Water Hyssop
Botanical Name(s): Bacopa Monniera
Family Name: Scrophulariaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Bacopa
Species: B. monnieri
Popular Name(s): Herpestis Monnieria, Thyme leaved Gratiola, Brahmi, Bacopa, Babies Tear
Parts Used: Whole Plant
Habitat: Grows in marshy places and cultivated throughout India
Description
A small perennial creeping herb, water hyssop has numerous branches that are succulent and rooting at the nodes. The branches are about 10 to 30 cm long. The leaves are oblong, petiole, punctuate, decussate, sessile and fleshy. The small and white flowers are axillary, solitary with peduncles and the tips are purple. The seeds are oblong, truncate and longitudinally ribbed, with transverse striations in between the ribs. Fruits and flowers appear in summers. The annual creeping plant is found throughout India, including the Northeastern Region. It is commonly known as bengsaga and brahmi in Hindi; mandukiparni, manduki, brahmi and saraswati in Sanskrit; thulakudi in Bengali; karivanna in Marathi; khandabrahmi in Gujarati; vallarikiri in Tamil and mandukabrahami in Telugu.
Plant Chemicals
(+)- brahmine, herpestine, hydrocotyline, saponins, monnierin, hersaponin, bacoside A, bacoside B, bacopasides, D-mannitol, betulic acid, ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol, heptacosane, octacosane, nonacosane, triacontane, hentriacontane, dotriacontane, nicotine, 3-formyl-4-hydroxy-2H-pyran, luteolin and its 7-glucoside, a-alamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine and its esters, pectic acid, fatty acids, tannin, volatile oil, ascorbic acid, thankunic acid, asiatic acid, brahamoside, brahminoside, brahmic acid, isobrahmic acid, betulinic acid, wogonin, oroxindin, sterols.
Uses & Benefits of Water Hyssop
- Water hyssop is commonly used as a brain tonic to improve mental alertness and enhance learning and academic performance.
- The herb has antioxidant, cardiotonic and anticancer properties.
- It improves intellect, memory, consciousness, mental acuity, mental clarity and longevity.
- Water hyssop calms the mind and promotes relaxation.
- The herb is used to remedy skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis, abscess and ulcerations.
- It is also believed to stimulate the growth of skin, hair and nails.
- Water hyssop is very effective in treating bronchitis, asthma, hoarseness, arthritis, rheumatism, backache, leprosy, leucoderma, constipation, hair loss, fever and digestive problems.
- The herb increases protein synthesis and activity in brain cells and decreases anxiety, restlessness and senility.
- It is useful in nervous exhaustion and nervous deficit, caused due to injury and stroke.
- Since water hyssop is bitter in taste, it is used in salads and soups, as a cooked lea vegetable and is pickled as well.
- The herb is largely used in inflammations, tumor, splenomegaly, dysmenorrhoea and general debility.
- It is used as a blood cleanser and considered good for the heart. The leaves are useful as a diuretic and aperient.
Caution
- Pregnant and nursing women should consult a health care professional before using water hyssop, even though no effects have been found on the consumption of this herb by them.
