HERBAL ADVISOR

top 5 uses for gotu kola

This time-tested botanical boasts a full range of benefits, from combating mood disorders and preventing age-related mental decline to healing wounds and clearing up skin conditions.

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is a nerve tissues from crushing trauma and increases protein growth in the skin. In frontline herb in all of the big three neuromuscular disorders. The herb has clinical trials of gotu kola and turmeric natural healing systems—Western, shown potential in enhancing neuroregen- against placebo, the herb improved every Ayurveda, and Chinese. In Ayurvedic eration, including the regeneration of eczema symptom, including erythema, medicine, it’s called “brahmi,” which means crushed sciatic nerves and protection from edema, scaling, itching, and lichenification. “godlike,” a reference to its prodigious neuronal injury in hypoxia conditions. A The active substances in gotu kola are benefits. It strengthens memory, concen- recent discovery from Oregon Health and thought to be triterpenes, steroid-like tration, and intelligence; promotes Science University validated gotu kola’s compounds that improve the function and longevity; and improves the voice, use for treating diabetic neuropathy, integrity of the collagen matrix and physical strength, and complex- and in 2020, scientists reported support the “ground substance”—the basic ion. It’s used to treat diseases as diverse as epilepsy, Did You Know? that gotu kola helped regenerate a peripheral nerve. Try: glue that holds the cells of our skin together. This is likely why gotu kola can senility, and psoriasis. Gotu kola is exception- Solaray Gotu Kola capsules be used to treat an assortment of degenerA 2020 review pointed out its use in neurological, ally high in B-complex vitamins, especially in B1, B2, and B6, all of which Wound Healing ate skin conditions, including acne. An exciting study of gotu kola for endocrine, skin, cardiovascuare essential nutrients for the nervous Gotu kola actually heals inflammatory skin disease was done over lar, gastrointestinal, immune, system. and regrows new skin, gently 25 years ago. Using a very conservative and gynecological diseases. closing and repairing even dose, gotu kola was effective in 85 percent long-standing, painful lesions in of patients. One paper looked at gotu kola Mind Matters dramatically scarred skin. It has been extracts, and confirmed that alcohol and Gotu kola strengthens memory, concentra- documented to aid wound healing in water preparations were beneficial, tion, and intelligence, and stabilizes mood, several studies, where it appeared to confirming its historical use as a tea and and a 2017 scientific assessment found that stimulate type-1 collagen production. skin cream. Try: Irwin Naturals Longer, it also increases alertness and reduces Animal studies have shown that topical Stronger Hair and Nails + Radiant Skin anger. Recent Korean research showed that application to a sutured wound significomponents in gotu kola have potential for cantly increases the breaking strength of treating Alzheimer’s disease,. And animal the wound. European and Indian researchresearch from India used gotu kola tea to ers, in several studies, confirmed that gotu improve cognitive behavior in two different kola compounds promote rapid healing in laboratory models of Alzheimer’s disease. wounds. Internal wounds (intestinal ulcers) A voluminous 2020 study in the journal also respond to gotu kola. Try: Paragon Brain Science described gotu kola as Plus PurExtract Gotu Kola liquid having extensive promise in this area, and another study from 2020 reported that Skin Success gotu kola constituents reversed cognitive Gotu kola heals connective tissue from deficits in an Alzheimer’s model. skin and fascia to muscles and bones.

A study in rats also showed an impres- Known for centuries in Asia as a treatment sive improvement in memory. Treated rats for leprosy, gotu kola heals a host of skin were able to retain learned behavior 3–60 conditions, including cellulite, varicose times better than control rats. Try: Gaia veins, and dermatitis. This herb stimulates Herbs Mental Clarity the growth of hair and nails, increases blood supply to connective tissue, Nerve Healing enhances the formation of structural As the main global herb for the nervous constituents in connective tissue, promotes system, gotu kola is used in the repair of the tensile integrity of the skin, and

Get with the Flow

Gotu kola can also help cardiovascular conditions, including venous insufficiency, varicose veins, and arterial plaque. In a double-blind study, 94 patients with venous insufficiency took an extract of gotu kola at a daily dose of 60 mg or 120 mg for three months. Those who took gotu kola at either dose demonstrated improvements in limb heaviness and edema when compared to a control group that took a placebo. Try: LifeSeasons Circulari-T

How to take it

Since gotu kola is basically a mild salad vegetable, the capsule or tea dose can be up to 15 grams per day. Many people use a modest dose of 1 gram in capsules for daily rejuvenation. Also try a cup of gotu kola tea with honey before meditation.

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