Latin Name: Hydrocotyle asiatica / Centella asiatica
Family: Apiaceae
Part used: Whole herb with our without root. Fresh or dried.
Energetics: Bitter, Sweet, Cool, Moist.
Iris: Hematogenic, Mixed.
Interactions: Please check with your Healthcare Provider.
Safe alongside Herb
- Acetylsalicylic acid
- Cyclophosphamide
- Diazepam
Unsure alongside Herb
Esomeprazole
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- Allergic hypersensitivity
- Not to be used longer than 6 weeks without a break.
- Pregnancy
- Epilepsy
- Stomach irritation.
ACTIONS
- Adaptogen
- Ginseng-like effect
- Powerful blood tonic
- Antibiotic
- Alterative
- Central nervous system relaxant
- Circulatory stimulant
- Hypotensive
- Anti-cholesterolaemic
- Neuro-protective
- Dermatological agent
- Detoxifier
- Bitter
- Digestive
- Diuretic
- Laxative
- Febrifuge
- Vulnerary
-
Immune modulator
- Emmenagogue
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-viral
- Anti-ulcer
- Anti-larval
- Anti-neoplastic
Main Constituents
- Flavonoids
- Beta-sitosterol
- Terpenoids
- Volatile oil
- Alkaloids
- Tannin
- Bitter principle: Vellarine
- Amino acids
- Resin
- Saponins (braminoside, brahmoside)
- Fatty acids up to 9%
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium.
Main Uses
Adaptogen & Tonic
Digestive System: Diarrhoea, Liver disorders
Skin: Improves scarring from wounds and burns, Dermal ulcers, Keloid scars, Cellulitis, Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis
Circulatory: Strengthens tone of blood vessels and micro-circulation, Hypertension
Mental/Emotional: Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue
Nervous system: Amnesia, Parkinson’s disease
Musculo-Skeletal System: Rheumatism
Endocrine: Insomnia
Respiratory System: Sinusitis, Influenza
Reproductive System: Sexual dysfunction
Urinary System: Bladder ulceration
More About Gotu Kola
In Ayurvedic medicine, Gotu kola is considered to be a rejuvenating tonic to the life force and to the memory. The herb stimulates rapid and healthy growth of hair, skin and nails.
Gotu kola speeds healing of wounds, aids hyperextended joints and stretched or injured ligaments and improves vascular health.
Many Practitioners call Gotu kola “Brahmi”, so it is best to use the Latin name to avoid confusion, There are several different strains of Gotu kola, which grow on various tropical islands, with slightly different botanical characteristics, but essentially they are all the Gotu kola that we can use in Herbal Medicine.
Gotu kola is a brain tonic and improves memory and concentration and protects against Alzheimer’s. It can be helpful in supporting children with learning difficulties, ADHD and can calm mental agitation.
It can be used during and after stressful and emotionally-depleting events.
Gotu kola helps to relieve ulcers, indigestion, reduce acidity and combat unfriendly gut organisms.
Gotu kola is wonderful when used externally and can reduce the formation of scar tissue and generate new tissue.
Recipes:
Gotu Kola Sambol Salad
Ingredients:
-
Small bunch of gotu kola, washed (alternatively use curly leaf parsley or curly kale)
-
1 large tomato, finely chopped
-
1 small green finger chilli, finely sliced
-
6 small red shallots, finely sliced
-
½ fresh coconut (alternatively use 200g/7oz fresh coconut flakes)
-
1 tbsp Maldive fish flakes (dried tuna flakes, also known as Maldive chips)
-
½ lime, juice only
- Table salt, to taste
Method:
-
Finely chop the gotu kola, including the stalks, and place in a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, chilli and shallots and mix together.
- Using a coconut scraper, scrape out the coconut flesh into a bowl. Add a couple of handfuls of coconut flesh to the bowl, along with the Maldive fish flakes, lime juice and a little salt. Mix well to combine, taste and add more salt if desired.
Gotu Kola Herbal Infused Oil:
Ingredients:
-
100ml fresh or dried leaf and stem of Gotu Kola
- 500ml olive oil
Method:
-
Grind the leaves, or use the powder and pour the olive oil over the herb and mix thoroughly. Pour the contents into a glass jar, seal the jar and leave in a warm place, out of the light for 2 weeks.
- Make sure to stir the contents twice a day. Strain through Muslin cloth and press the oil, which is yielded slowly. You can store the oil for 2 years in amber glass bottles.
References
Anti-Inflammatory/Oxidative
Therapeutic Potential of Centella asiatica and Its Triterpenes: A Review.
The results showed that C. asiatica and its triterpenoids had extensive beneficial effects on neurological and skin diseases, which were confirmed through clinical studies. They exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, anti-apoptotic effects, and improvement in mitochondrial function.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33013406/
Skin Regeneration/Collagen Production
Centella asiatica in cosmetology.
The mechanism of action involves promoting fibroblast proliferation and increasing the synthesis of collagen and intracellular fibronectin content and also improvement of the tensile strength of newly formed skin as well as inhibiting the inflammatory phase of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Research results indicate that it can be used in the treatment of photoaging skin, cellulite and striae.
https://www.termedia.pl/Review-paper-Centella-asiatica-in-cosmetology,7,20289,1,1.html
Neuroprotective/Neuroregenerative
Recent Updates in Neuroprotective and Neuroregenerative Potential of Centella asiatica.
At the in vitro level, C. asiatica promotes dendrite arborisation and elongation, and also protects the neurons from apoptosis. In vivo studies have shown that the whole extract and also individual compounds of C. asiatica have a protective effect against various neurological diseases. Most of the in vivo studies on neuroprotective effects have focused on Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, learning and memory enhancement, neurotoxicity and other mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and epilepsy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4975583/
Improved cognition and Mood enhancing
Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica.
The results showed that the high dose of the plant extract enhanced working memory and increased N100 component amplitude of event-related potential. Improvements of self-rated mood were also found following the Centella asiatica treatment. Therefore, the present findings suggest the potential of Centella asiatica to attenuate the age-related decline in cognitive function and mood disorder in the healthy elderly.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874107006411
Antibacterial
Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential Oil of Centella asiatica. Growing in South Africa.
The essential oil extract exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activities against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus.) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei.) organisms.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13880200590928843