✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
📰Read the full Brahmi evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ 8–12 weeks required — NOT acute like caffeine [2]
⚠ GI side effects common — ALWAYS take with food [1]
⚠ 'Brahmi' = Bacopa OR Gotu Kola depending on tradition — confirm species [1]
⚠ May increase T4 — monitor in thyroid patients [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
Cognitive assessment
Cognitive assessment
Reference range / target
Improved recall at 12 weeks
Improved recall at 12 weeks
Not acute [2].
Full lab monitoring ↓⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Bacopa (Brahmi) is one of the BEST-EVIDENCED nootropic herbs — systematic reviews confirm improved memory/free recall after 8–12 weeks. NOT acute (needs weeks of loading). GI side effects common — take WITH food. 300 mg/day (55% bacosides). KeenMind/BacoMind: most studied. Can combine with Lion's Mane (different mechanism) [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Traditional use. Limited modern data [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Used in Ayurvedic pediatric practice. Some ADHD data [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: With meals (GI + fat absorption) [1].
💊 With food: WITH food (mandatory for GI tolerance) [1].
🚫 Avoid: Empty stomach (GI). Thyroid patients without monitoring [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Standardized Bacopa extract (55% bacosides)', 'preferred', '300 mg/day. KeenMind/BacoMind most studied [2].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
How long until Bacopa works? ▼
8–12 WEEKS minimum. This is NOT an acute nootropic like caffeine. Bacopa works through cumulative synaptic and neuroplastic changes [2].
Bacopa vs Lion's Mane? ▼
GI side effects? ▼
Common — nausea, cramping, bloating. ALWAYS take with food. Fat enhances absorption of lipophilic bacosides [1].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
Systematic reviews (6+): Bacopa improves memory, particularly free recall, after 8–12 weeks [2]. Bacoside mechanism: enhances synaptic transmission, antioxidant [1]. HIGH
Moderate
Attention: some improvement in attention tasks [2]. Elderly cognition: positive trials in healthy elderly [2]. ADHD (children): some positive Indian trials [1]. Anxiety: some anxiolytic data [1]. MODERATE
Insufficient
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ Bradycardia/heart block — cholinergic activity
⚠ Peptic ulcer or GI/urinary obstruction — increases secretions
⚠ Concurrent thyroid medication, cholinergics or sedatives
⚠ Pregnancy and lactation — insufficient data
🚩 Red flags
● Patient taking on empty stomach — GI guaranteed [1]
● Thyroid patient — may increase T4 [1]
● Patient expecting acute effect — needs 8–12 weeks [2]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
Thyroid medications Minor
Mechanism: Bacopa may increase T4 production. [1]
Effect: Altered thyroid levels. [1]
Action: Monitor TSH/T4 [1].
Supplement synergies
Lion's Mane · 500–1,000 mg Lion's Mane
Bacopa (synaptic/memory) + Lion's Mane (NGF/neurogenesis) = complementary nootropic stack [1].
Bacopa (synaptic/memory) + Lion's Mane (NGF/neurogenesis) = complementary nootropic stack [1].
7 Regulatory
India (AYUSH): Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia (Brahmi/Medhya Rasayana) [1].
United States: Dietary supplement [1].
8 US supplement products
4
on-market products containing Brahmi (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Brahmi (3)
Click a brand to see its Brahmi products.
9 Frequently paired with
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Brahmi — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 17]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/brahmi/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Brahmi — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/brahmi/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: January 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Brahmi — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/brahmi/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG