Could a plant used in Ayurvedic medicine help treat Alzheimer’s?

Tests are being carried out to see if a plant traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine could help treat Alzheimer’s…

Carrying out these important tests are the team at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, and the plant they are studying is the Brahmi (also referred to as Bacopa Monnieri), which is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicine is a traditional system of medicine native to India. According to Indian philosophy, the universe is made up of five elements, earth, air, fire, water and ether. The primary aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to restore these elements within the body to regain balance and treat illness using various herbs and plants.

The Brahmi plant is a creeping herb that resides in wetlands and muddy shores. The plant boasts anti-oxidant properties and is used to treat a variety of ailments in Ayurvedic medicine including asthma and epilepsy, (although it is more likely that the plant is used in small doses alongside conventional epilepsy medication).

Studies on the plant already show that it has a positive effect on anxiety and enhances cognitive ability. Extracts of the plant have now been tested on rats and show that Brahmi improves memory capacity and motor learing ability. The most recent studies also suggest that it reduces deposits of beta-amyloid which are typically found in patients with Alzheimer’s.

If you want to learn more about Ayurvedic medicine and how it could help you, please see our Ayuvedic medicine page.

View and comment on the original Complementary Medical Association article.