GOTU KOLA herb

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GOTU KOLA     Irene Yaychuk 

 

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica, Hydrocotyle asiatica) is an herb 

often confused with another plant, the dried cotyledon (seed 

leaf) of Cola nitida, commonly known as kola nuts, a well-known 

ingredient of Coca-Cola containing 3.5% caffeine.[1]  Gotu Kola 

is not a stimulant, but rather a very nutritious herb indigenous

to hot, humid climates. 

      

Dr. John Heinerman, Medical Anthropologist, presented an address

on Gotu Kola to the Second International Congress for the Study 

of Traditional Asian Medicine, held at Airlanggu University in 

Surabaya, Indonesia, September 2-7, 1984.  He stated that Gotu 

Kola is used as a nourishing food and a valuable medicine in many

cultures. The Hosa and the Mfengu tribes in East Africa have used

it for both purposes. In the Philippines, the leaves are either 

consumed raw in salads or as a tea for tonic and stimulant 

benefits to the body. The leaves have been employed medicinally 

in the French West Indies, and Brazil to cure uterine cancer, 

leprosy and elephantiasis. In the People's Republic of China, 

gotu kola is used for fevers, common cold influenza, sore throat

and liver ailments such as cirrhosis and jaundice.[2] 

      

Folk and traditional medicine have deemed this plant to be a 

brain food, beneficial for memory and senility.  Pharmacist Varro

E. Tryler states that there is currently no evidence to support 

the use of Gotu Kola as a longevity promoter or to substantiate 

the extravagant claims made for it as a revitalizing and healing

herb. Substantial data on its safety and efficacy are, in his

opinion, simply non-existent.[3] 

     

However, separate clinical studies to substantiate folk 

claims for its alleged memory enhancing properties have been done

in the United States and India.[4] 

      

In India, Gotu Kola, an Ayurvedic herb, is called Mandookaparni.

There, an impressive study dealt with the effect of gotu kola on

general mental ability of mentally retarded children. Whole 

plants were dried in the shade, powdered, and made into 1/2 gram

tablets. Half of the thirty children studied were given one gotu

kola tablet and half a placebo tablet daily.  Apart from 

nutritional deficiencies, the children had no major illnesses. A

Binet-Kamat test was administered and the children's Intelligence

Quotients were recorded. Separate tests were also administered to

record any changes in the children's co-operation, memory, 

concentration, attention, vocabulary and overall adjustment. 

After three months, the tests were repeated.   

 

The findings showed there was a very significant increase in both

general ability and behavioral pattern, even in the short period

of twelve weeks of administration of the herb. The difference in

IQ increase between the two groups was 4.6%. [The most 

interesting observation was the overall general adjustment of 

certain children: those very shy and withdrawn, and who were very

restless and fidgety became expressive, communicative and co- 

operative. It was also noted that youngsters taking gotu kola had

increased their powers of concentration and attention.[5]] 

      

Another Indian study showed that gotu kola extracts administered

over a period of 42 months to normal healthy adults in the 45-50

age group had several benefits: haemoglobin increased by a 

significant percent, and the mean levels of blood urea and serum

acid phosphatase were decreased. Subsequent examinations have 

revealed that this herb has brought about a steady increase in 

blood sugar level (statistically significant).[6] A relationship

between hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, and mood swings,

mental illness, fatigue, depression, confusion and schizophrenic

tendencies is well documented. Dr. Heinerman feels that perhaps 

the 'memory enhancing' attributes of gotu kola may be attributed

to the herb's ability to elevate blood sugar levels markedly. 

      

Gotu kola is higher in the B-complex vitamin group than any other

plant previously examined.  This again may account for its 

effects on the brain.[7] It is especially high in thiamine (B1),

riboflavin (B2), and pyridoxin (B6). B complex is necessary in 

providing energy for the body, by converting carbohydrates into 

glucose, a usable form of sugar for the body to burn. The B 

complex is responsible for the normal functioning of the nervous

system as well.[8] A healthy nervous system allows for a better 

functioning and organized brain. 

      

(Other nutrients include numerous free amino acids, especially 

aspartate, glutamate, serine, threonine, alanine, lysine, 

histidine, and aminobutyrate found in greater quantities in the 

roots, but also present in leaves.[9]  The leaves also contain 

measurable amounts of provitamin A or carotene.) 

      

Isolated constituents of gotu kola were applied locally on wounds

in laboratory rats.  This resulted in healthy new connective skin

tissue and increased the tensile strength of the flesh, as well 

as decreased the size of the would area.[10]  Asaticoside, a 

constituent of gotu kola was injected intra-muscularly or 

implanted directly into mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. It

produced a rapid thickening of the skin, an increased production

of white blood cells, increased growth of new blood vessels of 

the connective tissue, and an increased growth of hair and 

nails.[11]  Lupus erythematosus was helped by extracts of gotu 

kola. 

      

Other studies have indicated gotu kola to be effective for 

gastric ulcers, phlebitis and varicose veins. It has been used 

for leprosy and related skin disorders, eye lesions, and muscular

atrophy. 

      

One investigation of gotu kola was conducted in Provo Utah at 

Brigham Young University by a research psychologist who wanted to

demonstrate gotu kola's amazing ability to overcome the negative

effects of fatigue and stress when used in conjunction with 

cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens) and Siberian ginseng 

(Eleutherococcus).

Rodents were fed the three herbs by means of a surgical technique

in which tubing was inserted under the skin, a couple of

centimeters below the junction of the esophagus and 

stomach. Fatigue and stress situations were set up. One involved

swimming in a bucket of cold water, and another was to jump a 

barrier in order to avoid a mild foot shock. Within 24 hours of 

administration of the three herbs, the animals could successfully

clear the barrier after being dried off from the cold water 

treatment. Without the herbs, they required up to 72  hours to 

recuperate in order to jump the barrier. Dr. Mowrey concluded 

that a combination of capsicum, ginseng and gotu kola did have a

beneficial effect on behaviour of stressed or fatigued animals 

whose metabolism are similar in many respects to that of man.[12]

      

From this research carried out in 1975, several large American 

herbal companies developed an "energy and stamina" formula 

utilizing gotu kola. Some of these can be obtained at your local

health food store. 

 

1.  Varro E. Tyler, op.cit., p. 113 

2.  John Heinerman, An Herb for Our Time: The Scientific 

Rediscovery of Gotu Kola, unpublished paper, (Sept., 1984) 

3.  Varro E. Tyler, op.cit., p.113 

4.  John Heinerman, An Herb for Our Time", op.cit. 

5.  M.V.R. Appa Rao, et. al, The Effect of Mandookaparni 

(Centella Asiatica) on the General Mental Ability (Medhya) of 

Mentally Retarded Children, Journal of Indian Medicine (August 

25, 1973), p.9-12. 

6.  M.V.R. Appa Rao, et.al, The Study of Mandookaparni and 

Punarnava for their Pasayan effect on Normal Healthy Adults", 

Nagarjun, (JUly, 1969) p.41 

7.  John Heinerman, An Herb for Our Time, op.cit. 

8.  John Heinerman, Natural Nutrition, (Provo Utah: Woodland 

Books, 1984).p.85. 

9.  John Heinerman, ed. Gotu Kola, The Herb Report, (March 1984),

p.2 

10.  Ibid., p.2 

11.  Ibid., p.2 

12.  John Heinerman, An Herb for Our Time, op.cit.