“Chew a handful of brahmi leaves and you are sure to score better in Maths…” Well, this is an advice that was certainly not uncommon during up my growing up days. Elders often recommended including Brahmi in your diet for it helped strengthening your memory and improved your concentration.
Brahmi herb
Also known as water hyssop and “ondelaga”, Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a perennial herb commonly found in India and one that finds mention in ancient religious, social and medicinal texts as well as holy scriptures like the Vedas. It has been a staunch favorite with Ayurvedic practitioners and a staple in their formulations given that it packs a world of goodness.
Treasure house of benefits
Brahmi has been used for a variety of reasons including alleviating stress, reducing anxiety, improving sleep patterns, boosting brain health and memory. It works wonders for the skin and hair too and hence commonly used in the treatment of hair loss and skin disorders like abscess, eczema and even psoriasis. Brahmi oil is in fact very popular as it good for scalp health and regeneration of healthy hair. It is rich in anti-oxidant properties and known to have anti cancer properties too. It is anti-inflammatory and used commonly to cure cough, cold and conjestion.
Include Brahmi in your diet
Given that Brahmi has no overpowering taste or flavor of its own, it can be easily incorporated in your diet if you are a fan of healthy eating. Brew a few leaves in water, add pepper and honey and savour as a tea. You can also add small quantities of the herb to your soup, salads, chutney powder and even roti dough or dosa batter.
Further, add a couple of leaves to your normal coriander chutney and you have given it a super healthy twist! Timare chutney and tambuli (which is a curd-based gravy) are popular dishes made exclusively from Brahmi leaves in the South. You can add it to your buttermilk and make your “neer mor” healthy! If you are in a mood to experiment, use it while making pesto which again is a great idea.
Read more about this super healthy herb in my article in The New Indian Express.
