Description

Bacopa vs. Ginkgo: The Ultimate Showdown for Brain Health and Blood Flow

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Welcome to part 4 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 have not read Part 1 (Gotu Kola vs Holy Basil), Part 2 (Bacopa vs Gotu Kola), or Part 3 (Bacopa vs Lion’s Mane), please check them out. 

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. 

The Power of Herbal Allies: Why Herbs Work Better Together

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 two of the most well-known brain tonics that not only cross the blood-brain barrier but also may support cerebral blood flow, a core mechanism of action in brain health: Bacopa Leaf and Ginkgo Biloba Leaf. 

Today's article focuses on the mechanisms of action (based on Western herbal medicine principles) of Bacopa and Ginkgo as potential cerebral circulatory powerhouses and argues for the distinct superiority of each. 

However, before I get started, it is essential to understand what cerebral circulation is and its importance to brain health.  

Cerebral Circulation: The Brain's Critical Lifeline

Cerebral circulation is defined as “The movement of blood through the network of arteries and veins (approx. 750 mL/min) that supply the brain with oxygen and nutrients while removing waste. It is essential for maintaining constant, high-metabolic brain function, using auto-regulation to adjust to pressure changes.” 

Essentially, blood reaches the brain via the anterior carotid arteries and the posterior vertebral arteries, which join at the Circle of Willis at the base of the brain. The circle of Willis acts as a safety mechanism, ensuring constant blood flow to the brain by creating alternative routes (collateral circulation) if one vessel is blocked or narrowed. Cerebral circulation is the most essential fundamental function for supporting a healthy brain.     

The purpose of cerebral circulation is to auto-regulate: blood vessels constrict or dilate to maintain a consistent flow, ensuring the brain receives a healthy supply of glucose and oxygen for energy (since it can’t be stored) even when blood pressure changes. 

Healthy cerebral blood flow is vital for normal cognitive function, supporting high-demand metabolic activities (delivering oxygen & glucose, removing metabolic waste), and preventing stroke and long-term brain damage. 

Crossing the Line: How Bacopa and Ginkgo Interact with the Brain

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective protective lining around the brain’s blood vessels. It helps regulate which substances in the bloodstream can enter the brain, supporting a stable environment for normal nervous system function.

Because the BBB is selective, not everything we consume can reach the brain. Generally, small, fat-soluble (lipophilic) compounds are more likely to pass through this barrier than larger or water-soluble compounds.

Ginkgo biloba contains naturally occurring compounds such as ginkgolides and bilobalide that are fat-soluble in structure.

Bacopa monnieri contains compounds called bacosides, which are also considered lipophilic. Due to their chemical characteristics, these types of compounds may be able to cross biological membranes, including the blood-brain barrier.

In simple terms, the blood-brain barrier is made largely of lipid (fat-based) membranes. Compounds that dissolve more easily in fats may pass through more readily than compounds that dissolve primarily in water.

The Sobering Truth: What Alcohol Does to Your Brain

Facts about Alcohol and the Brain: Contrary to the many prior reports from years ago that having several small alcohol beverages daily is good for a healthy heart and aging, more modern research has shown that alcohol is considered a class one carcinogen. 

Class one is the highest classification, indicating sufficient evidence that it causes cancer through damaging DNA and preventing its repair. As a reference, tobacco and asbestos are in the same category. 

Even worse, alcohol does cross the blood-brain barrier through a process called passive diffusion. Alcohol's ability to cross this barrier is due to the perfect trifecta: it has a small molecular size and is both lipid- and water-soluble. 

Based on SPECT scans that look at blood flow in the brain, alcohol damages the brain in five specific ways: 

1. Shrinks brain volume: Several studies, including a 2020 study in Scientific Reports, have found that moderate drinking (defined as 1-2 glasses daily) is associated with lower total brain volume in people ages 39-45. 
2. Lowers blood flow: Dr. Daniel Amen believes that low blood flow on brain scans is the number one predictor of future memory issues and Alzheimer's. 
3. Causes Hippocampal atrophy: According to a 30-year study using 550 men and women, moderate drinking leads to hippocampal atrophy (a thick bundle of nerve fibers that connects regions of the brain and is critical for learning and memory).
4. Reduces the number of new brain cells
5. Increases risk of dementia: According to research in the Journal of Gerontology, moderate drinkers have a 57% higher risk of dementia.   

