Seems to Focus the Mind. I Believe it Works as Advertised
I've had positive experiences with Planetary Formulas Bacopa Extract and have the subscription to this one. I believe it does enhance learning and memory and I'll describe my experience.
First - Price: At the time of this review it is only some cents per tablet and the subscription deal is even better. You might expect to take 2 tablets a day but I'm taking 3 or 4 on work days. My view is it's worth it if it delivers on enhancing memory and learning as long as it does not produce bad side effects.
The Promise: This natural herbal supplement has been used in India for several thousand years as a "brain tonic" to enhance learning, concentration and memory. In two clinical studies, middle aged adults took 300mg of this extract per day for 4 to 6 weeks and while Bacopa did not restore previous memories, it did significantly enhance the retention of new information. The results were not marginal; they were significant. A link to a paper on the study is available through Wikipedia under "Bacopa." Note that 2 tablets per day would be 450mg, which is even more than the amount used in the two clinical studies. Yet we don't know if some Bacopa is stronger than others.
Extra Benefits: Bacopa also has anticancer and antioxidant effects, and even has an inhibitory effect against parasites (Wikipedia). This is the only supplement I've taken that inhibits parasites.
How I Felt: A difference that I can notice, but not one with which I have had experience before. Bacopa does not make me feel enhanced well-being or extra confident or even more relaxed. None of that. I experimented by taking extra dosages just to know for sure if this is having any effect.
A sufficient amount of Bacopa makes me feel as if the mind is extra focused and as if I won't forget what I'm learning or doing even if I wanted to. Now that's great if you're preparing for an exam, for example. But it's not a "high." In fact, in my experiments where I took extra large dosages (and why not since this is not expensive), I found that in some ways I was more productive but at the end of the day I was more mentally fatigued.
If the mind experiences enhanced learning, or more specifically enhanced memory, it only makes sense that it will later experience fatigue. This is a side effect but I don't think it's that bad. It's not like coming down from some opiate or drug that makes you feel good. It's not a "down" feeling. It's just one of mental exhaustion.
Considering the value, I recommend this Bacopa 100% but only when you want to enhance the memory of what you're doing. It didn't make me feel more confident or relaxed or provide a feeling of well-being.
2009-08-20
