Description
Description
Gotu Kola vs Bacopa: The Battle of the Brahmi’s
A Match Made in Heaven: The Science Behind Bacopa and Gotu Kola’s Synergistic Support for Memory and Focus
Welcome to part 2 of our series on herbal allies, in which I discuss plant medicines that have traditionally been used together across various herbal-based medical systems.
If you haven’t read part 1 of our herbal allies series, go here: The Herbal Ally Series Part 1: Holy Basil and Gotu Kola
All forms of traditional herbal medicine recognize that individual herbs have their appropriate place in medicine.
However, herbal formulas are central to these long-standing traditional systems of medicine. In fact, the tradition of observing how herbs in their natural environments interact and function as medicines has long led to the creation of some of the most longstanding and effective formulas.
A core value in creating these potent formulas is understanding the concept of herbal allies. In simple terms, herbal allies are plant medicines that work well together, creating a more powerful effect through synergy and by supporting each other's primary mechanisms of action.
In today’s article, I will discuss the relationship between Bacopa Leaf and Gotu kola and how these herbal allies are a match made in heaven.
However, before I discuss why these two potent herbs are a match made in heaven, let’s take a look at the role they each play in various systems of traditional herbal medicine.
Bacopa and Gotu Kola: An Ayurvedic Perspective
If you didn’t read part one of the herbal ally series, here is a reminder of the primary principles of Ayurvedic medicine.
- Ayurvedic medicine is based on three primary doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha), which correspond to the elements (water, earth, air, fire, and ether).
- Doshas are believed to be the energies that circulate in the body and govern physiological activity.
- One of the unique principles of Ayurveda is the understanding of health as a result of the coordinated functioning of the soul, mind, and body in an intimate relationship with everything else in the cosmos- material and nonmaterial.
- It holds that the constituent factors of the human body and the cosmos are identical. Ayurvedic medicine often evaluates foods and herbs based on their energetic qualities, using a framework called Dravya Guna to analyze how a substance (food or herb) interacts with the body and mind from the moment it is tasted through its final metabolic stages.
1) In Ayurvedic medicine, gotu kola is known as a “pharmacy in one herb” because of its wide range of potential benefits:
- Brain tonic (supports blood flow to the brain, feet, and hands)
- Skin condition disorders (red, inflamed skin),
- Antioxidant, diuretic, systemic anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial
Gotu kola is used extensively as a rasayana, i.e., a tonic (with an average daily dose of 3-6 grams), to support strength, skin quality, digestive power, and to improve intelligence. Yogis traditionally use Gotu kola to develop the crown chakra. A cup of gotu kola tea before meditation is believed to heighten awareness and calm the mind and emotions.
Ayurvedic qualities of Gotu Kola:
- Rasa (Taste): Bitter
- Guna (Qualities): Light to digest
- Vipaka (Third level of digesting, deep level of taste), Sweet taste after digestion
- Veerya (Potency): Cold
- Effects on Tridosha (The influence of movement, transformation, and sensory functions): Balances kapha and pitta due to bitterness
2) Bacopa Monnieri (also known as Brahmi) is classified as a medhya rasayana, a restorative compound of one's intellectual capacity. While bacopa is traditionally used to improve memory, intelligence, concentration, and learning ability, scholars and yogis have long used it to facilitate memorization of sacred hymns and support meditation. Ayurvedic medicine also believes that bacopa acts as a nerve tonic to manage stress and insomnia (via calming and soothing the nervous system) and an anxiolytic to help reduce anxiety through its influence on the GABA neurotransmitter systems. Bacosides upregulate enzymes such as glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), which catalyzes the synthesis of GABA.
Furthermore, Ayurveda holds that bacopa has the following effects:
A) Balances the Prana Vata, which governs the mind and breath.
- Prana is the subtle form of Vata responsible for vital functions such as breathing, nutrient intake, and consciousness, and, when balanced, it brings vitality, joy, and clarity.
- It also represents the life force energy that governs inhalation, sensory perception, assimilation, and the mind-body connection.
B) Considered a "tridoshic" herb, helping to balance all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). It is particularly effective at pacifying Pitta due to its cooling energy (Virya) and bitter/sweet taste (Rasa).
Energetic qualities of Bacopa:
- Rasa (Taste): Bitter and sweet
- Guna (Qualities): Light and flowing
- Vipaka (Third level of digesting, deep level of taste), Sweet
- Veerya (Potency): cooling
- Effects on Tridosha (The influence of movement, transformation, and sensory functions): Balances doshas but may increase vata if used in excess.
