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Did you know that gotu kola, a treasured herb used to treat all kinds of health conditions for centuries, was traditionally used to heal leprosy? In fact, the herb has a great reputation as a skin-healing agent, perfect for sensitive skin.
This beautiful green herb works like aloe to help the skin.
A Little Bit About the Ingredient Itself
Scientifically named Centella asiatica, gotu kola is a member of the parsley family. It enjoys swamplands in Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and some parts of South Africa. It has fan-shaped leaves, and because they’re about the same size as a British penny, the plant has also been called “Indian pennywort,” “marsh penny,” and “water pennywort.”
Considered a creeping perennial, the plant likes to spread out over the ground, and tends to have larger leaves when grown in the shade. Flowers are typically pink and appear in groups of 2 to 4 in a cluster or “umbel,” but they are so small that they often go unnoticed. Seeds grow in flat, oval capsules, typically with two tiny, brown kidney-shaped seeds.
Internal Health Benefits of Gotu Kola
Gotu kola has long been thought of as the “spiritual” herb, used by yogis to help improve meditation, said to help develop the crown chakra—the energy center at the top of the head—and to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
The herb is also very popular in Ayurvedic Medicine, known as the promoter of long life. The leaves were said to boost the immune system and to promote restful sleep. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the herb has shown in studies to have many health benefits. Science has found gotu kola may help reduce swelling and improve circulation.
Chemicals called “triterpenoids” in the plant have shown in animal studies to increase mental function. One human study found people were less likely to be startled by a new noise when taking gotu kola. Another small human study revealed that those taking gotu kola had improvements in mood, memory, and cognitive function. Limited studies have also shown the plant to have potential in helping to soothe joint pain and promote restful sleep.
Gotu Kola’s Benefits to the Skin
Gotu kola is rich in triterpene saponins, known to firm and tighten your skin’s appearance.
Gotu kola is also rich in flavonoids with good antioxidant activity, which helps protect from environmental stressors, and may be particularly useful in the winter. In addition, recent research has found extracts from the plant to be successful anti-aging ingredients.
A 2011 study, for example, found that the antioxidant activity was comparable to that of grape seed extract and vitamin C.
Try It!
This herb is applicable in any anti-aging or healing skin care product, so I’ve added it to all of the following.
- Coconut Body & Face Oil
- Anti-Aging Serum
- Anti-Aging Facial Oil
- Anti-Aging Eye Cream
- Herbal Facial Oil for Normal and Combination Skin
- Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin
- Radiant Skin Silk Body Lotion
Do you use gotu kola in your daily regimen?
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Sources
Laurie Barclay, M.D., “A Scientific Solution to Unsightly Cellulite,” Life Extension Magazine, August 2008, http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/aug2008_A-Scientific-Solution-to-Unsightly-Cellulite_01.htm.
Molecules. 2011 Jan 28;16(2):1310-22. http://www.bulkactives.com/abstracts/centellaasiatica.htm.
Exp Dermatol. 2008 Nov;17(11):946-52. Epub 2008 May 21.
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