Gotukola 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Gotukola  100 g ($13.99), 50 g ($9.99), 25 g ($6.99)

Benefits
Gotu kola has been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine to revitalize the nerves and brain cells and to treat leprosy, skin ulcers, and other skin problems. Research shows that it has anti-inflammatory effects that help with rheumatism, and it improves the flow of blood throughout the body by strengthening the veins and capillaries. One of its active ingredients, asiaticoside, works to stimulate skin repair and to strengthen skin, hair, nails, and connective tissue. Chinese medicine uses gotu kola for dysentery, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, kidney stones, and scabies. Homeopathic remedies include those for skin diseases associated with itching and swelling and for uterine inflammation.

Nutrition
Gotu kola contains many nutrients, which may contribute to its medicinal properties, including several B-vitamins, vitamin C and a handful of phytonutrients such as flavonoids, tannins and polyphenols. These phytonutrients supply it with antioxidants — beneficial compounds that prevent damage to your cells and help ward off disease. However, the nutritional profile of gotu kola can vary significantly based on many factors, such as the way it’s processed or prepared.

Energy (Kcal) KJ
Water (g)	85.34 ± 2.21
Protein (g)	1.75 ± 0.03
Fat (g)	0.53 ± 0.03
Available carbohydrates (g)	7.03 ± 0.04
Dietary Fiber (g)	3.47 ± 0.18
Ash (g)	1.43 ± 0.03
Calcium (mg)	318.95 ± 8.76
Iron (mg)	9.35 ± 0.08
Magnesium (mg)	47.4 ± 0.18
Potassium (mg)	468.59 ± 0.58
Sodium (mg)	32.06 ± 0.40
Zinc (mg)	2.30 ± 0.0
Vit A-RAE (mcg)	498.4
ß-carotene (mcg)	5984
Vitamin C (mg)	15.43 ± 1.68

Inflammation  Inflammation is a normal biological response to injury. Chronic inflammation, however, can wreak major havoc on the body and contribute to conditions like heart disease, obesity, arthritis, diabetes and cancer. From protecting your cells against damage to preventing chronic disease, antioxidants are essential to many aspects of health. They have even been shown to help alleviate inflammation.

Gotu kola can enhance antioxidant activity in the body. This may help reduce inflammation and aid in the treatment of several inflammatory disorders. A 2008 animal study, for example, showed that its active compounds were able to decrease several inflammatory markers and reduce arthritis severity in rats. To really take advantage of its inflammation-busting benefits, be sure to fill your diet with other antioxidant-rich whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables.

Cognition. Gotu kola may help with general mental ability. It is likely that the herb protects the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the brain, which normalizes the brain’s use of oxygen. Gotu kola also has a reputation for improving memory and concentration. A study conducted in 1992 recorded that memory retention in rats treated with gotu kola was three to sixty times better than that in control animals. Preliminary results in one clinical trial with developmentally disabled children showed that treatment with gotu kola increased scores on tests of intellectual achievement. In one study, children with educable mental retardation showed improvement after six months in several tests of intelligence.

A small 2016 study compared the effects of gotu kola extract and folic acid in boosting cognitive function after a stroke. This small study assessed the impact on three groups of participants — one taking 1,000 milligrams (mg) of gotu kola per day, one taking 750 mg of gotu kola per day, and one taking 3 mg of folic acid per day.

Although gotu kola and folic acid were equally beneficial in improving overall cognition, gotu kola was more effective in improving memory domain. A separate study looked at the cognitive enhancing effects of gotu kola water extract on mice. Although both young and old mice showed improvements in learning and memory using the Morris Water Maze, the effect was higher in the older mice.

According to one review of studies, gotu kola may help support the functioning of the brain and nervous system, improve memory, and protect against aging. However, more recent studies do not support some of these claims. A 2017 study found that gotu kola may improve alertness and reduce anger but did not substantiate the other findings.

Meanwhile, in a 2016 study, researchers looked at people who had experienced cognitive impairment following a stroke. They found that few, if any, improvements were associated with using gotu kola, compared with folic acid. The authors noted that some participants experienced some improvement in long-term memory after taking the herb.

Memory  One of the most well-known gotu kola benefits is its potential to improve cognition and sharpen memory.

A study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease revealed that gotu kola extract may be able to improve memory at the molecular level by enhancing the activity of a pathway that is associated with long-term memory formation.

This was demonstrated in a 2002 animal study in which rats were given gotu kola extract and put through a series of tests to measure their cognitive function. The extract was shown to improve learning and memory by increasing antioxidant levels in the blood.

Another study found that supplementation with gotu kola was able to boost both memory and cognitive function in elderly participants.

