Bacopa
Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) in MemoPryl
Bacopa monnieri, or brahmi, is a named MemoPryl ingredient with no published amount. Small 12-week trials at 300 to 450 mg a day showed modest memory gains on some tests. The MemoPryl amount is unknown, so those results cannot be applied to it.
Prepared by the MemoPryl label deskUpdated
Background01
What is bacopa monnieri (brahmi) in MemoPryl?
Bacopa monnieri, also called brahmi, is a creeping marsh herb used in Ayurveda, and it is one of the six names listed for MemoPryl. The brief writes it as "Brahmi / Bacopa monnieri".
It is the herb most often linked to memory in the research on this list. That does not mean the capsules work. The amount, the extract type and the plant part are not published for MemoPryl.
Sponsored coverage of the vendor names bacopa too, with no milligrams (Sponsored coverage of the vendor). Some other listings with similar names also feature bacopa, but in different formulas. Match your bottle to all six names.
| Name on the label | Brahmi / Bacopa monnieri |
|---|---|
| What it is | Bacopa monnieri, a creeping herb used in Ayurveda |
| Group on the panel | Herbal extracts |
| Amount per serving (label) | Not published |
| % Daily Value | Not known |
| Amount used in research | 300 to 450 mg a day of extract for 12 weeks in small trials |
| Strength of evidence | Small, early trials; modest and inconsistent memory results |
| Marketed or traditional use | Traditionally taken for memory and learning |
| Main caution | Stomach upset; may affect thyroid hormone and some medicines. |
The research02
Does bacopa improve memory?
Small trials of bacopa showed modest memory gains on some tests, but the evidence is early and mixed. No trial has tested MemoPryl.
A review of six randomized trials, each 12 weeks long, used three bacopa extracts at 300 to 450 mg a day in adults without dementia. Bacopa did better on 9 of 17 free-recall memory tests, with little sign of benefit in other thinking skills (Pase 2012, Bacopa review). The authors called the research early-stage.
A pooled analysis of nine studies found faster attention measures, such as shorter reaction time (Bacopa meta-analysis 2014). Another reference says no high-quality studies show benefit, and a review of five Alzheimer's trials found no difference from placebo (Merck Manual, Bacopa).
| Source | Who and how long | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Review of 6 trials (Pase 2012, Bacopa review) | Adults without dementia, 12 weeks, 300 to 450 mg a day of extract | Better on 9 of 17 free-recall tests |
| Pooled analysis of 9 studies (Bacopa meta-analysis 2014) | 518 participants across the studies | Faster attention speed |
| Alzheimer's trials (Merck Manual, Bacopa) | 5 trials, reviewed together | No difference from placebo |
| MemoPryl itself | No trial found | Unknown; amount not published |
The 300 to 450 mg figures describe extracts in those trials. They are not the MemoPryl amount.
Bacopa vs ginkgo03
Bacopa vs ginkgo: which has more memory research?
Bacopa has small, short trials with modest gains, while ginkgo has bigger trials that did not prevent dementia. Neither has been tested in MemoPryl.
In the ginkgo trial of more than 3,000 people aged 75 and up, followed for a median of six years, ginkgo did not lower the risk of dementia (NCCIH, Ginkgo). Bacopa trials were shorter and smaller and looked at test scores, not dementia.
These are different questions, so one does not beat the other. Each herb also has its own medicine cautions.
Bacopa: what stands out
- 12-week trials show gains on some memory tests
- Side effects were mostly minor in trials
- Not linked to liver injury (LiverTox, Bacopa)
Bacopa: what holds it back
- Trials were small and short
- Results were inconsistent
- No trial of the MemoPryl formula
Read more in ginkgo in MemoPryl and the guide to comparing memory supplements.
Side effects04
What are the side effects of bacopa?
Bacopa side effects are usually minor and short-lived, and often involve the stomach. Reported effects include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, gas, dry mouth, headache, dizziness and trouble sleeping (LiverTox, Bacopa).
In trials, side effect rates were similar to placebo, and bacopa has not been tied to liver injury (LiverTox, Bacopa).
The interactions are the bigger point. Bacopa may raise thyroid hormone levels, and people on thyroid hormone medicine should not take it (Merck Manual, Bacopa). It may also weaken anticholinergic drugs, add to drugs for glaucoma or Alzheimer's disease, and change blood levels of drugs such as warfarin (Merck Manual, Bacopa).
Keep taking prescribed medicine as directed. Ask a pharmacist about the whole bottle.
Thyroid medicine
Bacopa may raise thyroid hormone. Ask before combining.
Alzheimer's or glaucoma drugs
Bacopa may add to their effects.
Warfarin
Blood levels of some drugs may change.
Before you order05
How can you tell if your MemoPryl bottle has bacopa?
Look for "Bacopa monnieri" or "Brahmi" on the Supplement Facts panel of the bottle you receive. This site found no panel, so we cannot confirm it.
The names are the same herb. A label may list a plant part, an extract ratio or a percentage of active compounds. Those details tell you far more than the word bacopa alone.
If your panel names rhodiola, L-theanine or ginseng and not the six names, it is a different formula. Ask the order desk before you take it.
Match the name
Look for Bacopa monnieri or Brahmi on the panel.
Note the extract details
Write down any ratio, percent or plant part the label gives.
Compare with the trials
Only then can you see whether the numbers look like anything studied.
See the supplement facts page for what is published and what is not.
Keep reading06
Where can you read about the other MemoPryl ingredients?
Each of the six names has its own page. Start with the one that matches your medicine list.
Worried about memory? Forgetting that gets in the way of daily life is a reason to see a doctor, not to wait out a bottle (CDC, dementia signs).
FAQ07
MemoPryl questions people ask
What is brahmi and is it the same as bacopa?
Yes. Brahmi is a common name for Bacopa monnieri, a creeping herb used in Ayurveda. MemoPryl's brief writes it as Brahmi / Bacopa monnieri. Check the label for the plant part and extract type, which are not published.
How long does bacopa take to work?
The trials we found ran 12 weeks, which is why timing claims point there (Pase 2012, Bacopa review). That says nothing about MemoPryl, whose amount is not published, and results in those trials were modest and not seen on every test.
Does bacopa affect the thyroid?
It may. Bacopa may raise thyroid hormone levels, and people taking thyroid hormone medicine should not take it (Merck Manual, Bacopa). Ask your doctor or pharmacist before trying a capsule that lists it.
Is bacopa better than ginkgo for memory?
Neither has been tested in MemoPryl. Bacopa had small 12-week trials with modest gains on some tests (Pase 2012, Bacopa review), while a large trial found ginkgo did not lower dementia risk (NCCIH, Ginkgo). They answer different questions.
Can bacopa cause liver problems?
Not as far as we found. Bacopa has not been linked to liver enzyme rises or clinically apparent liver injury (LiverTox, Bacopa). That finding is about bacopa generally, not the MemoPryl amount, which is unknown.
Is bacopa good for brain fog?
Nothing we read tested brain fog directly. Trials looked at memory and attention scores in adults without dementia (Pase 2012, Bacopa review). Persistent fog is worth a doctor's visit, since many causes have nothing to do with supplements.
What dose of bacopa is in MemoPryl?
The dose is not published, and we found no Supplement Facts panel. Trials used 300 to 450 mg a day of extract, but this site never states that as the MemoPryl amount. Read your bottle.
Who wrote this08
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the official site, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Find our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. order-link partner, not by the maker of MemoPryl. This site earns a commission when you buy through our order links.
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