The Potent Role of Ghee in Enhancing Bioavailability
One of the more traditional preparations in Ayurveda is an infusion made with ghee: Brahmi Ghrita (Bacopa) and "Brahmi Ghee" (Gotu Kola). Essentially, ghee is produced by simmering butter to remove water and milk solids (proteins and lactose).
The result is a pure, nutty butterfat rich in the following:
- Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K
- Butyrate: a short-chain fatty acid produced by the gut that supports intestinal barrier integrity and reduces inflammation.
- Medium-chain fatty acids that are specifically known to enhance nutrient absorption and promote gut energy metabolism,
- CLA: fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and support brain health, potentially complementing the neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effects of Bacopa
What makes Ghee the Superior Fat for Enhancing Bioavailability?
Ghee is considered a yogavahi or "powerful carrier," due to its lipophilic nature. However, due to its unique fatty acid profile, Ghee works by
- Mimicking cell membranes
- Facilitating cellular entry
Ghee is effective in this context because it is rich in saturated fats and short-chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid. These fatty acids effectively dissolve and transport fat-soluble herbal compounds across cell membranes, delivering them into deeper tissues and organs.
Furthermore, Ghee is a pure, clean, animal-based fat (free of protein and lactose) and is rich in all fat-soluble vitamins, thereby enhancing bioavailability. Ultimately, ghee is used as the primary carrier because of its purity and high oxidative stability.
***Important Note****
We often get questions about how the principles of Ayurveda intertwine with those of Western medicine. In simple terms, Western medicine is primarily reductionist and interventionist with standardized protocols that focus on targeted interventions for managing and eliminating symptoms. In contrast, Ayurveda examines the root cause of an imbalance and adopts a highly personalized, prevention-focused approach.
Bacopa and Gotu Kola: A Western Herbalism Perspective
Much like Ayurvedic medicine, Western herbalism considers gotu kola a powerful cerebral tonic that may help with the following.
- Promote circulation
- Inhibit neuroinflammatory responses
- Support cognitive function and memory
- Potentially relieve situational anxiety.
Furthermore, according to herbalist David Winston, Gotu kola has the following attributes.
- Acts as an essential medicine for autoimmune conditions.
- Strengthens connective tissues and is indicated for connective tissue disorders with red, inflamed skin.
- It is a traditional Ayurvedic brain tonic increasing oxygen flow and circulation to the brain, feet, and hands.
- Used for varicose veins and used topically for preventing scarring from burns and surgery.
The following was reported in a study examining the positive modulation of cognition and mood in healthy elderly volunteers following administration of Centella asiatica.
- Twenty-eight healthy elderly participants received the plant extract at doses of 250, 500, or 750 mg once daily for 2 months.
- Cognitive performance and event-related potential were assessed using the computerized test battery.
- In contrast, mood was assessed using Bond-Lader visual analogue scales before the trial and at 1 and 2 months post-treatment.
- Results showed that a high dose of the plant extract enhanced working memory and increased the amplitude of the N100 component of the event-related potential.
- Improvements in self-rated mood were also found following the Centella asiatica treatment.
Therefore, it was concluded that “the present findings suggest the potential of Centella asiatica to attenuate the age-related decline in cognitive function and mood disorder in the healthy elderly.”
Bacopa: A Nootropic and Neuroprotective Powerhouse
In Western herbal medicine, Bacopa is primarily considered a nootropic, antispasmodic, and anxiolytic with adaptogenic-like qualities. However, it is essential to note that bacopa is not a true adaptogen. True adaptogens elicit non-specific responses. Bacopa’s effects on the HPA axis are pretty specific: It reduces excessive stress hormones and specifically protects neural structures. Bacopa may also support emotional and mental well-being and promote cerebral circulation. Furthermore, preliminary studies indicate its ability to prevent ischemic brain damage.
Many herbalists use bacopa for children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with Hawthorn, Milky Oat Seed, and Holy Basil. Bacopa is also frequently used for patients recovering from head trauma injuries in conjunction with St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo, and Holy Basil.
Nootropics are a category of substances (both natural and synthetic) that show potential to improve cognitive function by promoting relaxation and supporting mood, memory, attention, and creativity. The Romanian psychologist Corneliu Giurgea first defined the term "nootropic" and was also the first to synthesize one of the best-known substances in this category, Piracetam, in 1964. The Giurgea Nootropic Criteria state that for any substance to be considered a nootropic, it must do the following:
- Enhance learning and memory.
