Gotu kola, Centella asiatica, Indian pennywort

Centella grows in tropical swampy areas. The stems are slender, creeping stolons, green to reddish-green in color, connecting plants to each other. It has long-stalked, green, rounded apices which have smooth texture with palmately netted veins. The leaves are borne on pericladial petioles, around 2 cm (0.79 in). The rootstock consists of rhizomes, growing vertically down. They are creamish in color and covered with root hairs. The flowers are white or pinkish to red in color, born in small, rounded bunches (umbels) near the surface of the soil. Each flower is partly enclosed in two green bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are minute in size, less than 3 mm (0.12 in), with five to six corolla lobes per flower. Each flower bears five stamens and two styles. The fruit are densely reticulate, distinguishing it from species of Hydrocotyle which have smooth, ribbed or warty fruit. The crop matures in three months, and the whole plant, including the roots, is harvested manually.

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News about Gotu Kola

Benefits & Uses for Gotu Kola

Source:http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-uses-gotu-kola-5649.html

By Don Amerman

Gotu kola is a low-growing perennial plant known scientifically as Centella asiatica. The tropical plant, a member of the parsley family, has small fan-shaped leaves and flowers that range in color from white to pink and light purple. The traditional healers of China and India have long prized gotu kola’s leaves and stems for their reputed medicinal properties, some of which have been confirmed in scientific studies. Consult your doctor before using gotu kola or any other herbal remedy.

Traditional and Contemporary Uses

For centuries, traditional healers -- most notably in China, India and Indonesia -- have used gotu kola to treat a wide array of illnesses and medical conditions. Traditional uses include the healing of wounds, treatment of skin conditions such as leprosy and psoriasis, and improvement of cognitive function. Others have used the herbal remedy to treat such diverse ailments as syphilis, gastric ulcers, mental fatigue, epilepsy, asthma, diarrhea, fever and hepatitis. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that gotu kola today is used most often to treat varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency and psoriasis. However, modern research studies indicate the herb may have additional medicinal applications.

Reduces Anxiety

Indian researchers conducted a small-scale clinical trial to determine what, if any, effect gotu kola might have on generalized anxiety and related symptoms, such as depression. They assembled a group of 33 test subjects, who were given two 500-milligram capsules of gotu kola extract daily over a 60-day test period. Researchers observed test participants throughout the study period and gave them questionnaires to fill out at the outset of testing, after 30 days and at the conclusion of testing. Based on their observations and student responses, researchers found that the gotu kola supplement significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety. Writing in a 2010 issue of “The Nepal Medical College Journal,” the research team said their findings suggest that gotu kola may be useful in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD.

Promotes Wound Healing

In a broad review of preclinical and clinical studies on the pharmacological properties of gotu kola, a team of Indian researchers noted that multiple animal studies suggest the herbal remedy effectively speeds the healing of wounds. They cited a study in which various formulations -- cream, gel and ointment -- of an aqueous gotu kola extract were applied to open wounds on laboratory rats. After 24 days of treatment, researchers found that thrice-daily gotu kola applications had stimulated cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis at the animals’ wound sites. The review of the herb’s medicinal properties was published in the September-October 2010 issue of “Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.”

Antioxidant Properties

Brazilian researchers evaluated an aqueous extract of gotu kola in terms of its levels of antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. They also looked into the extract’s contents of both phenolics and flavonoids, plant-based compounds with significant medicinal properties. Reporting their findings in a 2009 issue of “International Journal of Molecular Sciences,” the research team reported that the extract showed strong antioxidant properties during testing. Researchers also noted that the gotu kola extract exhibited promising cell-killing abilities when tested in vitro on mouse melanoma, human breast cancer and rat glioma cell lines.

Anti-Aging Benefits of Gotu Kola

Source:http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/antiaging-benefits-gotu-kola-7051.html

By Tracey Roizman (DC)

Gotu kola, a small annual herb native to India, grows in swampy areas and near water. It's eaten as a vegetable and also plays an important role in traditional ayurvedic medicine. A wide variety of health benefits are attributed to gotu kola, some of which have been validated through scientific study. Consult your doctor for guidance on the safe and appropriate use of this and all herbs.

