Incredible Health Benefits Of Gotu Kola

Herbs have been an integral part of our lives for ages. They are celebrated for their medicinal properties and deep-rooted use in traditional and Ayurvedic medicine. And when we talk about herbs, Gotu Kola cannot be missed. Gotu Kola stands out as a powerhouse of health benefits. This incredible herb has been cherished for centuries as it promotes cognitive function, skin health, and overall well-being. Curious to learn more? Read on further to learn and understand some significant benefits of Gotu Kola and how it can contribute to a healthier lifestyle.

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What Is Gotu Kola?

Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica or Pennywort) is an herb used for longevity in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. It is known for its incredible health benefits, such as increasing blood vessels, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and collagen growth.Surprisingly, the plant can soak up heavy metals from the soil. Copper accumulates in its roots, while manganese and lead are present in the leaves. It is of good medicinal value, provided the source is organic farming.

What Are The Constituents In Gotu Kola?

Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) is a medicinal plant rich in various chemical constituents, including triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids, and vitamins. Among its triterpenes, asiaticoside, madecassoside, Asiatic acid, and madecassic acid are known for their wound-healing properties. The plant also contains saponins like metastatic acid, which may aid in wound healing, and brahmoside, a unique compound found in C. asiatica. Flavonoids present in the herb contribute to its overall health benefits, while essential vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and vitamin K further enhance its medicinal value.

Additionally, Gotu Kola contains dietary micronutrients such as aspartate, glutamate, serine, threonine, alanine, lysine, and histidine. For centuries, Gotu Kola has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat wounds, burns, psoriasis, scleroderma, and various other conditions.

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How Does Gotu Kola Work?

Certain chemicals present in Gotu Kola seem to decrease inflammation and help regulate blood pressure. It also seems to increase collagen production, an important aspect of wound healing and skin elasticity. Apart from these, several health benefits of Gotu Kola help us maintain overall well-being.

Health Benefits Of Gotu Kola:

Gotu Kola is a powerhouse of benefits. Here are a few fantastic ways Gotu Kola helps us:

1. Enhances Cognitive Function and May Aid in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment:

Gotu Kola has been found to enhance memory and nerve function. It is also observed that Gotu Kola has a beneficial impact on behavioral abnormalities associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Laboratory and animal studies also indicate that the extract can guard brain cells against toxicity and inhibit plaque formation associated with Alzheimer’s.

2. Helps in Wound Healing and Scar Reduction:

Gotu Kola has been employed to support wound healing and reduce scarring. A 2010 review of studies proves that Gotu Kola may be able to heal wounds and burns. Nevertheless, most of these experiments were conducted on animals or artificial wounds induced in a lab, requiring more research to establish its efficacy in human beings.

3. Exhibits Antioxidant Properties:

Studies have shown that Gotu Kola possesses antioxidant properties, which may help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated its antioxidant activity, contributing to its potential health benefits.

4. Improves Skin Health:

The herb is also said to stimulate collagen production, which would help enhance skin elasticity and minimize the visibility of scars and stretch marks. Application may result in healthier and firmer
skin. Gotu Kola treats psoriasis by limiting the skin cell multiplication as well.

5. Reduces Joint Pain:

Gotu Kola’s anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce joint pain associated with arthritis. By decreasing inflammation, it can contribute to improved joint function and comfort.

6. Detoxifies The Body:

Gotu Kola is believed to have detoxifying properties that support liver and kidney function, aiding in eliminating toxins from the body. This detoxification process can contribute to overall health and well-being.

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7. ReducesAnxiety:

In humans, the herb helps prevent easily being startled and reduces anxiety. Research indicates that Gotu Kola may have anxiolytic properties. A 2016 animal study found that Gotu Kola exhibited an anti-anxiety effect on male mice under 72 hours of sleep deprivation. The mice receiving Gotu Kola for five consecutive days before sleep deprivation showed significantly reduced anxiety-like behavior and oxidative damage.

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8. Promotes Respiratory Health:

Traditionally, Gotu Kola has been used to treat respiratory issues such as colds and congestion. Its anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce respiratory tract inflammation, easing breathing difficulties.

9. Improves Blood Circulation:

Taking Gotu Kola or a specific extract (Centellase) orally for 4–8 weeks may help improve blood circulation and reduce swelling in individuals with poor leg circulation, potentially preventing varicose veins and other venous insufficiency-related conditions.

10. Increases Serotonin and Dopamine and Lowers Cortisol:

Studies revealed that Gotu Kola increased dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels. Thus, long-term memory can be enhanced, aggression can be lowered, and it can help with sleep disorders. It has also been shown to help reduce cortisol levels, helping you attain a stress-free life.

Other benefits of Gotu Kola include:

• Gotu Kola Treats Stomach Ulcers: By increasing bFGF and reducing myeloperoxidase, Gotu Kola increases cell healing, thereby reducing ulcers in rats.
• Helps Prevent Free Radical Damage: Gotu Kola contains phenols, which offer antioxidant and anti-tumor activities or benefits in mouse cells.
• Gotu Kola Prevents Thrombosis: In some rat models, a Gotu Kola component inhibits blood clotting, thereby preventing thrombosis.
• Gotu Kola Treats Herpes: The herb helped clear up the herpes virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in test tube cultures by inhibiting the virus. When combined with mango, the effect was even stronger.

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Various forms of Gotu Kola:

Gotu Kola is found in many forms, such as teas, dried herbs, tinctures, capsules, tablets, and ointments. To preserve potency, store products in a cool, dry location and utilize them before the expiration date.

Side Effects of Gotu Kola

Specific side effects of Gotu Kola include skin reactions and burning on the skin upon topical application. You might also experience headaches, indigestion, nausea, lightheadedness, and excessive drowsiness. You are more likely to have these side effects if administered higher doses.

Interactions and Possible Risks of Using Gotu Kola:

Gotu Kola can interact with the following drugs:

• Liver-Altering Drugs: Because Gotu Kola can stress the liver, taking it with other liver-altering drugs might enhance the risk of liver damage.
• Drugs For Diabetes: Gotu Kola can increase blood sugar levels, so individuals with diabetes should talk to their doctor before using it.
• Diuretics (water pills): Gotu Kola is a diuretic, and taking it with diuretic drugs or related herbs such as green tea, astragalus, or ginkgo may result in excessive fluid loss.
• Sedatives: Gotu Kola is a sedative and can increase the action of anti-anxiety and insomnia medications as well as herbal sedatives such as valerian.

Talk to your physician if you are on prescription drugs or taking over-the-counter painkillers regularly.

Recommended Dosage Of Gotu Kola

A study found that Gotu Kola extract at 1000 mg/day and 750 mg/day effectively improved cognitive impairment following a stroke. It showed a more remarkable improvement in delayed memory recall than folic acid treatment. The 750 mg and 1000 mg doses were well tolerated with minimal side effects, making them suitable options for those seeking to minimize adverse effects. However, commercial manufacturers have numerous dosage regulations for Gotu Kola.

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Who Must Avoid Taking Gotu Kola:

• Avoid using Gotu Kola if you are hypersensitive to the ingredients of C. asiatica or Gotu Kola.
• Avoid using Gotu Kola during lactation and pregnancy to avoid emmenagogue effects.

FinalThoughts:

In short, gotu kola is an herb with incredible health benefits but needs to be used according to tolerance and dosage levels. Consulting your physician before you include gotu kola in your routine is recommended, as this eliminates possible risks of overdosage or side effects.

• Dec 2017
  Written by Sumana Maheswari
• Mar 2025
  Edited by Vaishnavi