GOTU KOLA

Latin Name: Centella asiatica

Alternate Names: Brahmi, Indian Pennywort, Chi-hsing (Chinese), Pai Kuo (Chinese, Hydrocotyle

Family: APIACEAE

Parts Used: Above ground portion.

Properties: Alterative, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Cerebral Tonic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Glandular Tonic, Nervine, Rejuvenative, Peripheral Vasodilator.

Internal Uses: Age Spots, Amnesia, Asthma, Burns, Cellulitis, Confusion, Dementia, Detached Retina, Drug Addiction, Eczema, Epilepsy, Fatigue, Fractures, Injury, Insanity, Leprosy, Ligament Tear, Malaria, Nervous Breakdown, Premature Aging, Psoriasis, Scars, Schizophrenia, Tuberculosis, Varicose Veins, Venereal Disease

Internal Applications: Tea, Tincture, Capsules.

Gotu Kola is used to strengthen the vascular system, to strengthen connective tissue, and to treat vascular inflammation. It has traditionally been used to treat leprosy, as it helps break down the waxy coating of the leprosy baccillis so that it can be destroyed. Gotu Kola helps to detoxify the body of chemicals and drugs. It has a revitalizing effect on the brain cells and nerves.

Topical Uses: Balding, Burns, Eczema, Psoriasis, Scars

Topical Applications: Gotu Kola can help stimulate collagen production when used both internally and topically on the skin. It also improves wound healing time by stimulating cellular mitosis and is used to treat burns, scarring (including keloids), psoriasis and eczema. Gotu Kola is becoming more frequently used in cosmetics for its regenerative properties, including hair loss.

Culinary uses: Fresh leaves are eaten as a salad or potherb. In Asia, one can find a variety of Gotu Kola-based sodas.

Energetics: Bitter, Sweet, Cool.

Chemical Constituents: Triterpene glycosides (asiaticoside, brahmoside, thankuniside), alkaloid (hydrocotyline), tannin, vallarin, essential oil, beta carotene, B and C vitamins, magnesium, aspartate, glutamate, serine, lysine, histidine.

Contraindications: Large doses can cause headache, itching, vertigo, and loss of consciousness.

Comments: An old Sri Lankan proverb says of Gotu Kola, 'Two leaves a day will keep old age away'. It is believed to improve the movement of energy between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. It is often taken with a bit of honey before meditation.

Gotu Kola is said to be one of the favorite foods of wild elephants.

The common name Gotu Kola also includes the species Hydrocotyle asiatica, which is used interchangeably with Centella asiatica.

-- Phil in KS (cshomestead@planetkc.com), April 16, 2002