Gotu Kola Cert. Organic

Description: Aerial parts of dried, certified organic Gotu kola, Centella asiatica.

Country of Origin: India

Traditional Use: Gotu kola has over 60 common names, including pennywort, Indian or water pennywort, marsh penny, ji xue cao, and talepetrako. Gotu kola, in the the Sri Lankan Singhalese language, means cup-shaped leaf. Sri Lankans, noting that elephants, renowned for their longevity, eat the plant, began eating a few leaves a day in hopes of increasing their lifespan.1,7 Gotu kola’s historical use is mentioned in the Chinese Shennong Herbal (circa 1st-2nd century CE). It has been called one of the “miracle elixirs of life” because a Chinese herbalist named Li Ching-Yun, who some believe lived to the age of 197 (but not the 256 or 265 years frequently cited), reportedly used gotu kola regularly.

The specific therapeutic uses are listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. In Ayurvedic medicine, gotu kola is best known as a mental rejuvenator, used to reduce mental fatigue and improve mental clarity. It is also used to improve circulation and venous return. Clinical studies have revealed the healing, anti-inflammatory properties of Gotu kola on skin ulcers (particularly those related to poor circulation) and scarring. In Europe, Gotu kola is used prior and after surgery, for prevention and  treatment of keloid and hyperthrophic scars, as well as arthritis and rheumatism.There are evidence suggesting that Gotu kola may be of benefit in Hashimoto's hyperthyroid disease.

Modern Use: Today, gotu kola is most commonly utilized for a variety of conditions: the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI, a condition where the leg veins and their valves do not work effectively, impeding blood flow to the heart), burn wounds, stress-related duodenal ulcers, as a stomachic to tone the stomach and improve its function, and for skin conditions such as scleroderma (hardening of the skin and connective tissue), psoriatic arthritis (inflamed scaly skin with swollen, painful joints), and scabies (a parasitic infection caused by a mite).

References:

https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/90/table-of-contents/herbalgram-90-herb-profile-gotu-kola/

DerMarderosian A, Beutler J, eds. The Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 2002.

Gotu Kola. University of Maryland Medical Center website. 2001. Available at: www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/gotu-kola-000253.htm. 

Ulbricht CE, Basch EM. Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Reference: Evidence-based Clinical Review. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby; 2005.