The good news is that the effects don’t have to be permanent. 

Bacopa’s Core Strengths: Stress, Mood, and Cognition

In Western herbal traditions, Bacopa monnieri has historically been described using several functional categories. These terms describe how the herb has been traditionally used — not drug effects.

Nootropic: A nootropic is a substance studied for its potential to support cognitive function. Bacopa has traditionally been used to help support memory, focus, and overall mental clarity, particularly during times of occasional stress.

Antispasmodic: An antispasmodic herb is one traditionally used to help relax smooth muscle tissue. Smooth muscle is found in areas such as the digestive and urinary systems. Historically, bacopa has been used in herbal practice to support digestive comfort and normal muscle relaxation.

Anxiolytic (Calming Support): In herbal terminology, anxiolytic refers to plants traditionally used to promote a calm, balanced mood. Bacopa has been studied for its interaction with neurotransmitter systems and is commonly used to support relaxation and a healthy stress response.

Adaptogenic-Like Qualities: Adaptogens are herbs traditionally used to help the body adapt to occasional physical or mental stress. Bacopa is sometimes described as having “adaptogenic-like” properties because of its supportive role in stress balance. 

However, it is generally considered more targeted in its traditional use rather than fitting the classic definition of a broad, nonspecific adaptogen.

How Bacopa Is Studied for Cognitive Support

Research on Bacopa monnieri has explored several ways it may help support healthy brain function. Below is a simplified overview of mechanisms discussed in scientific literature.

Antioxidant Activity & Cellular Support: Bacopa contains active compounds called bacosides that have been studied for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative stress — a natural process that occurs during normal metabolism and exposure to environmental factors. Bacopa has also been studied for its interaction with certain neurotransmitter systems involved in mood and cognition.

Neurotransmitter Interaction: Some research suggests bacopa may influence the activity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help regulate mood, focus, and communication between nerve cells.

Support for Healthy Neural Communication: Preclinical studies have examined bacosides for their role in supporting synaptic activity — the communication points between brain cells. Research has explored their potential involvement in cellular signaling pathways associated with learning and memory.

Research on Protein Balance in the Brain: Beta-amyloid is a naturally occurring protein fragment in the brain. Laboratory research has investigated bacopa’s antioxidant activity and its potential influence on processes related to beta-amyloid balance. These findings are primarily from preclinical models and continue to be studied.

How Is Bacopa Studied for Supporting Healthy Cerebral Blood Flow?

Healthy cerebral blood flow refers to the normal circulation of blood that delivers oxygen and nutrients to brain tissue. Researchers have explored how Bacopa monnieri and its active compounds, called bacosides, may interact with biological pathways involved in vascular function.

1. Nitric Oxide Pathways

Some preclinical studies suggest bacopa may influence nitric oxide production in endothelial cells (the cells that line blood vessels). Nitric oxide is a naturally occurring signaling molecule that helps support normal blood vessel relaxation and healthy circulation.

2. Calcium Channel Activity

Calcium plays an important role in the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. Laboratory research has examined bacopa’s potential influence on calcium movement within vascular smooth muscle cells, which may be associated with supporting normal vessel tone.

3. Antioxidant Activity

Bacopa has been studied for its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help protect cells, including those that line blood vessels, from oxidative stress — a normal biological process that can affect vascular health over time.

4. Inflammation-Related Pathways

Research has also explored bacopa’s interaction with certain inflammatory signaling pathways in preclinical models. Maintaining a balanced inflammatory response is considered one aspect of overall vascular and neurological health.

Overall, current research suggests bacopa’s compounds may interact with multiple pathways involved in normal vascular function. Much of this research comes from laboratory and preclinical studies, and ongoing human research continues to evaluate these findings.

What Is Ginkgo Biloba Traditionally Used For?

In Western herbal traditions, Ginkgo biloba is often described as a vascular and cognitive tonic. This means it has historically been used to support healthy circulation and overall cognitive function, particularly as part of healthy aging.

