Bacopa
What’s New This Month
- Safety rating now Avoid: We raised it from Real Concern. According to South Korean government records (translated), bacopa cannot be used in food there, and several US-sold products listing it were blocked from 2024 to 2026, citing stomach upset and tiredness. The FactStack™ Rating methodology defaults to Warning when Safety Risk equals Avoid. 1 2
- A correction: We had credited bacopa with better planning and reasoning in older adults. That gain came from a four-ingredient blend. Bacopa alone showed no such gain. 3
- Reports to FDA: Two adverse-event reports since October 2024 name “Brahmi” products, one for an allergic reaction and one for metal poisoning with a hospital stay. Reports to FDA cannot show cause. 4
- New review finds no gain: A 2026 review of seven trials in healthy adults found no benefit for memory, attention or overall thinking. 5
Overview
Bacopa comes from Bacopa monnieri, a plant also called brahmi. It is sold as powder and as extracts set to a stated level of bacosides, its main active compounds. 6
Health Canada’s monograph allows 300 mg a day of extract standardized to 40 to 55% bacosides for the claim “helps support memory.” 7
The name brahmi is also used for another herb, gotu kola, and the two are often mixed up.
Labels claim it boosts memory, focus, calm, mood, sleep and energy. Some sellers have also claimed it helps dementia, ADHD, blood pressure or cancer.
How We Researched It
We rate each marketing claim with a modified version of GRADE, the system medical researchers use to say how sure we can be (i.e., high, moderate, low or very low), and check each trial with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, which asks whether a study’s design could skew its results. For bacopa we used 42 evidence records, published mostly from September 2022 to October 2026. We also checked 10 regulators and safety databases. NIH has no bacopa fact sheet, and we found no Cochrane review.
Research NotesTop three benefits
Memory GRADE: Low
Two pooled studies found gains; one reported an effect too large to believe. 22 3 A 2026 review of seven trials found no benefit. A registered 12-week trial of 101 adults on 300 mg found no memory gain and more stomach upset. 5 8
Bias check: Positive trials were small and often maker-funded. Each used different tests, so chance findings are likely.
Overall Cognition GRADE: Low
In older adults, a 2026 pooled study found no gain in planning and reasoning (executive function) from bacopa alone; the gain came from a four-ingredient blend. 3 In healthy adults, the 2026 review found no gain in overall thinking. 5
Bias check: The pooled study rated every comparison high certainty despite major concerns, so we do not rely on its ratings.
Stress GRADE: Very Low
One 50-person trial of 300 mg for 12 weeks reported lower stress, anxiety and cortisol (a stress hormone) and better sleep. 11 The independent 2025 trial saw a small stress gain on a side measure only. 8
Bias check: The upbeat trial was paid for by the extract maker, and it analysed 44 of 50 people while reporting no dropouts.
Benefit Evaluation
| Claim | Claim Verdict | Research Confidence | Supporting Evidence | Safety Risk | Product Quality | FactStack™ Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memory | TBD | Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Overall Cognition | TBD | Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Stress | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Anxiety | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Mood | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Sleep | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Energy | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Alzheimer’s, MCI and Parkinson’s | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Antioxidant and Anti-Aging | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Works in 2 to 3 Weeks | TBD | Very Low | TBD | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Focus and Attention | Doubtful | Low | Doubtful | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Children’s Cognition and ADHD | Doubtful | Low | Doubtful | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
| Blood Pressure | Doubtful | Very Low | Doubtful | Avoid | Inconsistent | Warning |
What Sellers Say vs. What Studies Show
| “Clinically proven to boost memory.” | Reviews disagree. A 2026 review of seven trials and a 2025 registered trial found no memory gain. 5 8 |
