is quiet easy to grow at home and needs low maintenance. You do not need much space as it can be grown in pots. Even if you have a small balcony, you can grow. What you need is
1.A container or grow bag or pot
2. Seedlings. or cuttings
3.Potting mix is made from vermicompost, cow dung manure, coco peat soil and sand. Make sure the potting mixture is loose and porous for the plant to grow well.
There should be proper drainage in the container or grow bags. Fill the container with the potting mixture. Pour water lightly to wet the soil. The container with potting mixture is ready.
Plant seedling root 4-5 cm deep and pack the soil around it well.
Place the pot in a place that receives morning sunlight or partial afternoon sunlight.
Sprinkle water until the root takes hold and the plant settles. Once the plant settles, you can water the plant, if the soil is dry. Make sure the soil is damp and not soggy. So avoid over watering the plants.
As it is a creeper, it will multiply and will grow well provided it gets enough water, sunlight, food (manure) and some care.
Once grown well, you can pluck the leaves alone and use it for cooking and leave the plant for it to grow again.
How to grow bacopa?
You can grow some varieties of Bacopa from seed. However, seed grown Bacopa plants generally offer smaller flowers than ones propagated by other methods.
Fill a container with moist compost. Sprinkle the seeds onto the compost; do not cover them with soil. Mist the seeds with a water spray. Put the container into a clear plastic bag and place it in a bright area out of direct sunlight, such as a window ledge that is not in full sun.
The seeds germinate quickly; you should see new growth within ten days.
Remove the weaker seedlings to thin the plants out and preserve the stronger seedlings. Once big enough to handle, you can transfer the seedlings to individual pots.
This allows for the consistent moisture necessary to avoid the interruption of flowering. Grow Bacopa trailing annual in a full sun to part shade location.
To get the bushy growth, pinch off the growing tip once the Bacopa plants get to about four inches in height.
You can grow bacopa from cutting s also. To do this, cut about three inches of fresh healthy stem from a Bacopa plant using a clean sharp blade. Dip the cut end in rooting powder or hormone after you have made the cut.
Water your cutting, then enclose it in a clear plastic bag. Keep the cutting out of direct sunlight but in a well-lit area, such as a window ledge that does not get direct sun. Make sure the cutting doesn’t dry out; mist the cutting with a spray bottle if necessary.
The cuttings should root after about five weeks. You can then transfer the cuttings to individual pots.
Remove the lower leaves on the stem, then insert an inch of cut stem into a pot containing cutting mix. You can buy special cutting compost, or make your own by mixing 50:50 vermiculite and sand.
If the outdoor climate is different the plant can get shock of transplant. To prevent that harden off. For that put them outside during the day and bring them in at night over a period of about two or three weeks.
The tender annual is sometimes bothered by aphids, which can be dispersed with a strong blast of water from the sprayer. If aphids persist on new growth, treat them with a soapy spray or insecticidal soap. Neem oil is also beneficial
Growing Bacopa plants is most easily done in containers. This allows for the consistent moisture necessary to avoid the interruption of flowering. Use Bacopa trailing annual as a filler plant in mixed containers and hanging baskets. Grow Bacopa trailing annual in a full sun to part shade location. Bacopa plant info on how to grow a Bacopa plant advises growing the plant where afternoon shade is available in the hottest areas. The tender annual is sometimes bothered by aphids, which can be dispersed with a strong blast of water from the sprayer. If aphids persist on new growth, treat them with a soapy spray or insecticidal soap. Neem oil is also beneficial. Now that you’ve learned the basics of how do you care for Bacopa and the many uses for the diminutive, spreading plant, add some to your garden this year.Place the pot in a place that receives morning sunlight or partial afternoon sunlight.
Sprinkle water until the root takes hold and the plant settles. Once the plant settles, you can water the plant, if the soil is dry. Make sure the soil is damp and not soggy. So avoid over watering the plants.
As it is a creeper, it will multiply and will grow well provided it gets enough water, sunlight, food (manure) and some care.
Once grown well, you can pluck the leaves alone and use it for cooking and leave the plant for it to grow again.
How to grow bacopa?
You can grow some varieties of Bacopa from seed. However, seed grown Bacopa plants generally offer smaller flowers than ones propagated by other methods.
Fill a container with moist compost. Sprinkle the seeds onto the compost; do not cover them with soil. Mist the seeds with a water spray. Put the container into a clear plastic bag and place it in a bright area out of direct sunlight, such as a window ledge that is not in full sun.
The seeds germinate quickly; you should see new growth within ten days.
Remove the weaker seedlings to thin the plants out and preserve the stronger seedlings. Once big enough to handle, you can transfer the seedlings to individual pots.
This allows for the consistent moisture necessary to avoid the interruption of flowering. Grow Bacopa trailing annual in a full sun to part shade location.
To get the bushy growth, pinch off the growing tip once the Bacopa plants get to about four inches in height.
You can grow bacopa from cutting s also. To do this, cut about three inches of fresh healthy stem from a Bacopa plant using a clean sharp blade. Dip the cut end in rooting powder or hormone after you have made the cut.
Water your cutting, then enclose it in a clear plastic bag. Keep the cutting out of direct sunlight but in a well-lit area, such as a window ledge that does not get direct sun. Make sure the cutting doesn’t dry out; mist the cutting with a spray bottle if necessary.
The cuttings should root after about five weeks. You can then transfer the cuttings to individual pots.
Remove the lower leaves on the stem, then insert an inch of cut stem into a pot containing cutting mix. You can buy special cutting compost, or make your own by mixing 50:50 vermiculite and sand.
