10 Lesser-Known Benefits Of Brahmi For Your Skin

Are you still searching for a beauty ingredient that resolves all your skin issues? Experts recommend Brahmi as a solution for all skin conditions.

Finally recognised by modern medicine, this magical Ayurvedic herb has amazing anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cell renewal properties. Its different forms are widely used in both pharmaceutical and skincare products.

Read on to get a detailed idea of Brahmi’s multiple skin benefits and the right herbal composition to solve your skin needs.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Says

“Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) is a highly effective herb to help revitalize skin.”

Dr. Zeel Gandhi (Bachelor Of Ayurveda, Medicine & Surgery), Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

Highlights:

• Is Brahmi Good For Skin?
• Benefits Of Brahmi For Skin
• How To Use Brahmi For Skin?
• Frequently Asked Questions On Brahmi For Skin

Is Brahmi Good For Skin?

Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) [1] is one of the oldest and purest medicinal herbs used in Ayurveda. With pollution and work stress taking a toll on your skin, Brahmi can serve as a remedy to all your skin problems. Its powerful healing properties fortify the skin from environmental damages and aid in cell regeneration.

Brahmi is also known to reverse the effects of stress on your skin and can effectively slow down skin aging. It is available in various forms such as ghrita, churna, taila, lepa, capsules and syrup. Both, consumption and topical application are known to benefit your skin and hair.

It enhances memory, reduces anxiety and mental stress, and provides relief to people with asthma and heart conditions. It is also known to improve digestion.

“Bacopa Monnieri, Brahmi is a highly effective herb to help revitalize skin. Apart from being a strong antioxidant, the presence of Madecassoside in the herb corrects skin complexion and brightens it,” says Dr. Zeel.

Benefits Of Brahmi For Skin

1. Helpful In Collagen Production

The collagen protein serves as a major component in your skin’s basic framework. Your skin’s tautness mainly depends on the amount of collagen naturally produced by your body.

However, with age, your body experiences collagen depletion, leading to skin sagging, wrinkles and other signs of aging. Topical application of Brahmi has shown to aid collagen production in your skin and thereby prolong your skin’s youth and glow.

2. Lightens Stretch Marks And Cellulite

Stretch marks [2] occur when the skin undergoes rapid stretching during pregnancy, weight gain or weight reduction. The building blocks (collagen, elastin) of your skin rupture, causing these unwanted scars to appear on the body.

Cellulite, on the other hand, occurs due to layered fat deposition under the skin. These appear as light coloured, raised skin lines.

Brahmi’s ability to aid collagen production, reconstruct skin tissues and increase subcutaneous blood supply help to break down cellulite and lighten stretch marks on your skin.

3. Reduces Skin Pigmentation

According to Ayurveda, the ‘Bhrajaka pitta dosha’ oversees thermoregulation and melanin production in your skin. A vitiation of this sub-dosha can stimulate excess melanogenesis, causing hyperpigmentation and skin darkening.

Brahmi has brilliant pitta pacifying properties that lighten blemishes and dark spots on the face. The presence of ascorbic acid in Brahmi helps improve your overall skin complexion.

4. Acts As A Remedy For Skin Inflammation

According to studies, Brahmi is a ‘shophahara’ herb with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, it is used in Ayurveda to treat a variety of inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Both, consuming and topically applying Brahmi as a lepa, have shown to inhibit proinflammatory cytokines [3] in the body.

5. Helpful In Acne Treatment

The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and blood purifying properties of Brahmi help balance your doshas and remove harmful toxins from your blood. Brahmi ghritam is an effective kapha dosha pacifier used to treat ‘yuvana pidakas’ or acne conditions. Brahmi is also useful in lightening the appearance of acne marks and healing acne scars on the face.

6. Heals Skin Sensitivity And Skin Allergies

Brahmi’s ‘Kandughna’ (itch relieving) properties make it an oft-used Ayurvedic remedy for pruritus and skin allergies. Its cooling nature soothes your skin. It is thus widely used as an ingredient in skin care products for sensitive skin.

7. Repairs The Skin Barrier

Your skin’s outermost layer, the stratum corneum, makes the epidermal barrier that keeps microbial invasions and environmental damages at bay. A weakened skin barrier can lead to various infections and dry skin conditions due to transepidermal water loss. Brahmi alleviates vata dosha and helps prevent dry skin. Its cell repairing abilities help reconstruct a damaged skin barrier.

