Improving learning ability and memory was one of the important concerns of the ancient Ayurvedic doctors - after all, they had to memorise all medical texts in their youth and retain them until old age. To achieve this, they used a category of medicinal plants: the medhya-rasayana - herbs to promote brain power. Brahmi is their most important representative. The name means wholeness and creative power. The plant tastes sweet (especially in the aftertaste) and somewhat bitter, and balances Vata and Kapha. The Ayurvedic effects are cooling, purifying (Satva), strengthening digestive power (Agni) and increasing Ojas ("happiness hormones").