Gotu kola herb health benefit research

Gotu Kola is an herb commonly used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Traditionally gotu kola has been used as a nerve tonic to improve memory and clarity of thinking, and for the therapy of anxiety and depression. gotu kola is sold in capsules and in liquid extracts. For more gotu kola health benefit info. If you would like to sleep better at night, see Good Night Rx.

Benefit of gotu kola herb
Gotu Kola improves circulation, causes alertness, and helps in relaxation. It may also have antioxidant properties. Oral treatment with 50 mg X kg(-1) day(-1) of crude methanol extract of Centella asiatica for 14 days significantly increased the anti-oxidant enzymes, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and anti-oxidants like glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid decreased in lymphoma-bearing mice.

Nature's Way Gotu Kola Herb
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is used in India similar to how the Chinese use Ginseng, for longevity and vitality. Although its name is similar to cola nut, Nature's Way Gotu Kola does not contain caffeine. Gotu Kola is sometimes used by individuals wanting to avoid caffeine as a part of their diet.

To buy Gotu-Kola extract.

Supplement Facts
Gotu Kola (stem, leaf) - 870 mg per two capsules

Recommendation: Take 1 gotu kola capsule daily or as directed by your health care provider.

Gotu kola for anxiety
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on acoustic startle response in healthy subjects.
Bradwejn J. University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Dec;20(6):680-4.
Investigations of the pharmacologic profile of medicinal plants have revealed that a number of plants with purported anxiolytic activity bind to cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors. This finding is intriguing in view of the proposed involvement of CCK in the pathophysiology of fear and anxiety. This double-blind, placebo-controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) in healthy subjects. Recent studies in the rat have shown that long-term pretreatment with Gotu Kola decreases locomotor activity, enhances elevated-plus maze performance, and attenuates the acoustic startle response (ASR). In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of Gotu Kola on the ASR in humans. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a single 12-g orally administered dose of Gotu Kola or placebo. The results revealed that compared with placebo, Gotu Kola significantly attenuated the peak ASR amplitude 30 and 60 minutes after treatment. Gotu Kola had no significant effect on self-rated mood, heart rate, or blood pressure. These preliminary findings suggest that Gotu Kola has anxiety reducing activity in humans.

Gotu kola for venous hypertension
Treatment of edema and increased capillary filtration in venous hypertension with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica ( gotu kola ): a clinical, prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-ranging trial.
De Sanctis MT.  St Mary's Hospital and Imperial College, London, UK.
Angiology. 2001 Oct;52 Suppl 2:S55-9.
The variation of capillary filtration rate (CFR), ankle circumference (AC), and ankle edema (AE) was evaluated in three groups of patients with venous hypertension and in a group of normal subjects before and after treatment for 4 weeks with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica (gotu kola), a venoactive drug acting on the microcirculation and on capillary permeability. Group A (20 patients) was treated with gotu kola 60 mg thrice daily, group B (20 patients) was treated with 30 mg thrice daily; group C (12 patients) was treated with placebo; and group D (10 normal subjects) was treated with gotu kola 60 mg thrice daily in a randomized study. After 4 weeks of gotu kola treatment, there was a significant decrease of CFR, AC, and AET time in patients. This was also greater in the higher dose group. No significant change was observed in the placebo group and in normal subjects treated with gotu kola. Symptoms were also significantly improved in the two groups treated with the active drug according to the dose. No significant changes were observed in the placebo group. In conclusion, the improvement of signs and symptoms by gotu kola observed in patients with venous hypertension was well correlated with the improvement of CFR and ankle edema. Dose ranging showed that 180 mg/day total triterpenic fraction of gotu kola is more effective in improving symptoms and CFR.

Gotu Kola and periodontal disease
Adjunctive periodontal treatment with Centella asiatica (gotu kola) and Punica granatum extracts. A preliminary study.
Sastravaha G.Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
J Int Acad Periodontol. 2003 Oct;5(4):106-15.
Centella asiatica and Punica granatum are medicinal herbs that have been reported to promote tissue healing and modulate host responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the combined extracts from Gotu kola and P. granatum pericarp on periodontal healing following scaling and root planing in adult periodontitis patients. An innovative herbal medicament was formulated in the form of biodegradable chips for subgingival application. The results indicate that local delivery with Gotu kola and P. granatum extracts plus scaling and root planing significantly reduced the clinical signs of chronic periodontitis.

Chemical composition of gotu kola herb
There are many substances in gotu kola herb including docosyl ferulates, bayogenin, 3beta-6beta-23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid, 3beta-6beta-23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, and D-gulonic acid. Major triterpenoid glycosides include asiaticoside, madecassoside and asiaticoside-B.

