The Lost Glory of Folk medicine

Bacopa monniera is a medicinal herb used in ancient system of medicine, Ayurveda. Recent clinical research has highlighted the role of the herb as ‘brain tonic’. Bacopa monniera is mentioned in old texts as Medhyarasayana [in allusion to brain tonic]. Initially there was confusion regarding the identity of the drug. The drug is widely prescribed by folk healers in loss of memory. Saponins known as bacosides are the active principles of the herb.
With onset of scientific research in herbals, it is becoming clearer that the medicinal herbs have a potential in today’s synthetic era, as numbers of medicines are becoming resistant. According to one estimate only 20% of the plant flora has been studied and 60%of synthetic medicines owe their origin to plants. Ancient knowledge coupled with scientific principles can come to the forefront and provide us with powerful remedies to eradicate the dreadful diseases. In Germany regulatory authority’s herbal watchdog agency, commonly called “Commission E” has recently conducted an intensive assessment of the pre-reviewed literature on 300 common medicinal herbs, weighing the quality of the clinical evidence and identifying the uses for which the herb can reasonably be considered effective. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, American Botanical Council, British Herbal Compendium are some reputed names who are seriously working on upliftment of folk medicine.