Thanks to its strong memory-enhancing abilities, this powerful plant has found itself in the spotlight lately as a natural treatment to help slow age-related decline and the progression of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s  Gotu kola has the ability to enhance memory and nerve function, which gives it potential in treating Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, one 2012 study on mice found that gotu kola extract had a positive effect on behavioral abnormalities in mice with Alzheimer’s disease.

The extract was also shown, in lab and animal studies, to have a modest effect on protecting brain cells from toxicity. This could also protect the cells from forming the plaque associated with Alzheimer’s.

Still, further research is needed to determine exactly how gotu kola could be used to treat Alzheimer’s. If you’re interested in adding this to your treatment plan, talk to your doctor before use.

Anxiety, Stress  Researchers in an animal study from 2016 found that gotu kola had an anti-anxiety effect on male mice that were sleep deprived for 72 hours. Sleep deprivation can cause anxiety, oxidative damage, and neuroinflammation.

Mice that were given gotu kola for five consecutive days before undergoing sleep deprivation experienced significantly less anxiety-like behavior. They also experienced improved locomotor activity and less oxidative damage. A 2013 review of anti-anxiety herbal medicines also concluded that gotu kola has an acute anti-anxiety effect. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

According to Winchester Hospital, an older study of 40 participants found that gotu kola helped improve the startle response. This is relevant because, as the hospital explains, easy startling is associated with anxiety. Confirming whether the herb can relieve anxiety will require larger studies of better design.

Antidepressant  In addition to being good for your physical health, some studies have found that gotu kola could benefit your mental health, too.

This is because it possesses anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. This means it can naturally inhibit anxiety, help treat depression, calm nerves and even act as a sedative to promote better sleep.

A 2010 study gave 33 participants 500 milligrams of gotu kola twice a day for 60 days. Not only did this cause a reduction in anxiety levels, but it also decreased levels of stress and depression as well.vA study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology produced similar findings and showed that elderly participants supplementing with gotu kola showed improvements in both mood and memory.

Additionally, there have been multiple animal studies that have confirmed the beneficial anxiety-relieving and antidepressant effects of gotu kola. Gotu kola’s positive effect on brain function may also make it an effective antidepressant.

A review from 2016 supports these findings, in part due to a study on 33 people with generalized anxiety disorder. The participants were asked to take gotu kola in place of their antidepressant medication for 60 days. They self-reported decreased stress, anxiety, and depression. Another study discussed in the review assessed the effect of gotu kola on rats induced with chronic depression. The herbal remedy had a positive effect on certain elements of behavioral depression, including body weight, body temperature, and heart rate.

Insomnia  Given its perceived ability to treat anxiety, stress, and depression, gotu kola may also be used to treat the insomnia that sometimes accompanies these conditions. Some consider this herbal remedy to be a safe alternative to prescription medications used to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders.

Although older research does suggest that gotu kola can help treat sleep disorders, additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Swollen Ankles, Varicose Veins. Asiaticoside, a component of gotu kola, stabilizes the connective tissue that surrounds the veins of the legs. One study showed that people who just had a vein irritation (post-phlebitis) and were taking gotu kola had improved blood flow and reduced their chance of developing severe vascular disease. While gotu kola significantly improved symptoms of varicose veins, particularly the discomfort, tiredness, and swelling, it did not reduce the unsightliness of veins that were already badly damaged.

According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, several studies claim that gotu kola can help treat varicose veins and venous insufficiency.  However, many of these studies date back to the early 2000s or earlier — more up-to-date research is necessary. For example, an older study, from 2001, found that participants who received 60 milligrams of triterpenic fraction of gotu kola twice daily for 8 weeks experienced improvements in the health of their veins. The participants all had conditions with significant vein involvement, such as severe venous hypertension and ankle swelling.

Another study from the same year, and from some of the same researchers, produced similar results. The second study found that gotu kola extracts helped with diabetic microangiopathy by improving the function of the veins. This health issue affects people with diabetes and involves having unusually small blood vessels in various areas of the body.

Circulation, Edema  Research from 2001 found that gotu kola can reduce problems with fluid retention, ankle swelling, and circulation tied to taking flights that last longer than three hours. Participants who experienced mild-to-moderate superficial venous disease with varicose veins were asked to take gotu kola for two days before their flight, the day of their flight, and the day after their flight. Researchers found that participants who took it experienced significantly less fluid retention and ankle swelling than those who didn’t.

Older research has also shown that gotu kola can be useful in treating varicose veins. This may be because gotu kola has a positive metabolic effect on the connective tissue of the vascular wall.