Brain Benefits

Gotu kola may stave off the effects of aging on the brain by improving memory, according to New York University's Langone Medical Center. A review of previously published research that appeared in the 2012 issue of the journal "Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine" found that gotu kola prevents plaque formation in the brain that is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Gotu kola also acts as an antioxidant and inhibits enzymes that contribute to the breakdown of important neurotransmitters. Additionally, gotu kola may help reduce nerve degeneration in Parkinson's disease.

Skin Health

Your skin may retain a youthful appearance from improved collagen strength with gotu kola supplementation. Doses of 120 milligrams per day are used for this purpose, and the herb can also be incorporated into a skin cream and applied topically, according to Dr. James Duke, co-author of the book "The Green Pharmacy Anti-Aging Prescriptions: Herbs, Foods, and Natural Formulas to Keep You Young." Gotu kola is prized as an important anti-aging herb in ayurvedic medicine for its ability to promote collagen production, according to a study published in the April 2010 issue of the "Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine."

Joint Pain

Gotu kola may help improve joint function and alleviate symptoms of arthritis, according to a study published in the June 2009 issue of the journal "Phytomedicine." In the laboratory animal study, 21 days of supplementation with madecassoside, an active constituent of gotu kola, resulted in decreased joint damage, lower levels of inflammation and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2, or COX-2 enzymes. Researchers concluded that madecassoside shows potential as an anti-inflammatory agent and natural treatment for some forms of arthritis. Heart Health

Heart-protective benefits of gotu kola were demonstrated in a laboratory animal study published in the May 2007 issue of the journal "Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica." The compound madecassoside inhibited oxidation of lipids, prevented depletion of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and prevented early death of heart cells. Gotu kola may also help prevent stroke by preventing blood clot formation, according to Leah Hechtman, author of the book "Clinical Naturopathic Medicine." Gotu kola also helps improve and prevent varicose veins and associated foot and ankle swelling by inhibiting fluid leakage from veins, according to New York University's Langone Medical Center.

Gotu Kola: The Cure for Varicose Veins?

Source:http://www.healthline.com/health/gotu-kola-varicose-veins#overview1

By Elea Carey(Medically Reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, PhD, RN, CRNA, COI)

Folk remedies and varicose veins

Highlights

1. Gotu kola is used in Ayurvedic, African, and Chinese medicine.

2. The remedy is available as a dried herb, capsule, or tincture.

3. Exercise and regular movement are crucial for optimum circulatory health.

Some of us would do just about anything to get rid of varicose veins, but they’re notoriously difficult to eliminate.

Many people have turned to folk remedies to treat varicose veins. One of the most popular remedies is gotu kola, which is said to increase blood flow and reduce swelling. A few contemporary studies have confirmed that gotu kola has beneficial health effects.

More information is needed to determine just how useful the herb is. That said, small amounts of gotu kola are harmless for most people and just might do you some good. Pregnant and nursing moms should ask their doctors about using gotu kola. Taking gotu kola is also not advised for people who have liver problems.

What is gotu kola?

The official name is Centella asiatica, though it’s known by several other names, including gotu kola, pennywort, and tiger herb. It is a member of the parsley family and grows in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It thrives at the edge of calm bodies of water, spreading its venous stems. The leaves and stems are the part of the plant we eat or use as a medicine. It has almost no flavor, not unlike the parsley you use to garnish a plate.

Gotu kola has been used as a medicine in the Indian Ayurvedic tradition, as well as in African and Chinese medicine. It’s also used to treat conditions as varied as syphilis, asthma, and psoriasis. You can also use it in food in the same way that you’d use parsley or watercress.

What causes varicose veins?

You know varicose veins when you see them: purple, bulging ridges and bumps on your legs. Varicose veins result when your veins lose their youthful elasticity. They’re made worse by the pressure you put on the veins in your legs and feet when you stand or sit a lot. Exercise and regular movement are essential for the health of your veins. Pregnancy can also increase the likelihood of varicose veins.

Many women will get varicose veins. Some accept them while others can’t wait to get rid of them. You should consider discussing your varicose veins with your doctor if you haven’t already. They’re not just a cosmetic problem. They could indicate you have a more dangerous condition, such as poor blood flow.

