Fuel Your Mind: Gotu Kola - The Memory Herb

Category: Fantastic Food Thursday, 27 September 2012 Views: 3222

Elephants are noted for their good memory, perhaps because they frequently eat Gotu Kola leaves. Long revered by yogis in the Himalayas for its purported ability to enhance meditation, the Gotu Kola herb is traditionally used to support normal brain function andmemory retention. Gotu Kola is one of history’s oldest “memory herbs” finding new popularity with the aging population, as well as among parents seeking a natural alternative for children diagnosed with ADD. Gotu Kola is also known to have a soothing effect on an overactive nervous system.

The reason Gotu Kola supports your brain is due to the anti-oxidant effects and certain active constituents that counter low blood sugar (a common cause of fuzzy thinking). Taken as caplets, herbal extracts or even eaten in salads, the leaves of this powerful herb with its compliment of vitamin C, E and B can help with mood swings and memory issues, as well as help heal and support the nervous system.

If you are looking for a way to have a better functioning andorganized brain, be sure to consider Gotu Kola—the memory herb!

Medicinal effects

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is a mildadaptogen, is mildly antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic, anxiolytic, acerebral tonic, a circulatory stimulant, adiuretic, nervine and vulnerary.

In Thailand cups with gotu kola leaves are used as an afternoon stimulant. A decoction of juice from the leaves is thought to relieve hypertension. A poultice of the leaves is also used to treat open sores.

Followers of Sri Sri Thakur Anukulchandra commonly known as Satsangees all over the world take one or two fresh leaves with plenty of water in the morning after morning rituals.

• The isolated steroids from the plant have been used to treatleprosy. In addition, preliminary evidence suggests that it may have nootropiceffects.
• Centella asiaticais used to re-vitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention span and concentration, and combat aging.
• Centella asiatica also has anti-oxidant properties.
• It works for venous insufficiency.
• It is used in Thailand for opium detoxification.

'There have been many reports showing the medicinal properties of C. asiatica extract in a wide range of disease conditions like diabetic microangiopathy, edema, venous hypertension, venous insufficiency (Incandela et al., 2001a; Incandela et al., 2001b; Incandela et al., 2001c).

The role of C. asiatica extract in the treatment of memory enhancement and other neurodegenerative disorders is also well documented (Mohandas Rao et al., 2006).

The first report concerning the antitumor property of C. asiatica extract was on its growth inhibitory effects on the development of solid and ascites tumor and that lead to increased life span of the tumor bearing mice (Babu et al., 1995).

The authors also suggested that the extract directly impeded the DNA synthesis. In our study, C. asiatica extract showed an obvious dose dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in breast cancer cells.

Habitat

Centella grows along ditches and in low wet areas. In Indian and Southeast Asian centella, the plant frequently suffers from high levels of bacterial contamination, possibly from having been harvested from sewage ditches. Because the plant is aquatic, it is especially sensitive to pollutants in the water, which are easily incorporated into the plant.*

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