If the outdoor climate is different the plant can get shock of transplant. To prevent that harden off. For that put them outside during the day and bring them in at night over a period of about two or three weeks.
The tender annual is sometimes bothered by aphids, which can be dispersed with a strong blast of water from the sprayer. If aphids persist on new growth, treat them with a soapy spray or insecticidal soap. Neem oil is also beneficial
Growing Bacopa plants is most easily done in containers. This allows for the consistent moisture necessary to avoid the interruption of flowering. Use Bacopa trailing annual as a filler plant in mixed containers and hanging baskets. Grow Bacopa trailing annual in a full sun to part shade location. Bacopa plant info on how to grow a Bacopa plant advises growing the plant where afternoon shade is available in the hottest areas. The tender annual is sometimes bothered by aphids, which can be dispersed with a strong blast of water from the sprayer. If aphids persist on new growth, treat them with a soapy spray or insecticidal soap. Neem oil is also beneficial.
What are the Benefits of Brahmi?
Brahmi has soft, hairy stems and bright green, oval, succulent leaves. . Brahmi has numerous branches, rooting at the nodes, found at elevations from sea level to altitudes of 4400 feet. It grows naturally in wet soil, shallow water and marshes. It has small flowers that are light purple or white in color with not more than four or five petals. The whole plant including the flowers can be used for medicinal purposes. It has a bitter and sweet taste and is known to impart a cooling energy. . It is completely edible and is very popular as a medicine when it is steeped into a tea, mixed with oil or worked into a paste.
So what are the benefits of brahmi? There is a huge list of ailments where brahmi can be used to treat, from respiratory and stomach problems to memory loss to leprosy. It’s especially common in traditional Indian medicine. It’s also good for promoting general good health.
8 main benefits of brahmi:
1 Brahmi counteracts the effects of stress by regulating stress hormones cortisol. Brahmi has a cooling property which keeps the mind calm and free of anxiety. It also promotes sound sleep
2. Brahmi is known to help ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease due to the presence of the amyloid compound in the neuron that is responsible for damaging the brain. The bio-chemical known as bacosides in Brahmi helps in re-building brain tissues by influencing the brain cells.
3. Brahmi helps in boosting your memory. It enhances the three aspects of memory which include long term memory, short term memory and the retaining capacity It has a positive effect on the hippocampus part of the brain that is responsible for intelligence, concentration and memory.
4. Brahmi is full of antioxidants that are essential for living a healthy life. Antioxidants help in removing free radicals that can further mutate into cancer cells.
5. Regular consumption of Brahmi helps in strengthening your immune system. A lot nutrients along with antioxidant compounds help increase the response time of our immune system against various diseases and ailments.
6. Brahma can be a great remedy that provides relief from arthritis, gout and other inflammatory conditions. It also helps in soothing gastric ulcers and treating an irritable bowel syndrome.
7. Brahmi is known for regulating the blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes and may help improve symptoms of hypoglycemia.
8. Brahmi is good for treating hair problems like dandruff, itchiness and formation of split ends. Moreover, massaging the scalp with Brahmi oil is known to be very soothing.
How to use Brahmi:
Though for general benefit one can munch 2-3 leaves of gotukola every day, for specific applications the brahmi can be used in the following forms
i) External Uses
· Oil: Brahmi oil (made with either bacopa, gotu kola, or both) can be applied to the exterior of the body to promote healthy skin, proper healing, and freedom of movement in the joints.It may also be massaged into the scalp to support healthy hair growth and to encourage any of the many benefits brahmi offers the brain, the nervous system, and the mind.
· Paste: A paste of brahmi (again, made with either bacopa or gotu kola) can be applied to the exterior of the body to promote healthy skin, and comfortable movement of the joints.
ii) Internal Use
Because taste plays such an important role in the digestive process and signals the body to initiate its own supportive mechanisms, Ayurveda traditionally recommends tasting herbs. Brahmi can be taken internally as a powder, a tablet or as a liquid extract.
Either bacopa or gotu kola can be taken as a hot or cold infusion in water. Quite often, these herbs are taken in ghee because it helps to direct them toward the mind and the nervous system. Another popular carrier for brahmi is milk because it enhances the tonifyng and cooling properties of the herbs. The tablets provide a more convenient way to take brahmi, especially for those who are frequently traveling or on the go. The Liquid extracts are convenient, easy to assimilate, and have a long shelf life.
Side effects and contraindications:
Though on this blog, the benefits of different plants are described, they are not to be taken as self medications. A reader may not be qualified in the medicines and also not have any therapeutic experience , and hence self medication is out of question. However the following information on the side effects can be helpful even if the brahmi is prescribed by a qualified practitioner .
If you are taking prescription medication of any kind, it is always best to check with your doctor before introducing an herbal regimen.
Bacopa
Adverse effects of bacopa may include dry mouth, thirst, nausea, indigestion, increased regularity of bowel movements, drowsiness, fatigue, or palpitations Bacopa may also increase thyroid hormone levels.
Avoid this herb if there are known allergies to Bacopa monnieri or other members of the Figwort family. Use caution in patients who are taking calcium channel blockers, sedatives, anti-epileptic or anti-depressant medication
Gotu Kola
Excessive doses of gotu kola can be slightly narcotic and can cause headache, dizziness, giddiness, or skin irritation. It has also been known to cause gastric irritation and nausea. In addition, gotu kola can inhibit liver enzymes responsible for barbiturate metabolism.
Avoid this herb if there are known allergies to Centella asiatica or any of its constituents. Extra care is advised if taking benzodiazepines, barbiturates, diuretics, hormonal agents, vasodilators, hypo-glycemic medication, or cholesterol-lowering agents
