Health Maintenance - Centella Asiatica or Gotu Kola

“Folk medicine” or commonly called traditional medicine existed among the people for thousands of years as part of their culture for keeping well and maintaining good health.  A common practice around the world, it has a long and successful history in treating many diseases and conditions. 

In our modern society, researchers continue their studies on the therapeutic potential of plants and herbs for health in terms of their efficacy and versatility.  The results are significant and they provide important evidences of the medicinal properties which are beneficial to our health.

Important: This information does not substitute for the advice of your healthcare professional. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. 

Centella Asiatica or Gotu Kola

Centella asiatica known as gotu kola is considered to be an ancient medicine, and used in Asian cuisines commonly used as a juice, tea, or green leafy vegetable (13).

Traditional uses for gotu kola have included anxiety, hepatitis, syphilis, gastrointestinal conditions, asthma, epilepsy, varicose veins, ulcers, skin irritation, swellings (Adams, 2018).

There is a significant numbers of published journal articles on research done on gotu kola and its medicinal properties.  It is believed to have antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and memory-enhanching properties (13).  It is made available in the form of dietary supplement, powder, tincture, and topical formulations.

The following are 9 medicinal uses of gotu kola are for arthritis, skin burns and wounds, varicose veins, ankle swelling or edema, antidepressant, anxiety, cognitive function, blood circulation, and great potential in diseases prevention such induce apoptosis and inhibit cell growth in cancer cellsr.

1.  Arthritis

• suppresses joint inflammation, cartilage erosion, and bone erosion (2)(4);

• Improves immune system due to its antioxidant (2)(4).

2.   Skin burns and wounds

      Treatment with topical cream made of gota kola helps:

• effective in treatment of wounds, also in infected wounds, burns, and hypertrophic scar (1)(2)(4)(6).

•  protect the skin from damaging effects of too much UVB radiation from the sun (1);

• wound healing - it contain asiaticoside, a type of triterpene, which enabling the stimulation of collagen production and promote the development of new blood vessels (13) 

3.   Ankle swelling or edema

      Gotu kola supplement:

• reduces swelling or edema by daily supplement of gota kola extract (1)(2);

• decreases ankle swelling/edema resulting from diabetes (1);

•  reduces ankle swelling among airline flyers (1)(2).

4.   Varicose veins 

• stimulates the production of collagen and elastin (11)

5.  Antidepressant

• positive effect on brain function, thus decreases stress, anxiety, and depression (7)(8)

6.   Anxiety 

• has an acute anti-anxiety effect resulting in increases cognition and decreases stress (1)(2)(9)(10)

7.  Cognitive Function

• beneficial in improving overall cognition(12);

• more effective in improving memory (12).

8.  Blood Circulation

• beneficial in improving blood circulation in chronic venous insufficiency (13);

9.  Disease Prevention

• known for antioxidant effects, neutralizing free radicals causing cell damage at molecular level  (13); 

•  may provide protection against stomach ulcers (13);

• ongoing research shows great potential in induce apoptosis (spontaneous cell death) and inhibit cell growth in cancer cells such as liver, breast, skin, brain, and gastrointestinal tumor cells (13);

Caution:

• may cause stomach upset, headache, and drowsiness (13);
• long-term use may induce liver toxicity (13);
• may interact with other medicines (13);
• avoid the supplement in children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers (13).

Recipe:

Gota Kola Salad

Ingredients:

·      150g of fresh gota kola leaves;

·      ½ onion;

·      1 paprika;

·      salt & paper to taste;

·      lx wedge of emon;

·      hemp or olive oil

Method:

·      Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.

·      Serve with your meal.

References:

1.  https://plantmedicines.org/gotu-kola-proven-medical-benefits/
2.     https://www.healthline.com/health/gotu-kola-benefits 3.      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25484009 4.     https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037851731500486X?via%3Dihub 5.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11666121 6.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834700/ 7.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10711131 8.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4975583/ 9.     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26848139 10.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23653088 11.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2150405 12.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4908235/
13.  https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-gotu-kola-89566