Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola: cut and sifted, organic
Gotu Kola: powder, wildcrafted

Centella sciatic
Gotu kola is an herb that has been used in India and China for thousands of years to treat numerous skin conditions, from leprosy to eczema, thanks to a bundle of active compounds : Triterpene acids, including asiatic acid, terminolic acid and madecassic acid. The herb also contains triterpene saponins, such as asiaticoside, asiaticoside A and B, madecassoside and brahminoside.

One non-traditional use for gotu kola is to lessen anxiety. People who take it handle stress better and have fewer issues with anxiety attacks. Gotu kola also helps increase the quality of sleep, and helps to reduce blood pressure.

Patients with scleroderma also respond favorably to gotu kola, which reduces the hardening of skin and organs, and results in more joint movement and less joint pain.

If you suffer with problems such as varicose veins and venous insufficiency (blood pooling in the veins), gotu kola can help to relieve your suffering. It helps to make blood vessels more elastic, and that helps them to do their job properly.

By far, the most common use for gotu kola is still to treat skin problems. It can help to relieve pain and inflammation from burns, ulcers, and any type of healing wound. It also works to help prevent scar tissue from forming on wounds or surgical incisions.

Gotu kola is fibrous and woody without a discernible scent, and can be used in your favorite Indian recipes.

Gotu kola is utilized in diffusions, teas, tinctures, and capsules. In addition, many ointments contain gotu kola that can be applied topically to the skin. You’ll want to use the form that works best for you, depending on the condition for which you’re using it.

The powdered form of gotu kola is used to make capsules and most people take around 1,000 mg three times daily. However, you’ll want to make sure you follow your doctor’s advice to get the dosage correct.

Other names: marsh penny, thick-leaved pennywort, indian pennywort, white rot, hydrocotyle, indian hydrocotyle, centella, thankuni, mandukaparni, pegagan, sleuk tracheakkranh, ondelaga, vallaarai

Safety: Gotu kola should be taken on an alternating schedule with a two-week “off” period, and for no longer than six months total. This herb may affect how the liver metabolizes medications or increase the effects of certain medicines. Check with your doctor before using gotu kola if you take diuretics, antidepressants, diabetes medications or drugs to lower cholesterol. This herb should not be used during pregnancy or lactation or given to children. Also, because asiaticoside has been associated with stimulating cell growth in skin tumors in animal studies, you should not take gotu kola if you have a history of skin cancer.