| “Works fast.” | One 17-person study saw quick test gains in hours. The best 12-week trial found no memory benefit. 9 8 |
| “Sharpens focus.” | No pooled study shows an attention benefit, and the 2026 review found none. 10 5 |
| “Melts stress and anxiety.” | The upbeat trial was small and paid for by the extract maker. No pooled review exists. 11 |
| “Natural and gentle.” | Stomach upset is common. In one study, 4 of 35 people quit for nausea or diarrhea. 12 |
| “Pure, 100% brahmi.” | In one small 2025 lab test, 4 of 6 bacopa products had no Bacopa or only traces. 13 |
Trial ParametersIf you try it
| Who | No marketed benefit is established. According to South Korean government records (translated), bacopa is not an allowed food ingredient there. 1 |
| Dose | Health Canada: 300 mg a day of extract standardized to 40 to 55% bacosides. |
| Ceiling | None established. Trials used up to 640 mg a day. |
| Duration | About 12 weeks studied; set one measurable goal first. Stop for ongoing nausea, cramps or diarrhea. |
| Form | Single-ingredient extract with a batch certificate for identity, bacosides and metals; 4 of 6 products failed an identity test. Avoid Brahmi tablets and brain blends. |
| Ask First | Pregnancy or breastfeeding; drugs that boost or block acetylcholine; thyroid medicine; antidepressants; drugs cleared by CYP2C19 or CYP3A4. Not for dementia, ADHD or Parkinson’s. |
How to Take It
| Pick a plan | Health Canada lists 300 mg a day of extract at 40 to 55% bacosides. Trials used 160 to 640 mg a day, most often 300 mg for about 12 weeks. 7 8 |
| Time of day | Not reported. |
| With food | Take it with food, as retailers advise. No study shows this cuts stomach upset. |
| What to expect | Some upbeat trials saw small memory gains after about 12 weeks. The best independent trial saw none. 14 8 |
| How to take | Pick one extract that states its bacoside level. Plain herb powder is not the same dose. |
Works With / Don’t Mix With
✓ Works with
Not reported. We found no supplement shown to add to bacopa’s effect.
⚠ Ask first / don’t mix
Dementia drugs and other drugs that boost acetylcholine (a nerve signal), such as donepezil or cevimeline. Effects may add up; one person had a racing heart and sweating. 6 15
Drugs that block acetylcholine, such as oxybutynin or amitriptyline. Bacopa may weaken them. 6
Thyroid medicine or thyroid disease. Animal data suggest it may raise thyroid hormone. No human data exist. 6
Antidepressants. Two case reports flag problems when bacopa was added. 16
Drugs cleared by the liver enzymes CYP2C19 or CYP3A4. Bacopa slowed these enzymes in lab tests only. No human study exists. 6
Multi-herb brain blends. A 2026 report linked one such blend to delirium (sudden confusion). 17
Manufacturer Recalls & WarningsLast 36 months, newest first
| Date | Maker / Brand | Product | Action | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | Banyan Botanicals (Pearl Banyan Capital LLC) | Bacopa Powder (one of four powders named) | California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result. | 18 |
| Mar 2025 | Believe Supplements (Canada) | Brain Fuel powder, which lists bacopa | Health Canada allergen recall for possible milk-protein cross-contact; not a bacopa hazard. | 19 |
| Oct 2024 | Naturevibe Botanicals | Naturevibe Organic Bacopa Powder | California Prop 65 notice alleging lead. A notice is a claim, not a test result. | 20 |
Where to Buy
We compare products side-by-side not just on price, but on whether NSF lists the product as NSF/ANSI 173 Contents Certified (an independent lab confirms the label matches the contents), whether it is NSF Certified for Sport, whether USP lists it as USP Verified, and whether the seller says it is manufactured in the USA. We leave out a brand’s products for this supplement when, in the last 36 months, the FDA took action against that brand over this supplement (a Class I or II recall, a warning letter, an import alert or an advisory letter). We also leave out any brand with an FDA Class II recall or warning letter on any product. We also leave out any product named in a California Prop 65 notice or a non-US recall, along with that brand’s products of the same ingredient and form. Brands with other actions stay listed and are marked in the Recall Screen column. Our goal remains to provide you, the Consumer, with the information and data necessary to make an informed purchasing decision. Prices reflected below are static and subject to change.
