The wonders of GOTO KOLA (Centella asiatica)
Gotu kola has been used for thousands of years in central Asia to treat many skin diseases (1).
Nutritional Properties
This herb contain vitamin B and C, proteins, minerals, as well as polyphenols, flavonoids, volatile oils, and tannins (8).
This herb also contains saponins also known as triterpenoids. These constituents are associated with promoting wound healing, and they do this by affecting the molecules that make up our connective tissue (also known as collagen) by inhibiting its production at the wound site where scar tissue formation is sped up following trauma such as wounds and burns (1).
How it helps with scaring
What this means is that it helps to prevent fibrosis, when connective tissue thickens and scars causing scaring. so it helps to allow the skin to repair at a normal rate, which contributes to little to no scarring. This may involve several mechanisms such as antioxidant activity on collagen creation and angiogenesis (when new blood vessels are created from already existing blood vessels) (2).
With scarring, especially when it comes to muscle, the areas do not heal properly and this causes not only an obvious scar like on skin but it also creates a weakness within that area. What this means for muscles is that this causes a weakens within them and makes the muscles easier to damage again in the future, it can also mean that particular muscle will be a bit weaker than normally so it would tire faster, it can create more pain in that area, it can also cause it to be affected by weather – so the muscle may ache when it’s very cold.
Infected Wounds
There have been human clinical scientific studies done on Goto Kola where applying this herbal extract to infected wounds, helped them to heal. Another study found that the Goto Kola extract was also helpful in preventing and treating large scars (known as keloids) (1).
Chronic Venus Insufficency
Now this particular herbs healing qualities don’t just stop at wound and scar healing, in other clinical trials it is also known to help those with chronic venous insufficiency (this is when the leg vein walls and or valves do not working efficiently, which makes it hard for blood to return to the heart from the legs.)
Improves Muscle Strength
It was shown to improve muscle strength in the lower extremities (so the legs) possibly due to the lower extremities having more type 1 muscle fibres (these muscle fibres contain a higher vascular supply, so they contain more arteries and veins and blood supply, than the upper extremities. This study was conducted on elderly people (3).
Other Healing Properties
This herb also is anti inflammatory and is a nervine tonic and adaptogen (4) (5). It was also shown to increase alertness in the elderly (10).
Memory and Cognition
There has been some clinical trials on Goto Kola where it has been shown to improve memory and cognitive function. Other studies have found it to also improve insomnia, appetite loss, hypertension and constipation (6) (7). This tends to take around three to six months of a daily dose to kick into action.
Anxiety and Calmness
It also helps to reduce anxiety and create calmness (5). This study (9) had a reduction in anxiety and fear that was induced using fear from a loud noise startle response which increased calmness due to less reactivity and this did not significantly affect the healthy peoples cardiovascular parameters or mood. All this occurred within half an hour to an hour of a single dose.
Video
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