Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) is a perennial plant native to India, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the South Pacific. It is also known as brahmi, centella, Indian pennywort, marsh penny, thick-leaved pennywort, white rot, hydrocotyle, Indian water navelwort, and talepetrako.
Properties:
- Gotu Kola is a member of the parsley family. It is tasteless and odourless. It has small fan-shaped green leaves with white or light purple-to-pink flowers, and it bears small oval fruit. Gotu kola should not be confused with kola nut (Cola Nitida). Unlike kola nut, gotu kola has no caffeine, and is not a stimulant. The leaves and stems of the gotu kola plant are used for medicinal purposes.
- Gotu kola is a mild adaptogen. It is mildly antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic, anxiolytic, a cerebral tonic, a circulatory stimulant, a diuretic, nervine and vulnerary.
Here are few Medicinal Benefits of Gotu Kola:
- Gotu kola has been used orally (by mouth) in alternative medicine as an aid to treating anxiety, depression, fatigue, memory loss, colds and flu, upset stomach, diarrhoea, ulcer, bladder infections, liver problems, and diabetes. Gotu kola has also been used to treat circulation problems, varicose veins, anaemia, lupus, menstrual problems, and birth control.
- Historically, gotu kola has also been used to treat syphilis, hepatitis, stomach ulcers, mental fatigue, epilepsy, fever, and asthma. Today, American and European herbalists use gotu kola most often to treat chronic venous insufficiency (a condition where blood pools in the legs).
- Topical forms of gotu kola have been used in alternative medicine to aid in wound healing and reducing scars. It is also used in ointments to treat psoriasis.
- Gotu kola is known for treating leprosy and tuberculosis; relieving the pain of rheumatism and arthritis; to increase brain capacity; and for longevity, often being called, the elixir of life. In China it has been called “the fountain of life” because legend has it that an ancient Chinese herbalist lived for more than 200 years as a result of using the herb.
Precautions and Warnings
- Not all uses for gotu kola have been approved by the FDA. Gotu kola should not be substituted for medications prescribed for you by your doctor.
- Gotu kola is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
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