Further, the alkaloids present in Brahmi exhibit certain antimicrobial properties that keep skin infections away. Applying Brahmi powder or Brahmi oil on damaged skin helps to cool, moisturize and heal the affected areas.

8. Aids Wound Healing

Brahmi contains various alkaloids such as brahmine, nicotine [4], hersaponin, monnierin, herpestine etc. These accelerate wound healing through the promotion of angiogenesis (the process of forming new blood vessels). It is known to improve your overall skin immunity.

9. Has Powerful Antioxidant Properties

Due to a high content of polyphenols, Brahmi has natural antioxidant properties. According to research, Brahmi can effectively prevent DNA cell damage caused by oxidative stress, which is a primary cause for premature skin aging. Ayurvedic texts describe ‘Ayushya’ as one of Brahmi’s benefits, which literally translates to anti-aging.

10. Treats Various Skin Diseases

Brahmi being a ‘Kushtahara’ is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine to cure various skin diseases. It may be used with other antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory herbs to magnify the effect.

How To Use Brahmi For Skin?

A. For Oral Consumption

One can consume around 10ml of Brahmi juice made from Brahmi leaves or about 3g of Brahmi powder daily for healthy skin. However, it is always advisable to consult your Ayurvedic doctor before internal consumption of the herb. This way you would have a better understanding of your prakriti (body constitution) and the quantity of Brahmi you must consume for achieving desired results.

B. Brahmi Face Packs For Different Skin Types And Problems

1. Dry Skin

Mix 1 spoon of Brahmi powder or 12-15 fresh Brahmi leaves (blended into a fine paste), 1 spoon of shatavari powder, ½ spoon of ela powder with coconut oil. Apply this lepa on your face and wash off after 30 minutes.

2. Oily Skin

Add 1 spoon each of Brahmi powder and chandanam paste/ powder, and 5-6 japa flowers (blended into a paste) to lukewarm water or raw milk. Apply on your face and wash off after half an hour.

3. Combination Skin

Mix 1-2 spoons of Brahmi ghrita with 1 spoon of triphala powder and 1 spoon of nimba powder. Apply and leave it on for half an hour and wash off.

4. Sensitive Skin

Blend 8-10 Brahmi, tulsi and neem leaves each with honey or coconut oil. Apply this to reduce skin sensitivity. Wash off after 15 to 20 minutes.

5. Acne-Prone Skin

Prepare this lepa by adding 1 tablespoon of Brahmi ghrita to 1 spoon of triphala, haridra, neem and yastimadhu powders. Apply on the acne-affected areas and wash off after 30 minutes with lukewarm water.

6. Anti-Aging

Mix 2 spoons of Brahmi oil or fresh Brahmi leaf paste with 1 spoon of amalaki powder, 1 spoon of gotu kola (Centella asiatica) and 1 spoon of moringa powder. Apply on your face and wash off after 1 hour.

7. Skin Pigmentation

Mix 1 spoon each of Brahmi powder, sandalwood powder, turmeric, saffron and yastimadhu with raw ghee/ honey/ coconut oil. Apply on your face and wash off after 30 minutes.

8. Skin Allergies

Mix 2 spoons of Brahmi ghrita with 1 spoon of sariva and 1 spoon of shatavari. Apply on the affected areas and wash off after 30 minutes.

Vedix Tip: Brahmi ghritam or Brahmi oil can be used as a spot treatment for minor skin injuries, acne or allergies.

Frequently Asked Questions On Brahmi For Skin

1. Is Brahmi And Gotu Kola The Same?

Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) and gotu kola (Centella asiatica) are two different Ayurvedic herbs with similar properties. Both herbs are often termed as Brahmi [5]. However, Brahmi is considered more effective in enhancing memory power, whereas gotu kola has better anti-aging benefits.

2. Can We Consume Brahmi Daily?

Consuming Brahmi daily as per the recommended dosage is generally considered safe. However, it is safer to consult your Ayurvedic doctor to avoid allergic reactions to the herb.

The Last Word

The use of Brahmi dates back almost three thousand years. Loaded with natural compounds, this miracle herb can cure a range of skin conditions. But before you include it in your skincare routine, know your skin type and which formulation of Brahmi will work best to give you healthy glowing skin.