This energetically cool and neutral plant isn't that well-known in Western society, but the mighty adaptogenic herb has been supporting humans for generations. If you love easy yet impactful beauty and health secrets, keep reading and you'll find all the benefits gotu kola has to offer.
- Supporting the Brain
Gotu kola's robust plant constiuents, including triterpene saponins and volatile oils, contribute to its supportive actions. It may enhance memory and overall cognitive function–which some believe could be a contributing factor to support disease treatments for Alzheimers and Dementia.
Sleepless nights that result in grumpy days can be really challenging, especially when your anxiety and stress are at a high. Overall, gotu kola is a star neuroregenerative herb and has noticeably calming effects that are used to work on mental fatigue and even epilespy.
Our Above the Fog tea blend contains gotu kola, along with other beneficial herbs, like peppermint and moringa, which may be effective at reducing anxiety and stress.
- Physical Feats
Are you looking to age backwards? While we haven't figured out how to turn back the hands of time, we do know that gotu kola is a mild stimulant well known for dealing with inflammatory actions–which contribute to the premature aging of cells. Historically known to treat arthritis, syphilis, hepatitis, stomach ulcers, diarrhea, fever, and even asthma; gotu kola has major health benefits that tend to a multitude of health problems.
And that’s not all! Are you bothered by varicose veins? Some consider them unsightly but they can also cause itching, pain and discomfort. Gotu kola has been known to help with varicose veins as it reduces inflammation and pain. Gotu kola contains antioxidants providing faster healing of wounds and helping to fight off free radicals; and even increases blood supply to the affected areas.
- Beauty Benefits
Are you feeling tired of your split ends and unhealthy hair? If you’re looking to grow your hair as long and as healthy as possible, here’s our secret: gotu kola is known to stimulate rapid and healthy hair growth. It helps prevent hair loss and promotes microcirculation, which essenetially stimulates the roots of our hair and causes them to grow quicker.
If you’re in the same boat as us and your nails just won’t grow long without becoming flimsy, try gotu kola for your nail beds! Taking this herb encourages keratin production in the nails and is often used for strengthening or cleaning them. No need for acrylics anymore, your natural nails will look healthy and amazing! Not to mention gotu kola also tightens the skin, which is a benefit because of its firming and anti-wrinkling properties. Gotu kola contains triterpenoids that stimulate type 1 collagen formation.
Click here to try out our Above the Fog tea blend, which includes gotu kola and other similar herbs that strive to enhance your natural beauty and cognitive function. All you gotta do is sip away at your tea and let the gotu kola go-du (kola) it’s work! ;)
Sources:
- Cech, Richo. Making Plant Medicine. 4th ed. Williams: Herbal Reads. 2016. 186-187.
- Mills S and Kerry Bone. The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, St. Louis. 2005. 450-453.
- Sun B, Wu L, Wu Y, Zhang C, Qin L, Hayashi M, Kudo M, Gao M, Liu T. Therapeutic Potential of Centella asiatica and Its Triterpenes: A Review. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Sep 4;11:568032. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.568032. PMID: 33013406; PMCID: PMC7498642. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7498642/pdf/fphar-11-568032.pdf)
- Wood, Matthew. 2008. Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books. 2008. 174-1