Common Name: Brahmi

General Information

Brahmi is a much branched, creeping herb, sending out stems 5 - 40cm long, and rooting at the nodes[].
A major ayurvedic herb. It is not usually cultivated but is much harvested from the wild.

Known Hazards

When the plant is harvested from the wild, great care should be taken to harvest it from unpolluted sites, as it can take up considerable amounts of heavy metals[].

Botanical References

Range

Probably originating in tropical Asia, it is found through most of the tropics and subtropics.

Habitat

Mud flats in estuarine habitats[]. Moist and wet places, such as the borders of water channels, wells, irrigated fields etc[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.05 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can be grown in warmer temperate climates through to tropical zones[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a soil on the heavy side[]. Requires a wet soil to shallow water[]. Tolerant of saline conditions[].
Plants can flower and produce fruit throughout most of the year[].

Edible Uses

The leaves can be eaten raw in mixed salads, or cooked as a vegetable, added to soups or pickled[].

Medicinal

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[]. The whole plant is used - roots, stems and leaves[]. It is cardiac, nervine tonic, sedative and vasoconstrictor[]. The leaves and stalks are aperient and diuretic[].
An alcohol extract of the whole plant has been shown to have anticancer activity against Walker carcinoma[].
An alcohol extract of plant is a muscle relaxant and cardiovascular relaxant[].
Research in India suggests that brahmi improves mental function, memory and concentration, and also reduces learning time[].
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[].
A tranquilizing saponin that resembles reserpine is also present[].

The plant is used principally in the treatment of a range of nervous system disorders including neuralgia, hysteria, epilepsy, insanity, neurasthenia, aphonia and hoarseness[, ]. The plant is also taken internally in a number of other conditions including indigestion, ulcers, wind, constipation, asthma, bronchitis and infertility[].
A poultice made of the boiled plant is applied to the chests of children in the treatment of acute bronchitis and other coughs[]. A juice made from the plant is applied as a wash on burns[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - minimum temperature for germination is 16°c, the maximum is 28°c, while the optimum is at 20°c[].
Division
Softwood cuttings

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