Ratings above describe the ingredient’s research, not any product listed below.
| # | Retailer | Product | Price | NSF 173 | NSF Sport | USP | Mfg. in USA (per seller) | Recall Screen | Affiliate link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iHerb | Paradise Herbs, Bacopa, 60 Vegetarian Capsules (250 mg per Capsule) | $14.99 | ✓ | ✓* | View on iHerb ↗ | |||
| 2 | iHerb | Nutricost, Bacopa Monnieri, 120 Capsules (500 mg per Capsule) | $16.95 | ✓ | ✓* | View on iHerb ↗ | |||
| 3 | HerbsPro | Nature's Answer, Bacopa, 500 Mg, 90 Veg Caps | $17.24 | ✓ | ✓ | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 4 | HerbsPro | Now Foods, Bacopa Extract, 450 Mg, 90 Veg Caps | $21.23 | ✓ | ✓* | View on HerbsPro ↗ | |||
| 5 | Green's Nutrition | Pure Encapsulations Bacopa Monnieri 180 Caps | $55.00 | ✓ | ✓* | View on Green's Nutrition ↗ |
Sources
1. Press release: check ingredients blocked from overseas direct purchase (282 ingredients, including bacopa; read in translation). South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 3 Jul 2023. www.mfds.go.kr/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=47417
2. Press release: overseas direct-purchase foods marketed for high blood pressure, diabetes and more (bacopa product listed; read in translation). South Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 22 Apr 2026. www.mfds.go.kr/brd/m_99/view.do?seq=49897
3. Feng et al. Supplements and cognition in older adults: network meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2026. doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1672171
4. CAERS adverse event reports 2025-CFS-015217 and 2025-CFS-002802 (Brahmi products). US Food and Drug Administration (openFDA food adverse events), Mar and Sep 2025. api.fda.gov/food/event.json?search=report_number:%222025-CFS-015217%22+report_number:%222025-CFS-002802%22&limit=2
5. Marsh et al. Bacopa monnieri and cognition in healthy people: systematic review of seven randomized trials. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2026. doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyag003
6. Walker EA, Pellegrini MV. Bacopa monnieri (StatPearls). NIH National Library of Medicine, NCBI Bookshelf, 17 Mar 2023. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589635/
7. Cognitive Function Products: natural health product monograph (Bacopa monnieri). Health Canada, 30 Jan 2026. webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/atReq?atid=fonc.cognitive.func&lang=eng
8. Lopresti AL et al. Bacopa extract (Bacumen) 300 mg for 12 weeks: registered randomized trial. Clinical Drug Investigation, 2025. doi.org/10.1007/s40261-025-01492-1
9. Benson S et al. Acute effects of Bacopa (CDRI 08) on cognition, mood and cortisol: crossover trial. Phytotherapy Research, 2014. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23788517/
10. Wang et al. Herbal extracts and cognition: network meta-analysis of 27 randomized trials. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2025. doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1573034
11. Gowda SS et al. Bacopa monnieri extract for stress and sleep quality: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Current Research in Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 2026. doi.org/10.29011/2577-2201.100280
12. Keegan et al. Bacopa 320 mg for three months: open-label study. Journal of Clinical and Translational Research, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37032999/
13. Biltes et al. DNA (qPCR) testing of six bacopa-labelled supplements. Foods, 2025. doi.org/10.3390/foods14183275
14. Eraiah MM et al. Bacopa monnieri extract and memory in adults: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Psychiatry and Cognitive Behaviour, 2024. doi.org/10.29011/2574-7762.000068
15. Acquarulo B et al. Suspected cholinergic toxicity due to cevimeline and Bacopa monnieri: case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35765109/
16. Siwek et al. Herb and antidepressant combinations: chart review (two bacopa cases). Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2023. doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1271776
17. Shah et al. Manic-like delirium after a multi-ingredient nootropic containing bacopa: case report. Cureus, 2026. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42137660/
18. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2025-01276, Banyan Botanicals Bacopa Powder (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 18 Apr 2025. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2025-01276
19. Health product recall RA-77188: Believe Supplements Brain Fuel powder, possible milk-protein cross-contact (Type II). Health Canada, 26 Mar 2025. recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/believe-supplements-products-recall-contamination-milk-derived-proteins
20. Proposition 65 60-day notice 2024-04335, Naturevibe Botanicals Organic Bacopa Powder (lead). California Office of the Attorney General, 11 Oct 2024. oag.ca.gov/prop65/60-Day-Notice-2024-04335
21. Import Alert 66-41: Detention Without Physical Examination of Unapproved New Drugs Promoted in the U.S. (includes a “Brahmi” entry, 2025). US Food and Drug Administration, 2025. www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_190.html
22. Tiemtad et al. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) and other supplements for cognition in healthy adults: network meta-analysis of 29 trials. Phytomedicine, 2026. doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2026.157915
