The Brahmi plant is unique and important health benefits that improve cognitive ability to relieve stress and regulate blood sugar levels. It helps in the treatment of respiratory conditions. It also helps in enhancing the digestive process. It also helps protect against mental degeneration. In addition, it helps to boost the immune system and lowers inflammation.

Brahmi (Bacopamonnieri) is a creeping. It is a perennial herb meaning that it lives for several years. It is a herb that is important in Ayurvedic as well as traditional medicines across the world and has been so for many generations. It has another name such as water hyssop or herb of grace. Brahmi is the most common name. One cannot say where it hails from but it is a herb that grows in the wild, in the wetland areas in all the continents since time immemorial. It has a wide range of unique health effects that have made it so desirable and cherished by everyone all over the world.

Brahmi has certain valuable alkaloids and triterpene saponins that have strong effects on the body. It is used fresh as a salad. But the herb can also be dried and ground and used along with other herbs.

The health benefits of Brahmi are many:-

(i) It has the ability to stimulate the mind in respect of memory and concentration. It has been used in India for increasing focus and retention. Some of the compounds found in Brahmi, stimulate the cognitive pathways in the brain and boost cognitive ability. Hence, it is also called 'Mega Mind'.

It helps in reducing the onset of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Research has shown it to be an effective way of stimulating the creation of new neural pathways and lowering oxidative stress in the brain, which keeps our minds sharp well into our old age. Studies have revealed that the plant has neuroprotective properties and helps those patients who are suffering from memory loss.

(ii)The leaves of the Brahmi plant help to reduce anxiety and stress. Some of the compounds in the plant help in hormonal balance so as to create calmness. The leaves also have an anti-inflammatory capacity.

The leaves have been used to treat epilepsy for thousands of years. This is due to the neural pathways. It helps to prevent epileptic seizures, as well as other forms of mental disease, including bipolar disorder and neuralgia.

(iii)They help in reducing swelling and getting rid of irritation and pain. So it is useful in arthritis and gout and other inflammatory conditions.

(iv)The antioxidants present in the plant are beneficial for promoting a healthy lifestyle. According to the National Cancer Inst.i.tute, antioxidants can eliminate free radicals, the dangerous byproducts of cellular metabolism that can cause cells to undergo apoptosis (cell death) or mutate into cancerous cells. These free radicals affect everything from our skin to our cardiovascular system, so a regular dose of Brahmi in a daily or weekly diet can help maintain a high quality of life and a healthy metabolism. Antioxidants may also prevent certain types of cancer; research is ongoing into the direct pathways that the medicinal herb's components take to prevent or slow the spread of cancer.

(v) Brahmi helps to improve respiratory health also. Its leaves, when brewed in tea or chewed, can boost your respiratory system. It has been used in traditional medication as well as in Ayurvedic treatments for bronchitis, congestion, chest colds, and blocked sinuses. It helps clear out excess phlegm and mucus and relieve the inflammation in the throat and respiratory tracts to provide you with rapid relief.

(vi) It helps to boost your Immune system providing protection against viral or bacterial or pathogen infections when consumed in any form i.e. tea, leaves, etc.

(vii) It helps to heal a wound faster. Application of Brahmi oil heals and disinfect the skin at the same time. Spread Brahmi juice or oil on the affected area can reduce the appearance of scarring.

"Wow! Mono Sir, You have provided so much information," exclaimed Chris. "It is as if you seem to be reading from a research paper on the Khas Khas and Brahmi plant."

"Actually, I did my research on this plant so I have described it to you in detail. But I did get a lot of information from your cities."

"We do have the internet too and can connect to your network too."

Besides this, When I went with my father to the city above, I found that people went to traditional doctors call 'Vaidya' in India. These Vaidyas have full knowledge about plants and which plant is helpful in which disease. Most of these Vaidyas learn from their parents. This knowledge is pa.s.sed down from generation to generation. A Vaidya tends to make his own medicines from the plants he collects from the forests or grows in his little garden.

"Times had changed and people from cities had started visiting hospitals and started taking allopathic (western conventional) medicines for even tiny ailments like stomach ache, headache, etc."

"But now, people have realized that it is better to go for traditional medication for minor ailments. If they do not get well then they go to the allopathic (western conventional) doctors. Allopathic medicine has side effects as it is chemical based i.e. inorganic. Plants are organic and so are we. Naturally, an organic substance is likely to suit us better."

"Yes, even in our home, the visit to the doctor is rare; it is only when the kitchen ingredients do not help, do we go to the doctor," Cathy replied.

Tina said, "We use ginger and basil leaves tea for coughs and colds and headaches; we eat roasted carom seeds (ajwain) to relieve indigestion; Asafoetida (Hing) for digestive problems including intestinal gas, upset stomach, irritable bowel syndrome and irritable colon; Carom seeds (ajwain) boiled and the strained water is added to hot bathing water helps to relax tired muscles. Then turmeric powder helps in internal bleeding. In case you fall but there is no apparent injury and you seem ok, but still, a quarter spoon of turmeric powder mixed in warm milk is given to heal any internal bleeding."

"Ginger, turmeric powder carom seeds and asafoetida are the essential ingredients in all the cuisines all over India and many Asian countries."

"Luke added, "We should not say do not use modern medicine, but use it when necessary."

"If you live healthily, eat healthily, avoid junk food then you will not need to visit hospitals and take inorganic medicines,"Zia added.

"Thank you, Mono, for such a detailed explanation about these two plants. I am sure the children will ask their parents to buy these juices." Zia said and smiled looking at the students.