Poor circulation can be a result of many different causes, including varicose veins, obesity, diabetes and peripheral artery disease. Decreases in blood flow can be behind symptoms like numbness, tingling and muscle pain. Traditional treatments to help improve circulation include exercising, elevating your legs and avoiding long periods of immobility. Gotu kola may also help, as it has been studied extensively for its unique ability to naturally improve blood circulation.

One study gave 87 participants with poor circulation a dosage of 30 milligrams or 60 milligrams twice a day for 60 days. This was found to significantly improve circulation compared to a placebo. Meanwhile, a review published in 2013 investigated eight studies and found that gotu kola was effective at improving circulation and alleviating symptoms of poor circulation such as swelling, leg heaviness and pain.

Adding gotu kola to your daily routine, along with other remedies like regular physical activity, may increase blood flow to help you avoid the negative side effects of poor circulation.

Skin  Another remarkable benefit of gotu kola is its ability to repair skin cells and boost the health of your skin. It effectively enhances antioxidant activity in your tissues. This aids in wound healing and skin regeneration. Antioxidants can help neutralize harmful free radicals. These are compounds that accumulate over time to cause oxidative damage and accelerate aging.

One animal study found that applying gotu kola to wounds twice daily increased the levels of some antioxidants by up to 77 percent after seven days. (6) In another animal study, it was applied to wounds three times a day for 24 days, which was found to increase collagen production and regenerate new skin cells faster. Collagen is the most abundant type of protein in the body and it is responsible for the repair and renewal of the skin.

Because of its positive effects on skin health, gotu kola is also often used topically as a natural remedy for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Wounds, Scarring, And Periodontal Disease. Many herbal practitioners and physicians report that gotu kola stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and underlying connective tissue. Asiaticoside, in gotu kola, has a beneficial effect on collagen and inhibits its excessive production in scar formation. Studies have reported that gotu kola accelerates the healing of burns and skin grafts and minimizes scarring. Gotu kola cream helps relieve the painful scaly red welts of psoriasis. In one study, when gotu kola was combined with Punica granatum (pomegranate), participants’ periodontal disease was significantly improved—less bleeding and less gingival disease—after three months.

According to a 2010 review of studies, some research supports the use of gotu kola to help wounds and burns heal.

The authors reported that many studies had found that gotu kola sped up wound healing.  Researchers in a 2015 study on rats found that wound dressing containing gotu kola had healing effects on multiple types of wounds. This includes clean cuts by sharp objects, irregular tears caused by blunt-force trauma, and infected tissue.

Most of these studies involved animals or artificial wounds created in labs. This means that the herb may not have the same effects in humans. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center also highlights the lack of trials in humans and call for further testing before the effectiveness of gotu kola as a wound treatment can be confirmed.

Stretch Marks  According to a 2013 review, gotu kola can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. It’s thought that the terpenoids found in gotu kola increase collagen production in the body. This may help prevent new stretch marks from forming, as well as help heal any existing marks.

Joint Pain  The anti-inflammatory properties of gotu kola may be useful in treating arthritis. In fact, one 2014 study on collagen-induced arthritis in rats found that oral administration of gotu kola reduced joint inflammation, cartilage erosion, and bone erosion. Its antioxidant effect also had a positive effect on the immune system.

Detoxification  Newer research is taking a look at gotu kola’s effect on liver and kidney toxicity.

According to one 2017 animal study, gotu kola can be used to suppress the toxic side effects of the antibiotic isoniazid. Isoniazid is used to treat and prevent tuberculosis. Rats were given 100 mg of gotu kola for 30 days before they were given the antibiotic. These rats experienced less toxicity overall. Rats that did experience toxicity in the liver and kidneys resumed to near-normal levels after being given gotu kola. More research is needed to expand upon these findings.

Gastric Ulcers  Gastric ulcers are sores that form on the lining of the stomach, esophagus or small intestine. They cause symptoms like pain, nausea and bleeding. Some studies suggest that gotu kola can help prevent and treat these harmful lesions by strengthening the intestinal barrier and blocking damage from harmful free radicals.

In fact, a study in the journal Life Sciences showed that supplementing rats with gotu kola reduced the formation of gastric ulcers by up to 82 percent. Another animal study found that the active compounds of gotu kola were able to decrease gastric ulcer size after just three days. Paired with other gastric ulcer treatments, such as reducing stress levels, limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding foods that irritate your stomach, gotu kola could aid in the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers.

Cancer  Though current research is limited to test-tube studies, some evidence shows that gotu kola could help kill cancer cells.

This is likely due to its potent antioxidant activity, as antioxidants can help neutralize cancer-causing free radicals and prevent damage to your cells. A 2008 study treated human breast cancer cells with gotu kola extract and found that it successfully blocked cancer growth and induced cancer cell death. Another study found that it was effective in causing cell death for several strains of cancer cells, including human breast cancer cells, mouse skin cancer cells, and rat brain cancer cells. More studies are needed to continue to evaluate the potential effect of gotu kola on cancer cells in humans.

