A perennial creeping herb named Bacopa Munniera might be just what you need to improve your mind. Grown in habitats such as wet lands, marshes and bogs, Bacopa Munniera is commonly known as Water Hyssop, Bacopa or Brahmi, in Ayurvedic medicine. It can even grow under water and is commonly used in aquariums. It is well known for being grown in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, India and Nepal as well as Florida and other southern states.

Brahmi, or Bacopa, which means "creator" in Sanskrit, is a well respected brain tonic in Ayurvedic medicine and best known as an intelligence nutrient, enhancing cognitive ability. It has been taken in India for over 5,000 years. In use it has proven useful for epilepsy, improving memory, increasing concentration and for relieving anxiety. In natural medicine Brahmi also plays a major role as a diuretic, tranquilizer, depression treatment, asthma treatment and insanity treatment. It is also used in children for the treatment of ADD or ADHD.

The succulent plant with thick leaves and small white flowers is one of the more famous supplements in Ayurvedic medicine. In addition to all of the qualities previously mentioned, Brahmi is also an antioxidant, said to reduce oxidization of fats in the bloodstream. This is one powerful natural medicine! But how it really works is still a mystery. It is thought to act as a sedative in calming certain brain neurotransmitters and as a strengthener of the immune system by adaptation. It may stimulate Serotonin production, which would explain why it proves useful in treating depression.

Long-Term memory improvement has been the most noticeable and immediate effect of Brahmi. After about a week of the recommended dosage, memory recall is usually vividly improved, even when recalling memories from years ago. If you want a better memory you almost have to try Brahmi. As well, dream recall has been an interesting and tested affect of Brahmi. Taken twice daily has resulted in extremely vivid recall of nightly dreams for many users.

Controlled research in several studies in India and Australia proved Brahmi, or Bacopa, to be an excellent supplement for memory retention of new information. It also showed an improvement in the speed of processing visual information. These results do not occur with only one dose, and several must be taken over time.

Recommended dosage is 70 mg. To 125 mg. twice daily (as much as 300 mg. daily have been taken in adults), once in the morning and once in the evening. It may be possible to suffer an overdose if taking too much, but this is far more than the recommended amount. So far there have been no known side-effects in normal use, even in children. Brahmi can be found in many health food stores, and is sometimes labeled as a "memory enhancer" or "memory plus", or simply "Bacopa".

Consult a physician before beginning any major self-induced therapy. Please do your research on any supplement you may want to take.