Project Description
Wild Crafting Herbs: Gotu Kola
After all this rain one can not miss the abundance of Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) or Indian Pennywort. Have you seen this in your gardens?
Beneficial in treating skin diseases and strengthening circulation.
Traditionally five leaves are eaten per day for longevity. It has a bit of a tangent taste but you get used to it. I do not recommend children eat more than 2 leaves per day.
Identification: It is important to identify the plant correctly as there are a few similar plants e.g native violet (Viola hederacea). The Gotu kola leaves are from 2-4 cm.
Gotu kola leaves are tougher and prefer the sun and viola is often in the shade.
The Gotu kola leaves are a little more serrated and have a v-shaped slot at the stem attachment and the viola tend to be more u-shaped.
Gotu kola have little pink flowers under the runners and the violet flowers grow upwards and purple or white in colour.
Rich in vitamins, A, B, C and D ((Shippard, I), Gotu Kola is a wonderful herb for promoting healing, as an anti-inflammatory and nervine tonic. It is also helpful in restoring those depleted adrenal glands.
There are well over 1000 documented studies on Pub med demonstrating its valuable properties.
One recent study on pub med call this “A potential Herbal Cure –all (Kashmira J, Jagruit A , Indian J Pharm Sci, 2010) for wound healing, eczema, psoriasis, diarrhea, fever, lupus, anxiety, depression and improving cognition.
I use it in my clinic in tablet form and concentrated liquid tincture for any skin conditions especially after surgery for would healing.
It is also beneficial used topically for wounds, psoriasis, burns, cellulitis and problems with varicose veins