Does gotu kola really help varicose veins?

Gotu kola contains a chemical called triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica (TTFCA). TTFCA is particularly beneficial for varicose veins since it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin. These connective tissues are needed to strengthen the internal lining and walls of your veins.

Having stronger veins means having fewer varicose veins. Collagen and elastin are also elements of healthy skin that we lose as we age. These facts may provide added reason to believe that gotu kola can help your skin look healthier. However, the efficacy of gotu kola for treating varicose veins has not yet been established by science.

Gotu kola may also help with venous insufficiency by reducing swelling and improving blood flow. Venous insufficiency is a medical condition in which your blood has a hard time flowing properly. It can be caused by varicose veins and can also contribute to the unsightliness of these veins.

What’s the bottom line?

Gotu kola comes in many different forms. It can be used as a tea in dried herb form, or it can be found as a powered herb that comes in capsules. There are also gotu kola tinctures, both alcoholic and alcohol-free.

Whatever form of gotu kola you acquire, be sure to read the label for preparation and dosage instructions.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before trying gotu kola as a treatment for your varicose veins. It may help improve your varicose veins, but it’s not likely to banish them entirely.

Gotu Kola: The Indian Cure-All You Should Know

Source:https://thecostaricanews.com/gotu-kola-the-indian-cure-all-you-should-know/

(TCRN STAFF)

The ancient Eastern tea has been used for everything from detoxification to preventing dementia.

GOTU KOLA also known as INDIAN PENNYWORT and in Sanskrit BRAHMI (Supreme knowledge, Divine creative energy), is found throughout India and the world in shaded, watery places. Gotu Kola is originally an Indian herb renowned for its rejuvenative powers in Ayurvedic medicine — “one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems” according to WebMD. It is the main revitalizing herb in Ayurvedic medicine for the brain and nerve cells. It is said to increase intelligence, longevity as well as memory, thus it decreases senility and aging. Gotu Kola strengthens the immune system by cleansing and feeding it and fortifies the adrenal glands.

Gotu Kola is bitter, sweet and cold therefore it balances the 3 doshas or humors of Ayurveda: Pitta, Vata and Kapha. Its leaves strengthen and tone the circulatory, digestive, nervous, respiratory, reproductive and excretory systems of the body.

Gotu Kola has the following properties:

• diuretic

• alterative (restores normal health by cleansing and purifying the blood)

• febrifuge (may reduce fever)

• nervine (tones and fortifies the nerves)

• rejuvenative

What can Gotu Kola do?

Indications for the use of Gotu Kola are as an adrenal purifier, blood purifier (may help in cases of AIDS), and immune system boost by cleansing and nourishing. It also can help protect and alleviate symptoms in the following areas of the body: eczema, epilepsy, hypochondria, hair loss, liver, longevity, memory, nervous disorders, psoriasis, dementia, chronic and/or obstinate skin conditions, convulsions, rheumatism as well as bowel disorders. Ultimately, Gotu Kola is best known for rejuvenating brain and nerve cells, promoting intelligence.

Additionally, Gotu Kola is sattwic in nature; it cools, balances and purifies the body, mind and spirit. In the Himalayas, Gotu Kola is used by yogis as food for meditation. It awakens the crown chakra and helps balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain. A cup of Gotu Kola may be taken before meditation. Gotu Kola revitalizes our Spirit creating a healthy Mind-Body connection.

How to use Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola may be prepared as an infusion by placing 200-500mg of the dried herb or a fresh handfull of leaves in a glass or mug of boiling water, or as a decoction by placing the herb in the boiling water for 5 to 15 minutes. The decoction may be cooled and diluted before drinking. For more dosage information, visit Examine.com.

Keep in mind, too much Gotu Kola may cause headaches, spaciness or itching.

Where to find Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola may be found at various macrobioticas, but the Ark Herb Farm is the best known Costa Rican supplier of the herb. The Ark is located just 45 minutes from San Jose’s center and offers tours, lunch and landscaping consulting.

Gotu Kola can also be found online, but will be subject to Costa Rica’s import laws.

Gotu kola, Centella asiatica, Indian pennywort