- Enhance the resistance of learned behaviors/memories to conditions that disrupt them.
- Protect the brain against a broad spectrum of physical or chemical injuries.
- Increase our ability to focus and pay attention
- Lack of common side effects that are related to other psychotropic drugs
- Be non-toxic at clinical dosages
According to herbalist Donald Yance, Bacopa is rich in the steroidal saponins bacoside A and B. Derived from the Bacopa leaf, these saponins modulate stress hormones released from the brain, exerting a neuroendocrine-enhancing and stress-protective effect. Bacopa appears to affect the central nervous system by stimulating the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and cholinergic systems, which have a calming effect on the brain and improve concentration and information retention.
The following was reported in a study on the Effects of 12-week Bacopa monnieri Consumption on Attention, Cognitive Processing, Working Memory, and the Functions of Both Cholinergic and Monoaminergic Systems in Healthy Elderly Volunteers who received either a standardized extract of B. monnieri (300 and 600 mg) or a placebo once daily.
- The functions of the cholinergic and monoaminergic systems were assessed using AChE and MAO activities.
- Working memory was assessed using percent accuracy and reaction time across various memory tests. In contrast, attention and cognitive processing were assessed using latencies and amplitudes of the N100 and P300 components of the event-related potential.
- All assessments were performed before treatment, every four weeks during the study period, and four weeks after the intervention ended.
- The B. monnieri-treated group showed improved working memory, along with reduced N100 and P300 latencies.
- The suppression of plasma AChE activity was also observed.
Therefore, it was concluded that Bacopa monnieri can improve attention, cognitive processing, and working memory, in part, by suppressing AChE activity.
Furthermore, Bacopa enhances neuronal resilience and survival. This means that bacopa enhances the brain’s capacity to withstand, adapt to, and recover from stress, injury, and disease, while protecting brain cells from damage or death.
It is also widely believed that its key compounds, bacosides, support mitochondrial health and influence gene expression related to neuroplasticity by inducing new dendrite formation and altering gene expression, promoting neuronal repair and growth. In simple terms, it encourages the brain to repair itself, grow, become more flexible (neuroplasticity), and form new communication lines.
The Synergy Explained: A Match Made in Heaven
So, what makes these herbal allies a match made in heaven?
In simple terms, the synergy of these potent herbs has mechanisms of action that complement one another, offering synergistic cognitive support. Their complementary support occurs in three specific ways.
1) Establishing defenses and preserving foundations: Bacopa’s ability to help build new neuronal structures (Neurogenesis), combined with Gotu Kola’s ability to protect existing cells and improve their environment, allows these new pathways to thrive. Bacosides increase dendritic branching, improving neuron communication, while Gotu Kola supports nerve growth factor (BDNF), which is crucial for neurogenesis and brain cell communication. Therefore, these compounds support the formation of stronger neural networks. Finally, Bacopa modulates neurotransmitter systems such as acetylcholine, whereas Gotu Kola influences pathways including glutamatergic transmission, thereby enhancing signaling for improved learning and memory.
2) Improves Lucid Memory: This concept refers to actively building and navigating mental spaces to organize and vividly recall information. Therefore, combining these two herbs creates a lucid mental landscape. In simple terms, it creates a clear, detailed experience or scene in an individual's mind through vivid language and mental imagery. This occurs because bacopa increases memory capacity, while gotu kola supports the clarity and focus needed to access it.
3) Traditionally used Brain Tonics: In simple terms, when addressing memory, focus, and overall brain health, according to Ayurvedic medicine, they are substantially more effective when used together as opposed to individual tonics.
In conclusion, understanding the principles of formulating an effective formula is a multilayered process. One of the longest-standing traditions is observing how each plant functions independently and also in association with other plants.
Therefore, when you understand the science behind plant medicines and that each plant has multiple allies that support its ability to heal, you have a proper match made in heaven.
For more information about our Organic Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) Powder, go here: Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) Powder - Organic
For more information about our Organic Gotu Kola Powder, go here: Gotu Kola Powder - Organic
The Author’s Bio
Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing, with over 25 years of experience in various aspects of the field. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets across the 35 countries he has visited. Michael shares his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel, "A Master Herbalist Perspective." He is regarded as a leading educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.
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