general characteristics
Common names include gotu kola, Brahmi, Indian pennywort, Brahma-manduki, marsh penny, water pennywort, spade leaf.
Related to the marsh loving pennyworts, gotu kola is a small perennial creeping plant with small round fan shaped fragrant leaves and wiry looking stalks, similar to nasturtium. Predominantly native to Asia but can and does grow in most parts of the world. It belongs to the Apiaceae family (includes plants like parsley and celery). It is known to absorb contaminants from the soil so I would personally be sure to use organically certified plant material.
There is a European native that is a relative (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) growing in similar conditions but (as far as I am aware) bares no resemblance medicinally to the Asian plant.
Contrary to its common name, it contains no kola or caffeine of any kind.
Organic Gotu kola dried herb and tincture are available to buy in our herbal shop.
therapeutic actions and uses
Gotu kola is highly valued in Asian medicine and in the Ayurvedic system of medicine and is in their top ten list of
longevity promoting herbs. Famed for its energising effects and for improving
tiredness and increasing
stamina, gotu kola is an all round wonder plant, brimming with medicinal and nutritional merits. Stories are told of people in Sri Lanka noticing that elephants consume masses of this plant in their diet, perhaps this is why elephants are famous for both their memory and longevity! It is also revered as an elixir of the
fountain of youth as it delays many of the effects of ageing.
It has been used for centuries as an
aid to enhance meditation and to imbibe a deeper sense of calm and togetherness, as a prime rejuvenating
brain tonic, dubbed a
'brain food' even,
which enhances
memory and improves
amnesia, improves attention and alertness, improves
ADD/ADHD etc,
improving IQ in some cases and even i
improving vocabulary in some people. Many people consider gotu kola an effective
nootropic or '
smart drug'/cognitive enhancer. Typing "nootropic gotu kola" into a search engine will provide many examples of its use as a cognitive enhancer and its anti-anxiety effects.
Gotu kola is also a nutritive nerve tonic and has been shown to
speed up the repair of damaged nerve cells, indicating that it is a prime nerve tonic to use after any problem involving
nerve damage. Conditions involving both nervous and circulatory systems such as
tinnitus and
dizziness can be greatly improved by gotu kola. Other conditions such as
epilepsy,
senile dementia,
Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorders, concussion, convulsions, M.E. and
even
paralysis may be helped. Conditions such as
multiple sclerosis and
Parkinson's disease could also benefit from gotu kola.
Sweet yet bitter taste,
blood cooling,
clearing heat (hence the Chinese name 'snow plant') and cleansing generally. traditionally used for
fever and as an antidote to
heatstroke.
Gotu kola is considered by some to be a specific remedy for
anxiety. It can induce feelings of peace of mind yet can also prove uplifting in cases of
depression where it can improve mood and act as a rejuvenating and energising remedy.
Gotu kola is also extremely efficient at healing skin conditions such as
eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, ringworm, lichen planus and
lupus type skin conditions. it is anti-inflammatory,
reduces scar formation when used as a poultice or tincture on the wound, is antibacterial in
wounds, promotes new cell growth and enhanced elasticity and collagen production, helps prevent
stretch marks and
post operative scars It is being used in many skin creams as an
anti-ageing an
anti-wrinkle agent due to its collagen building activities. It can significantly improve healing from
burns when used immediately after the incident as well as improving stubborn
leg ulcers and other hard to treat lesions.
Cellulitis also responds well to this herb. Its action on the connective tissue also explains its use for
gum diseases.
Due to its anti-inflammatory, connective tissue growth promoting and blood flow stimulating effects, it can be of great benefit in cases of
arthritis and
rheumatism.
Gotu kola seems to have a wide ranging tonic effect on the immune response and has been used traditionally for conditions such as
elephantitis/filaria, leprosy, shingles, the common cold, cholera, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases like
syphilis and
gonorrhoea. It is also widely used against throat infections like
tonsillitis.Adrenal weakness and exhaustion (aka 'adrenal burnout) can be improved with gotu kola.
Cushings syndrome may also be improved.
Tiredness, deep
fatigue (including
chronic fatigue) and
exhaustion can all be improved.
Stress coping mechanisms are enhanced generally.
Can also help protect the nervous system against damage caused by pesticide exposure.
Liver cirrhosis, jaundice and many other digestive disorders and infections such as
dysentery and
diarrhoea are treated with gotu kola in many parts of the world.
Gotu kola also has at tonic like effect on the ductless glands (aka the
endocrine glands comprising the pineal, pituitary, ovaries, testes, pancreas, adrenals, thyroid, parathyroid and hypothalamus). This makes it popular and effective against
goitre and
under-active thyroid gland and from conditions stemming from disorders of the
pituitary gland.
Has many beneficial actions on the
heart and circulatory systems, including slowing progression of arterial plaques,
improves circulation and blood blow,
strengthens veins and capillaries (reducing vessel fragility and preventing leakages form vessels), improves blood flow to the heart so preventative against
heart attacks, congestive heart failure, stroke, phlebitis, varicose veins and many other venous disorders, particularly those affecting the lower limbs.
It also helps to rid the body of excess water and fluids so can be used in
water retention, cellulitis and even helps with
kidney and
urinary tract infections such as
cystitis and
bladder weakness.
Some herbalists find that gotu kola is helpful when dealing with issues of recovery from addictions such as
alcoholism and all kinds of
drug addiction when used as a part of a herbal formula to help boost vitality and energy reserves at a time when the body most needs it.
Male
impotence (and possibly male i
infertility) may be helped by its significant impact on blood flow, mood and energy levels.
Gotu kola is often included in formulas to maintain a healthy
prostate gland.
Infuse the dried herb in sesame oil for a few days then rub a teaspoon of oil into the scalp each night to stimulate blood flow to the scalp and
stimulate hair growth. Leave overnight and rinse off in the morning.
A growing number of studies (
here and
here ) are investigating the traditional use of gotu kola in the treatment of
cancers and
tumours. It may also prove useful in protecting the skin and body from the damaging effects of
chemotherapy and
radiation exposure.
Here is a link to a Philippine website detailing
the many medicinal properties of gotu kola.
Another useful article entitled
"More Benefits of Gotu Kola'
dosage and cautions
* Avoid during early months of pregnancy due to possible stimulatory effect of uterus.
* Large doses can cause headache and gastrointestinal upset
* Avoid with epilepsy
* Use caution if taking prescribed medications for diabetes, hypertension, nervous conditions etc.
Adult
Tincture: 5 mls twice daily, or 10 mls sipped throughout the day.
Dried herb in tea form: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of dried herb per cup, up to 3 cups daily.
* Do not take at medicinal doses for more than 4 weeks without a break. Long term use for many years is regarded as safe however not every day continuously.
Children
Add 12 to the child’s age. Divide the child’s age by the total.
E.g. dosage for a 4 year old...... 4 {age} divided by 16 {age + 12} = . 25 or 1/4 of the adult dosage.
Gotu kola
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