GOTU KOLA - centella asiatica

Commonly known as centella, gotu kola is a small, herbaceous, frost-tender plant of the family Apiaceae, and is indigenous to wetlands in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Southeastern north america. It is also known as the Asiatic pennywort or Indian pennywort in English, among various other names in other languages. It is used in Ayurvedic, traditional African and traditional Chinese medicines.

I have seen many who confuse Gotu Kola with native plants, such as the Hydrocotyle - 'dollar weed' in Australia (which has more scalloped leaves and grow in clumps, unlike Gotu Kola grows single leaves.

Health benefits:
• Immunity: seasonal influenza, fever
• Respiratory: coughs
• Circulation: Chronic veinous insufficiency, varicose veins, strengthens blood vessel/capillary walls, stimulates blood flow
• Gastrointestinal: severe stomach pain, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
• Wound healing: speeds healing, stimulates blood flow, protects against infection
• Lactation
• Bladder: strangury (blockage / inflammation at the base of the bladder)
• Cancer: reduced tumor cell growth
• Diabetes: lowers blood sugar levels
• Lowers cholesterol
• Regulates hormones
• Heart: cardiovascular protection, hypertension, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes
• Brain: memory, cognition, dementia, Alzheimer’s
• Skin: scars, wrinkles, blemishes, psoriasis, Improves blood circulation and health
• Anxiety: general anxiety disorders, soothes nervous disorders, stress, insomnia
• Detoxifier: mild diuretic - stimulates release of excess toxins, salts, water, fat
• Improves libido

Warning: If you do have an allergic reaction to gotu kola, it will likely appear as redness, itchiness, or hives on the skin, upset stomach, nausea, strangely colored stool or drowsiness. These side effects are rare, but the combination of compounds in gotu kola is also quite uncommon, so as always, speak with a trained herbalist before adding it to your herbal regimen.