Gotu Kola studies
Adjunctive periodontal treatment with Centella asiatica (gotu kola) and Punica granatum extracts. A preliminary study.
Sastravaha G.Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
J Int Acad Periodontol. 2003 Oct;5(4):106-15.
Centella asiatica ( Gotu kola ) and Punica granatum are medicinal herbs that have been reported to promote tissue healing and modulate host responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the combined extracts from Gotu kola and P. granatum pericarp on periodontal healing following scaling and root planing in adult periodontitis patients. An innovative herbal medicament was formulated in the form of biodegradable chips for subgingival application. Twenty patients with initial pocket depth 5-8 mm were enrolled into the study. After baseline examination, scaling and root planing of non-target teeth, the target teeth received scaling and root planing followed by subgingival delivery of medicated chips in the test group and unmedicated chips in the placebo group. Probing pocket depth, attachment level, bleeding on probing, gingival index, and plaque index were recorded at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The results showed significant improvements of pocket depth and attachment level in the test sites when compared with the placebo sites at 3 months and with the placebo and control sites at 6 months. All treatment sites exhibited a similar trend of decreasing plaque score. However, the test sites seemed to show slightly better percentage of bleeding on probing. The results indicate that local delivery with Gotu kola and P. granatum extracts plus scaling and root planing significantly reduced the clinical signs of chronic periodontitis.

Gotu kola questions
Q. Would you still feel confident citing Nature's Way Gotu Kola if you heard that they do not test for any of the active compounds in this well researched herb? I emailed Nature's Way and that is what they said. Now foods Gotu Kola is tested and assayed for asiaticosides and madecassosides for an unstandardised product similar to theirs. Someone bought Nature's Way Gotu Kola for me by accident, however I am not inclined to buy it again, seeing that it is not tested.
   A. Many herbal products are not assayed for their individual components. It is up to the consumer to decide what is their preference. In your case it appears that assaying for individual substances within an herb is important, but for most people this is not as important an issue. Just because an herb is not assayed for each of its substances (and there are dozens or hundreds in each herb) each time a new batch of raw material is bought does not necessarily mean that the product is inferior. It is just too expensive and time consuming to test each batch for these dozens of substances or molecules.

Q. I would like to know what the highest reasonable dose of gotu kola is? I have epilepsy during the last year I have tried 5 different drugs non works with out making me fell horrible, I simply cant live taking any of those drugs. I’m sure gotu kola might have both long and short term side effects, but any way I don’t think its worse than the regular medications; and the short term side effects seams to be wary mild. I see this as a possible solution for me. A side from how large dos one can take I would like to know if gato kola really is in treating epilepsy? It is mention frequently for this condition how ever nothing is mention, and no studies exists, abbot how effective it really is? Is gotu kola comparable to regular epilepsy drugs, and in that case in what dose?
   A. One rodent study showed the combination of gotu kola and drugs used for epilepsy showed better anti-convulsant activity. However, as of September 2007, we cannot find any human studies with gotu kola treatment for patients with a seizure disorder.

Q. I read the information on your website about gotu kola herb. My son (age 11, 65 lbs.) has various disabilities and cannot take herbal capsules, but I think he could benefit from a supplement which would improve brain function. The research listed several important components in gotu kola -- alkaloids, triterpenes, etc. Are the beneficial agents in gotu kola (related to brain function) alkaloids? Could a tincture be prepared extracting with apple cider vinegar rather than alcohol? I appreciate any help or hope to make his life more normal.
   A. We have not seen research regarding the ideal components of gotu kola that are helpful for brain function, so, for the time being, the accepted form of gotu kola in capsules or tincture form is the one to look for. There are other supplements that are helpful for brain function.

Q. Male Age: 28. Medications: No pharmaceutical drugs at the moment. Herbal treatments: Gotu kola, ginseng, ginkgo biloba. I am not exactly sure what causes my mental distress (ocd, social phobia, bipolar symptoms while still being phobic, depression, anxiety, anger and so on). Very calm on the outside and overly polite (though sometimes wanting to just behave socially neutral or non-friendly even). Got crash course diagnosed as bipolar after ending up in hospital with never ending micro seizures and perceived oncoming grand mal, muscle stiffness, confusion... Had a couple of epileptic episodes in my youth, so the sensation is familiar. Not sure if it was an adverse reaction to the SSRI I had been on for 12 days (zoloft), or if the doctor was correct. It felt like taking at time travel in the land of suppressed emotion since childhood. Lovely at first and really scary after week one. If the doctor was correct my diagnosis is bipolar 2. So that was that. On to the good thing!
   Ginkgo biloba: When taking 4-7 (sometimes less will do fine) teaspoons of dried leaf, and letting it boil for around ten minutes, I get rid off most of my anxiety / excessive worrying in a flash. Just a couple of minutes is all it takes. Works every time. Mood is also improved (probably because it's nice not to fear). Social anxiety is not improved.
   Gotu Kola (centella asiatica): Wonderful herb. Letting 2 teaspoons (dried herb) boil for around 10 minutes eases a lot of anxiety and social anxiety, within minutes after drinking. I notice a mood stabilizing effect similar to Zyprexa, but without the slight sedation and numbing of emotions. (Got a couple of those at the psychiatric ward to help with sleep, until the sertraline was out of my system.)  When I'm down in anger / self pity land it picks me up. When I'm closer to the sun it gently drags me down, still letting me look at it and feel content about the appropriate feelings that brings. Hope this will help some stressed out and moody people out there.

Q. Are the benefits from gotu kola herb similar if it is in a liquid?
   A. Probably, but much depends on how the manufacturer made the liquid extract.

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