Gotu kola, or Asian pennywort (k), is a plant whose properties and healing effects have been appreciated for years in Indian natural medicine - Ayurveda. Gotu kola (Asiatic Pennywort) has been used as a remedy for better memory and concentration. Proper dosage of this plant can also reduce anxiety in stressful situations. What other properties does gotu kola have? What are its healing properties?

Gotu kola- otherwise Asian pennywort or Asian pennywort, Latin. Centella asiatica L. - is a plant whosepropertiesandhealing effectshave long been appreciated all over the world. In Indian natural medicine - Ayurveda - it has found wide application. It is believed to have rejuvenating properties and has a positive effect on brain function.

The common name of the Asian pennywort is gotu kola. In Sinhala, the word "kola" means a leaf and "gotu" means a chalice-like shape.

Regular consumption of Asiatic Pennywort is supposed to improve memory, prevent depression, and reduce anxiety. According to Ayurvedic principles, Asian pennywort is used in the treatment of skin lesions caused by leprosy, vitiligo, psoriasis, eczema, inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract, syphilis, asthma, anemia, cholera and hypertension. It is recommended to enrich the diet with Asian pennywort in the case of diabetes. In India, in folk medicine, the plant was used in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: dysentery, diarrhea, abdominal pain and indigestion. In Chinese medicine, Asiatic pennywort is used to treat depression, anxiety and as a remedy for physical and mental exhaustion .¹

Gotu kola (Asian pennywort) for memory and concentration

Gotu kola has gained the greatest popularity as a dietary supplement for memory and concentration, which is scientifically justified.

Scientists have found that gotu kola activates the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - a protein that stimulates the formation of new brain cells .²

In addition, gotu kola contributes to the development of dendrite (it is an element of the neuron, a structure that carries signals received from other neurons through synapses to the body of the cell of which it is part), thereby increasing brain plasticity and communication between cells

Gotu kola also stimulates the nerve growth factor (NGF) and protects the brain against the harmful effects of free radicals and neurotoxins.

Gotu kola grows in India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, South and Central Africa, Australia, South and Central America.

Gotu kola (Asian pennywort) for calming down and depression

Asiatic pennywort extracts affect the central nervous system - they have a calming, antidepressant, anticonvulsant and analgesic effect.

Indian scientists from the Institute of History of Medicine & Medical Research in New Delhi³ have shown that water extract from goto kola reduces spontaneous activity in mice and increases sleep time. All thanks to two glycosides called bramoside and brahinoside. The calming effect of these substances corresponds to that of a mild sedative from a pharmacy shelf. Studies comparing the effects of the aqueous extract of Got Kola and diazepam (a psychotropic drug from the benzodiazepine group) in mice have shown that the aqueous extract reduces spontaneous activity to the same extent as diazepam. The extract also reduced the seizures that were induced in mice. In addition, the anxiolytic effect in mice was milder than with benzodiazepine.

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Gotu kola - where to buy? What's the price?

Gotu kola can be bought in pharmacies, herbal stores and he alth food stores. Most often it is available in the form of powdered herb (from which you can prepare infusions or tinctures) and tablets. The price for a package of 120 tablets is about PLN 50. In turn, for 100g of powdered herb you have to pay about PLN 15-20.

Gotu kola (Asiatic Pennywort) for hemorrhoids, venous insufficiency and other circulatory problems

Gotu kola has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system:

  • stimulates the synthesis of collagen and other proteins of connective tissue by modulating the activity of fibroblasts in the vessel walls, which in turn improves their elasticity and the tension of blood vessels
  • protects the vascular endothelium
  • has anti-aggregation activity (prevents platelets sticking together), which may reduce the negative effects of venous stasis
  • reduces too much permeability of blood vessels

Therefore, Asian pennywort extracts are indicated in hypertension and all symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, as well as anal hemorrhoids.

Gotu kola (Asiatic Pennywort) for stomach ulcers

Chinese scientists from The University of Hong Kong4have shown that the water extract of the Asiatic Pennywort,as well as its main component, asiaticoside, accelerated the healing of gastric ulcers. Administration of the extract to rats resulted in a reduction in the size of ulcers within 3 to 7 days, depending on the dose administered. In other studies, gastric ulcers have been induced in mice. It was observed that subcutaneous administration of asiaticoside 3 hours before induction of ulcers significantly reduced their formation.

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Gotu kola - dosage

Domestic and Asian weevil is recommended to be used in a dose of 2 g in the morning and at noon (as a powdered herb), 5-10 ml of tincture of tincture 1: 5 in the morning and at noon. Drink 2-3% infusions from morning to afternoon. The sometimes recommended infusions of half a teaspoon per glass of boiling water or extract doses of 100 mg a day are not effective and can be treated rather as a placebo.5

Gotu kola (Asiatic Pennywort) for skin diseases, scars and wounds?

According to Ayurvedic principles, gotu kola is used in the treatment of skin lesions caused by leprosy, vitiligo, psoriasis and eczema.

Gotu kola can be used internally (in the form of infusions, extracts or powder) and externally (for washing or compresses).

However, this is not reflected in scientific research. It turns out that gotu kola cannot be helpful in the course of psoriasis. The researchers compared the topical effects of Asian Pennywort extract, Psoralea corylifolia seed extract (known for its good anti-psoriasis effect) with the drug dithranol used for psoriasis. Studies have shown that pennywort inhibits the multiplication of keratinocytes (epidermal cells) much less than Psoralea corylifolia, and also less than dithranol.

Asiatic pennywort extracts accelerate wound healing. They are also used successfully in the treatment of scars. The active substances contained in gotu kola stimulate the formation of scar tissue through the production of type 1 collagen. This effect is also enhanced by the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant. In addition, they accelerate the disappearance of hematomas and inflammatory exudates.

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Gotu Kola (Asiatic Pennywort) - Potential anti-cancer properties

Asiatic pennywort has a selective toxic effect on neoplastic cells. Research proves that the Asiatic Pennywort aqueous extract has a toxic effect on human breast cancer cells and mouse melanoma cells. In contrast, no effects were observed on lung cancer cells and kidney cancer cells.

Gotu Kola (Asiatic Pennywort) - antibacterial and antifungal properties

Asiatic pennywort is characterized by an antibacterial effect andantifungal. The effect of the essential oil obtained from the plant on six types of bacteria has been tested: Escherichia coli, hay stick, Bacillus megaterium, golden staphylococcus, mite, and Xanthomonas campestris, and on six types of fungi: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus parasiticus, Rhizopus oryzani, Fusida albicans, Candida albicans. and Colletrichum musae. Gotu kola essential oil showed a significant inhibitory effect on all microorganisms except Aspergillus parasiticus. The best effect was achieved with the bacteria Escherichia coli and the mold fungus Aspergillus niger.

Gotu Kola (Asian pennywort) - for stretch marks and cellulite

Asian pennywort extract can help with skin stretch marks and cellulite, as confirmed by scientific studies. 80 pregnant women participated in a double-blind trial. For 12 weeks, one group of women used a cream containing Asian pennywort extract once a day, and the other a placebo. After comparing the effects in both groups, significantly less development of skin stretch marks was observed in the group using the cream containing the gotu kola extract .¹

60 women participated in clinical trials concerning the effect of Centella asiatica extract on cellulite. The patients applied the ointment containing the Asian Pennywort extract 4 times a day for a period of 4 months. In 85 percent significant improvement was noticed .¹ Due to the fact that the absorption of Centella asiatica extract through the skin is very poor, it is advisable to combine it with ingredients that will facilitate its absorption.

Category:

Alternative medicine