Recommended Use
Gotu kola is available in liposome tablets or tinctures, as well as in topical creams. Although gotu kola causes changes on a cellular level in forty-eight to seventy-two hours, clinical studies show that the body does not accumulate a maximum level of asiatic acid, the chief active ingredient, until the herb has been taken for at least three weeks.

Gotu kola should be avoided by women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant, as well as by nursing mothers. It may interfere with oral medications for diabetes such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and tolbutamide (Orinase). Since it may raise cholesterol levels, it should be avoided by people with “borderline” high cholesterol and by anyone taking cholesterol-lowering medications or niacin. You should not use it if you take tranquilizers or sedatives, since it may have a narcotic effect. It should not be given to a child under the age of two. Taken orally in recommended doses, gotu kola appears to be nontoxic. It seldom causes any side effects other than an occasional allergic skin rash. However, there are some concerns that it may be carcinogenic if applied topically to the skin.

Botanical Name. Centella asiatica
English: Gotukola, Brahmi
Also, known as: Manimuni, Marsh Pepperwort, Matoyahuho, Matoyahuhu, Mrang-khua, mtwigahuwu, Pa-na-e-khaa-doh, Phác chèn, Phaknok, Phalwaen, Rau má, Saraswathiaaku, Takyp-kohol, Thalkuri, Thankuni , Thol-kuri, Tilkushi, Titjari, Tono itahi, Tsubo-kusa, Tungchian, Vallari, Vallarei, Vitovitolenge, Water pennywort, Waternavel, Yahon-yahon, Yerba de chavos, Artaniyae-hindi, Asiatic pennywort, Barmanimuni, Barmi, Bhtam but , Boabok, Bodila-ba-dinku, Bokkudu, Brahma manduki, Brahmi ghi, Brahmi-butı, Brahmi, Bua bok, Bua-bok, Centella, Chhota mani-muni, Chi-hsueh-ts ao, Ghi brahmi, Ghod tapre, Ghodtapre, Ghortapre, Gotu kola, Gotukola, Herba pegagan, frerba kakikuda, Hydrocotyle, Hydrocotyle asiatique, Idrocotile, Imsen korokla, Indian pennywort, Indian water navelwort, Indischer Wassernabel, Karinga, Karivana, Kudangal, luei gong, mandoka genus, Mandoka parni, Mandukaparni, Mandukparni, Wassernabel, Hydrocotile, Ondelaga, Brahmi soppu, Khodabrahmi, Khadbhrammi, Jholkhuri, Kodangal, Saraswati Aku
Origin: India
Harvested: Wild
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Gotu kola is a member of the Apiaceae family of plants, right alongside carrots, celery and parsley. Its taste can range from mild to slightly bitter, and it is virtually odor-free. In addition to being a prominent ingredient in many traditional Asian cuisines, it is also conveniently found in many forms, including dried herb, tea, capsules and tinctures.
Historically, it has been used for everything from promoting lactation to treating herpes, as well as a myriad of other conditions. In addition to its medicinal effects, gotu kola was also revered in India and China for its ability to enhance spirituality. In fact, many still refer to it as the “Herb of Enlightenment.”
Gotu kola’s scientific name is Centella asiatica. The plant is native to tropical and subtropical parts of Asia.
According to an older review of studies, gotu kola contains compounds such as triterpenoid saponins. Researchers believe that these may be largely responsible for the plant’s purported health benefits.
Some traditional uses of gotu kola include:
• healing wounds
• relieving diarrhea
• boosting energy levels
• reducing anxiety
• enhancing sexual potency
• treating venereal diseases
• treating skin diseases
• treating menstrual disorders
• slowing Hansen’s disease (leprosy) progression
• prolonging life
There so many important herbs known as Brahmi. The herb is known as “Brahmi” in the Indian subcontinent and Gotu kola in the western world. Bacopa monnieri is called Brahmi in South India, and Centella Asiatica is called Brahmi (or Gotu Kola) in the north of India, where it more commonly grows. Gotukola mostly found in fields and other waste places throughout India up to an altitude of 600 meters It is also cosmopolitan in its natural distribution and grows along damp shady streams, in ponds, particularly on the marshy land, along the river banks and in irrigated fields. Gotukola is also cultivated in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar, and South Africa, Kenya, and Hawaii

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How Much To Use
It is common that 10g of a fresh herb = 1g when dehydrated.
Recommended daily amount: 1–2 tsp (3-6 g) of gotu kola, up to 3 times/day. This can be added to food or to make tea.