.jpg)
Gotu kola is one of the most valuable plants used in cooking and traditional medicine in Southeast Asia. It is used both as a dietary supplement and as a basis for medicines. What are the benefits and harms of Centella Asiatica for health and where to order gotu kola in Ukraine?
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) - what is it?
Centella asiatica is a "creeping" herbaceous plant of the Apiaceae family. It grows in warm regions of Asia and Oceania, being the only cultivated species of the genus Centella. In Sri Lanka, Centella asiatica is known as "gotu cola", in the British Pharmacopoeia it is called "Indian shield". The leaves are used in the cuisine of Asian countries as a fresh ingredient in salads, rolls and drinks, as well as an additive to curries, other dishes or the main component (for example, the leaves are fried in coconut oil). The gotu kola plant is highly valued for its high nutritional, tonic and general strengthening properties, so it is also used in medicine.
The earliest evidence of the medical use of gotu kola dates back to 1200 BC, when the Indian physician Sustra used this plant in his practice. In Ayurvedic medicine, centella asiatica is used as a "medhyarasayana" - a remedy for rejuvenation, improving memory and other brain functions. Among other effects in folk medicine of the Asian region, wound healing effect, treatment of ulcerative lesions on the skin, stomach ulcers, dysentery, syphilis, etc. are noted.
Centella asiatica is an object of interest for official science as a potential treatment for many diseases. It is already used to produce commercially available drugs approved for release in Italy, the USA and other countries. This is due to the presence of several groups of active substances in the plant (mainly in the leaves).
Composition of gotu kola
The following pharmacologically significant groups of compounds have been identified in the composition of gotu kola:
- terpenes (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, tetraterpenes) - the most frequently isolated complex of substances from Indian cotoneaster, on the basis of which commercially available preparations are made;
- phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, tannins), which have a noticeable antioxidant effect;
- polyacetylene group, carbohydrates, alkaloids, vitamins, minerals, amino acids.
Useful properties of gotu kola
Known in folk medicine as the "memory herb", Centella asiatica has been shown to enhance cognitive function in numerous studies in mouse models and humans. It has been reported to have anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and neuroprotective effects. Many of the neurotropic and neuroprotective properties are attributed to triterpene compounds, caffeoylquinic acids, and flavonoids. A significant body of research has investigated the wound healing and gastroprotective effects of triterpenes from C. asiatica or preparations based on them, as well as other potential uses and benefits of gotu kola.
Centella Asiatica Skin Benefits
The medical benefits of Centella Asiatica for the skin lie in its wound-healing effects, so there are several dozen in vitro and in vivo studies that have noted the therapeutic effects of gotu kola for a number of dermatological diseases:
- acne;
- burns;
- atopic dermatitis;
- wounds.
Also, gotu kola is a potentially useful component of skin care products, due to the moisturizing, antioxidant, anti-cellulite, anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating effects of its components: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic and madecassoside acids. Cosmetic preparations based on it improve skin hydration, help restore its protective function, have a soothing effect in case of sunburn and are suitable for use in people prone to couperose (rosacea).
When losing weight
Due to its anti-cellulite effect, Centella Asiatica helps reduce the "orange peel" effect during weight loss, i.e., it relieves aesthetic problems of people struggling with excess weight. The work of Lola K Smalls and co-authors (2006) proposed a mechanism for such an effect through the activation of metabolic processes in connective tissue and an increase in its elasticity.
In case of oncology
There are studies confirming the beneficial properties of gotu kola in various types of cancer: hepatocellular carcinoma (Faridah Hussin et al., 2014), breast cancer (Suboj Babykutty et al., 2008), lung cancer (Tiancong Wu et al., 2017), etc. In these studies, the effect of Centella Asiatica is associated with a cytotoxic effect on tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner and the triggering of the apoptosis mechanism. Also, in the work of Dhaneshree Bestinee Naidoo et al. (2017), the potential positive effect of C. Asiatica on the course of cancer cachexia due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects is noted.
In case of VSD
The use of biologically active supplements containing gotu kola, ginkgo biloba and a number of other plant components in patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia, against the background of taking a vascular drug, demonstrates positive dynamics of nervous system functions, when compared with the control group and the group without taking dietary supplements (only the vascular drug). There is an improvement in the general condition, memory, increased attention, reduction of headaches, hypertensive syndrome, etc.
Triterpenic acids (asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiatoside) contained in Centella asiatica have shown effectiveness in the treatment of cellulite, venous insufficiency of the lower extremities and varicose veins. In the work of Joseph E. Pizzorno et al. (2016), they note the normalizing effect of plant components on connective tissue metabolism, improving its integrity, and stimulating the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans without excessive collagen synthesis or cell growth. The effect in venous insufficiency and varicose veins is to improve the structure of connective tissue, reduce sclerosis and improve blood flow through the affected limbs.
It's a pity that it's so hot:
- No noticeable health effects of gotu kola have been reported for up to 12 months of use. In some cases, stomach pain and nausea have been reported;
- When applied topically for 10 weeks, centella asiatica preparations do not cause side effects in most patients. In some cases, redness and itching of the skin may occur.
Contraindications of Centella Asiatica
Gotu Kola contraindications:
- Surgical interventions: it is necessary to stop using centella 14 days before surgery, as it can provoke excessive drowsiness, synergistically enhancing the effect of sleeping pills and other drugs used during and after surgery.
- When taking Centella Asiatica, a contraindication is liver disease or taking medications that can potentially worsen the condition of the liver;
- It is not recommended to take gotu kola during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to insufficient data on the safety of its effects on the mother and fetus/child.
Side effects of gotu kola
When taking gotu kola, side effects are extremely rare and can be observed with prolonged external (itching, skin redness) or internal (nausea, drowsiness, stomach upset, headache) use.
How to take gotu kola
Gotu Kola natural powder instructions for use: take 1 teaspoon of Asian cinquefoil, dissolve in a drink and consume 1 to 3 times a day or dose the dietary supplement as recommended by a specialist.
Can I take gota kola and ginkgo biloba together?
When taken together, gotu kola and ginkgo biloba have a synergistic effect, enhancing each other's effects. This property is used, for example, in dietary supplements to improve cognitive functions, improve the condition in case of vegetative-vascular dystonia, varicose veins, etc. The synergy of these supplements is due to their multidirectional action:
- gotu kola, thanks to terpenes, improves CNS function and helps increase oxygen supply to the brain;
- Ginkgo biloba has a positive effect on the elasticity of blood vessels due to the presence of glycosides.
How to take gota kola and ginkgo biloba: Mix 1 teaspoon of Asian cyntella and ½ teaspoon of ginkgo biloba with smoothies, juice, or tea, consuming 1-2 times a day.
Conclusion
Gotu kola is a valuable natural raw material that is widely used in folk and traditional medicine for the treatment of cognitive disorders, oncology, vegetative-vascular dystonia, skin diseases, etc. You can buy Centella Asiatica in the form of natural powder in the Papa Nature online store. We obtain our raw materials from ecologically clean regions of Sri Lanka, and the dietary supplement reaches you after gentle drying while maintaining a high content of terpenes and other beneficial substances.
