Ayurvedic Herbs for Memory & Brain Health

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell · Brahmi (ब्राह्मी) · Part used: Whole aerial plant (Panchanga — entire above-ground portion: stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit used together). Fresh plant juice (Swarasa) is considered most potent in classical preparations. Dried whole plant powder is used in commercial formulations. Root is not traditionally used medicinally.

Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy · Shankhapushpi, Shankhahva, Sadaphuli, Mangalyakusuma, Ksheerapushpi · Part used: Whole plant — aerial parts including stem, leaf, flower, and root used together. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) Part I Volume III specifies the whole plant as the official part. Root alone used in some preparations. Significant identification problem: three botanically distinct species are sold and used under the name Shankhpushpi — Convolvulus pluricaulis Choisy, Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) L., and Clitoria ternatea L. These are pharmacologically non-equivalent. All published clinical studies must specify the botanical source — studies using an unspecified Shankhpushpi cannot be generalised.

Acorus calamus L. · Vacha, Ugragandha, Golomi, Sadgrantha · Part used: Rhizome (primary; API Part I Volume II specifies rhizome as official part)

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. · Yashtimadhu, Madhuka, Madhuyashti, Klitaka, Yashtyahva, Jalayashti · Part used: Root and stolon (dried root and underground stem — the primary part used in all clinical trials, classical preparations, and commercial extracts). API (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India) specifies the dried root and stolon. IMPORTANT DISTINCTION: two fundamentally different commercial forms exist — whole/standard licorice root (containing glycyrrhizin, the compound responsible for the herb's serious blood pressureThe force of blood pushing against artery walls, expressed as two numbers — systolic (pressure during a heartbeat) over diastolic (pressure between beats). and potassiumAn essential mineral that helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signals, and supports healthy blood pressure. effects) and DGL or deglycyrrhizinated licorice (with glycyrrhizin largely removed, retaining the flavonoidA large family of plant compounds, often found in colorful fruits and vegetables, that are widely studied for their antioxidant properties. fraction). These two forms have very different safety profiles and should not be treated as interchangeable.