Know all about the Centella Asiatica

Known as the "Longevity Herb", Centella Asiatica or Gotu Kola, is a plant traditionally used in India and China as part of Ayurvedic medicine, characterized by the use as natural remedies of a significant amount of herbs with excellent properties. healing and for their contribution in alleviating or mitigating certain pathologies in people.
Centella Asiatica can be used as a natural treatment and relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety, encourage positive mood, collaborate in the correct brain function and other benefits that I will explain below.


It is a plant that grows throughout Central Asia, and as well as in parts of Africa, being also native to India, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, and some islands of the South Pacific. Because of its extraordinary power today can be found in a variety of botanical gardens, as in my case in Sales.
As you can see, its use extends in much of the world, and between different cultures, where for generations it has been used as a medicinal plant given its multiple therapeutic properties.


Usually taken as a salad or infusion (30 grams of root per 1 liter of water) and has a high presence of fatty acids, essential oils, phytosterols and amino acids. The leaves and stem of the plant contain asiaticosides, triterpene acid, glycosides, tannins and volatile oil.

We can summarize its positive effects for the organism in four items:
Healing
Soothing (in high doses it can even be used as a narcotic)
Appetite stimulant
Diuretics
Thus, taking into account its diuretic properties, it can become an ally for those who wish to lose weight. One of the main factors of high weight is the retention and accumulation of liquids, and gotu kola is a good tool to eliminate or correct them.

In that sense also it is possible to emphasize his effectiveness at the time of fighting the dreaded one (mainly on the part of the women) cellulitis.


What are the properties of Gotu Kola?

Reduce stress

The gotu kola is an ideal plant for all those people who are often overwhelmed by the stress and tensions of everyday life. And it is a relaxing agent and an excellent remedy to reduce the anxiety resulting from everyday problems. In addition, it helps to reduce the feeling of tiredness and to incite an appetite that is sometimes defeated by nerves.

Centella Asiatica can act as an adaptogenic agent, that is, it influences the subject in the sense of making life compatible with stress situations, allowing this adaptation to be potentiated, and reducing more serious problems arising from this circumstance, such as anxiety or even depression.


Support for Brain Function

Among the effects most sought during the centuries ago were those of prolonging the years of life. But not only in quantity, but in quality. It depends to a great extent on maintaining optimal brain function, in the sense of reducing the cognitive decline that tends to occur as age advances. One of the reasons that could explain this fact is that it can enhance the synergy between effects on the mind, body and spirit. Although it may not respond to a scientific argument, the truth is that Gotu Kolu provides benefits on nerve function and improves cerebral blood flow.

From this one can extract a reasoning on why it could be related between the plant and its rejuvenating properties, due to the ability to restore and balance the functioning of a large number of parts of the brain, such as axonal repair. , used for the transmission of impulses through the brain and body, or stimulate dendritic branching, increasing brain plasticity and communication between brain cells.


Natural Anti-inflammatory

Following the line of soothing properties, the gotu kola is ideal to make more bearable the symptoms of those diseases of the bones or muscles that imply physical pain, since it can act as a natural analgesic. People who suffer from rheumatism or arthritis can find great comfort in it.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Centella Asiatica has been shown to be beneficial as part of the natural treatment for people suffering from symptoms derived from this condition, such as poor circulation and blood return from the feet, venous reactivity, edema, varicose veins, leg pain ... It is also observed an improvement in microcirculation

Dermatological Properties

But its most famous properties are perhaps dermatological ones. Apart from its anti-cellulite abilities, it can be taken to avoid future damage to the dermis such as ulcers, eczema, stretch marks, psoriasis and other similar pathologies. It is a staunch enemy of the aging of the skin and a great promoter of the formation of collagen.

An interesting use of Gotu Kola is to reduce stretch marks, as a result of weight gain or pregnancy. Stretch marks are actually a form of scarring of the skin caused by a constant stretch that damages the dermis layer. Similarly, cellulite also causes this phenomenon, since it is the fat cells themselves that push the collagen fibers, which are what provide the structural functionality of the middle layer of the skin.

Thus, in both cases (cellulite and stretch marks) they cause damage to the connective tissue of the skin. But not only there remains, but also an alteration occurs on the circulatory system: a deficient natural lymphatic drainage causes swelling, which blocks the blood flow and inhibits the production of collagen. In this sense, Gotu Kola can intervene and improve this condition, through its stimulatory properties on the production of collagen and improvement of circulation and blood flow.


Benefits of Gotu Kola or Gotu Kola

Antiaging effect (delay the symptoms of aging)
Improves the appearance of the skin: strengthens the dermis and increases epidermal keratinization
Stimulate the growth of blood capillaries in the connective tissue
Increase the concentration of antioxidants and collagen in wounded areas and improve healing
Enhance the formation of mucin, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, essential elements for the health of the connective tissue, skin, hair, nails and for the regeneration of joint tissue
Reduce anxiety
Anti-inflammatory activity
Cognitive support
Cosmetics and beauty
What is Gotu Kola or Centella Asiatica used for?

This herb can be used as a natural treatment in the following conditions:

Problems related to the connective tissue: wounds, burns, scleroderma, psoriasis
Joint problems: psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Problems in the blood vessels: venous insufficiency, varicose veins, varicose ulcers, edema of the legs
Mental health: mental fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, memory and learning.
How to take Gotu Kola?

When taking Centella Asiatica, we must take into account two points: type of supplement and what is the condition or pathology that we seek to treat.

Infusion

The dried leaves of Gotu Kola are used to prepare infusion. The dose ranges from 5-10g (1 or 2 teaspoons). It is recommended to obtain about 750ml of drink and distribute during the day. If we are treating insomnia problems, it is recommended to keep one of the cups to take before going to sleep.

Capsules with dry powder

This type of supplements contain dried powder from the leaves (may also include the stem) of Gotu Kola. It is recommended 1 to 2 capsules a day, where generally each will provide between 300 and 500 mg.

Capsules with standardized extract

These capsules will contain the extract in powder form and with a certain percentage of the active principle (such as the asiaticosides). In this case, the dose varies between 50 and 250 mg 1 to 3 times a day.

When our goal is to treat chronic venous insufficiency or any type of circulatory problem, the dose varies between 60 and 180 mg of standardized extract per day.

To reduce anxiety and improve mood, we recommend between 500-750mg with at least 5% of asiaticosides.

To heal wounds, the treatment can range between 30-90g of standardized extract. Here you can even opt for topical application in gel form.


Side effects

We have seen, then, that gotu kola, still unknown by a majority of the public, is highly beneficial for many aspects of health. But it never hurts to remember that, despite not being any type of drug, do not take it too much during pregnancy. For any doubt about the interaction with medications that are taking, the most recommended will always be to consult a specialist.

Among the side effects, which although very rare, could occur are: topical allergy and burning sensation (external use), headaches, stomach aches, nausea or dizziness, if we apply it orally. However, they are effects with very high doses.


You know. This plant is really miraculous. I use it in cream and infusions.

#tammywhite