Bacopa in PureLung: An Ayurvedic Herb, Not a Lung One

Bacopa monnieri, sometimes called brahmi, is a plant that grows in wet places. In Ayurvedic medicine it has a long history of use. In supplements it usually appears as a dried herb or an extract with a stated amount of active compounds called bacosides.

Bacopa is fourth. The ceiling rule gives a maximum of 600 divided by 4, so 150 mg per serving. The actual amount could be less, and the label gives no figure. Even at the ceiling, the dose would sit below many amounts used in studies, which is a reminder that ceilings show limits and nothing else.

Reported effects include nausea, stomach cramps and loose stools, especially at higher doses or without food. Bacopa may interact with some medicines, including those for thyroid conditions, those that slow the heart and some that act on the brain.

• Take capsules with food to reduce stomach upset.
• Tell your pharmacist if you use thyroid medicine, sedatives or heart medicine.
• Stop if you feel dizzy or very tired.
• Keep a note of the date you started, so a change in how you feel can be linked to the capsule and not to a cold or a poor night.