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Benefits |
Preparation |
Medicinal Uses |
Side Effects |
Plant |
Folklore |
Forest & Kim Starr (USGS)
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| Common Names |
| Gotu Kola , Indian Pennywort, Brahmi |
| Botanical Name |
| Centella asiatica (L.) Urban syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica |
| Family |
| APIACEAE or UMBELLIFERAE Carrot Family |
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Gotu kola is an excellent vasodilator and blood vessel strengthener. The herb is also often used as a diuretic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, and facilitates the actions of the antioxidants vitamins C and E in areas where there is damage. Gotu kola is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine and TCM to rejuvenate both mind and body. Clinical experiments have shown that the plant does improve memory, and rejuvenate skin and body tissue, It's no wonder, this Asiatic herb's acid stimulates collagen synthesis. |
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Prep Methods :Tea or tincture, salves, lotions and poultices. The herb tea has a light, enjoyable, slightly woody taste that is improved with lemon and a bit of honey. Fresh leaves can be eaten in salads.
 Remedies using Gotu Kola
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| Wounds, Scars | | Gotu kola speeds healing of wounds of all kinds and deters scarring and keloid formation. Phytochemicals such as asiaticoside, asiatic acid and other trierpenes appear to support connective tissue and blood vessels. 408
(Duke, James A, Ph.D. ) | | Heal skin, wounds | | The active ingredient, asiatic acid, is particularly effective in stimulating synthesis of collagen, a prominent component of the deeper layers of skin. 632
(White,Linda B., M.D. ) | | Cellulite, circulation | | Gotu kola is an excellent vasodilator and tones the blood vessels allowing more circulation to problem cellulite areas. 1157
| | Memory, concentration | | Research has also demonstrated the beneficial effect of Gotu Kola, Centella asiatica, on memory, concentration and mental performance levels 1025
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| Side Effects: |
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| Be cautious if you are taking prescription drugs for depression, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Extremely large doses might cause nausea. |
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Low lying herb with umbrella like leaves that are a favorite food for elephants, Gotu Kola is part of the parsley family (and unrelated to the cola nut)and grows in tropical Africa, South America, Asia and Australia.
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 Gotu kola got the nickname tiger's herb because injured tigers often rub against it to heal their wounds. Gotu Kola features in both Chinese and Indian myths and folklore. The Tai Chi Chuan master Li Ching-Yun purportedly lived to an advanced age of over 200 years old, due in part to his use of Gotu kola and other Chinese herbs. In Sri Lanka there is a tale of a 10th century king who claimed gotu kola (In sinhalese Gotu = conical shape and Kola= leaf), provided the energy and stamina to satisfy his extensive harem. |
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