Antioxidant Activity

Ginkgo contains naturally occurring flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals — unstable molecules produced during normal metabolism and environmental exposure — and help protect cells from oxidative stress.

Laboratory research has explored how ginkgo compounds may influence cellular antioxidant pathways, including those involved in the body’s natural defense systems.

Circulation Support

Ginkgo has been studied for its potential role in supporting healthy blood flow, including circulation to the brain. Researchers believe this may be related to its terpene lactones, including ginkgolides and bilobalide, which have been examined for their effects on blood vessel tone and microcirculation in preclinical and human studies.

Healthy circulation plays an important role in delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, including to brain tissue.

Overall, ginkgo is widely researched for its antioxidant properties and its role in supporting normal vascular and cognitive function.

Ginkgo Biloba: Mechanisms Studied in Research

Ginkgo biloba has been widely studied for how its naturally occurring compounds interact with cellular and vascular pathways. Below is a simplified overview of mechanisms explored in laboratory and human research.

Antioxidant Activity

Ginkgo contains flavonoids and terpene lactones that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and protect cells — including brain cells — from oxidative stress that occurs during normal metabolism and environmental exposure.

Cellular Energy Support

Preclinical studies have examined ginkgo’s influence on mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the “energy centers” of cells and play a role in producing ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body’s primary energy molecule. Research suggests ginkgo compounds may help support normal cellular energy processes.

Support for Normal Cell Signaling

Laboratory research has explored how ginkgo interacts with signaling proteins involved in normal cell survival pathways. These findings primarily come from preclinical models and continue to be studied.

Circulation and Blood Vessel Function

Ginkgo has been studied for its effects on nitric oxide pathways, which are involved in normal blood vessel relaxation. Research has also examined its influence on platelet activity and microcirculation. Healthy blood flow supports the delivery of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Inflammation-Related Pathways

Some studies suggest ginkgo compounds interact with inflammatory signaling pathways in laboratory settings. Maintaining a balanced inflammatory response is considered part of overall vascular and neurological health.

Neurotransmitter Interaction

Research has explored ginkgo’s interaction with neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin — chemical messengers involved in memory, mood, and cognitive function.

Overall, ginkgo’s active compounds have been studied for their antioxidant properties, support of normal circulation, and interaction with cellular signaling pathways related to cognitive health.

What Is the Difference Between How Ginkgo and Bacopa Support Cerebral Circulation?

Both Ginkgo biloba and Bacopa monnieri have been studied for their roles in supporting cognitive health, but research suggests they may work in different ways.

Ginkgo: A Circulation-Focused Approach

Ginkgo is widely studied for its effects on vascular function. Research suggests it may support healthy blood flow by influencing nitric oxide pathways and microcirculation. Healthy circulation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to brain tissue.

Some human studies suggest that ginkgo’s effects on circulation may be observed within weeks, although individual results vary.

Bacopa: A Neuron-Focused Approach

Bacopa has been studied more for its interaction with nerve cell signaling and cognitive pathways. Research suggests its active compounds (bacosides) may support synaptic communication — the way brain cells signal to one another.

Most human studies on bacopa evaluate consistent use over several weeks, as its effects on memory and learning have typically been observed with longer-term supplementation.

How They Compare

In simple terms: Ginkgo research often focuses on circulation and vascular pathways.

Bacopa research often focuses on neuronal signaling and cognitive processing pathways.

Potential Complementary Roles

Although these herbs come from different traditional systems, modern research suggests their mechanisms may be complementary. Ginkgo has been studied for circulation and antioxidant support, while bacopa has been studied for synaptic and cognitive support.

Both herbs contain antioxidant compounds and have been examined for their interaction with inflammatory and vascular pathways in laboratory and human research.

If you’d like to learn more about our products, you are invited to explore them here:

• Organic Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) Powder
• Lion's Mane Mushroom Extract Powder - Organic
• Gotu Kola Powder - Organic
• Holy Basil Powder (Tulsi) - Organic
• Vegetable, Leaf, and Grass Powders

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.