Bacopa Monnieri is commonly known as water hyssop, or Brahmi. It is a medicinal herb that is native to the northeastern and southern regions of India. Water hyssop is a plant that has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and it was very helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ashwagandha increases stamina and strength, which is helpful for patients during the recovery period.
"Brahmi is also essential for a robust immune system," says Ayurveda lifestyle specialist, Namita Piparaiya.
There has been a bounce in the sale of herbal plants in India amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. A large number of nurseries in Uttar Pradesh have been doing brisk business selling plants such as Tulsi (basil), Brahmi (water hyssop), Ashwagandha, and lemongrass.
Also, it has been observed that COVID-19 infection can impact your memory and other cognitive skills and people who recovered from COVID-19 had structural changes in the brain that were related to memory loss and smell. Water hyssop is commonly used as a memory enhancer and acts as a brain tonic that helps in enhancing brain development.
Health benefits of water hyssop
Let us know the top health benefits of water hyssop (Bacopa Monnieri).
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Brahmi is a therapeutic herb commonly used as a memory enhancer. It is excellent for improving your brain functions and strengthening your memory. It also improves three aspects of memory: long-term memory, short-term memory, and retaining capacity. Brahmi has a chilling property that retains the mind calm and free of anxiety.
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Water hyssop acts as a brain tonic that helps in enhancing brain development. It contains bacoside, which is a natural compound that improves brain health.
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Bacopa Monnieri is very effective in treating bronchitis, asthma, hoarseness, arthritis, rheumatism, backaches, leprosy, constipation, hair loss, fever, and digestive problems.
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These herbs increase protein synthesis and activity in brain cells and decrease anxiety, restlessness, and senility.
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Overuse of alcohol, drugs, chemicals, and toxins negatively affects overall liver health and the level of liver enzymes rises during liver damage. So that the consumption of water hyssop improves liver health and helps in bringing back liver enzyme levels to their normal range.
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Water hyssop is used for digestive and intestinal problems, including liver and gallbladder conditions, intestinal pain, intestinal gas, colic, and loss of appetite. It is also used for respiratory problems, including coughs, respiratory infections, sore throats, and asthma.
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It is also beneficial for skin-related diseases and can also be helpful for diabetic patients to control the level of glucose in their bodies.
You can easily grow and care for water hyssop (Brahmi). It is found in humid and warmer parts of the world. It is a common creeping annual growing in damp and marshy areas.
Soil and climate requirements
These plants thrive in poorly drained soil and in subtropical and tropical climates, requiring a temperature range of 30 to 40 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of 60–65% for optimal vegetative growth.
Fertilizers Requirement
The plant requires about 4t/ha of FYM which is to be applied as basal dose at the time of land preparation and regarding with inorganic fertilizers application of NPK 100:50:60/kg is recommended.
Irrigation
It is very necessary to water the field after transplanting for the survival and growth of the plants. Subsequently, the field should be irrigated at a 7-8 day interval. Irrigation should be avoided during the rainy season.
Interculture
Basically, hand weeding is needed every 15-20 days, but later on, as plants proliferate and form a dense mat of vegetation, weeding may be done occasionally.
Plant protection
Grass hoppers are commonly observed and can be controlled by spraying neem-based insecticides or 0.2% of Nuvocron or Rogar.
