Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola, Hydrocotyle, Indian Pennywort)
Family: Umbelliferae
Part Used: Whole plant
Location:
Grows in the warmer regions of both hemispheres, it is a slender, creeping plant abundant in swampy areas of India, Sri Lanka, China, South Africa and in tropical areas of Central and South America.
Active Constituents:
Flavonoids, glycosides ,saponin glycosides, triterpenoids (asiaticosides)
Medicinal Actions:
Adaptogen, alterative, anti-pyretic, anti-spasmodic, diuretic, nervine, tonic, vulnerary
Medicinal Uses:
connective tissue stabilizer
reduce scar tissue in wound internally and externally
herb take for arterial and connective tissue
adaptogen
warming but due to alscohol
treatment for any state of maladaption
state for people who are having memory adaption and enhance the adrenal and vascular thus enhance the memory
used in Chinese medicine a lot
tonic to the nerve sysrem , axiolytic
enhance expression of one self, enhance memory
post childbirth especially when have incision
Chinese medicine promote qi
reduce development of fibrosis
leaves the scar more flexible thus enhances the integrity of the scar
Centella is well known as a tonic in Chinese medicine. It is considered to be bitter, pungent, with cold properties entering the spleen, liver and kidney meridians. It is said to clear heat and promote water metabolism and is a yin tonic.
Centella is known to increase the tensile binding strength of connective tissue and to reduce scar tissue formation associated with wound healing. It has demonstrated wound-healing action in treatment of dermal ulcers, dermal tuberculosis and leprosy. It is also said to promote longevity in a manner similar to Panax ginseng and Ganoderma. It is shown to have action in the immune system to reduce fever, has been use as a “blood cleanser”. Some ability to act as an anti-microbial has been demonstrated in tests on animals.
It has been used as a trophorestorative, which means it has a sedative action to reduce anxiety, yet helps focus thinking and to promote memory. It is said to calm the mental chatter, promoting calm and clarity. It probably has this action due the adaptogenic action of restoring the normal stress response in maladapted individuals.
Toxicity: None known, considered to be an emmenagogue with abortifacient properties.
Pharmacy:
Infusion: 1 Tbl/cup H2O BID – TID
Tincture (1:5): 2-5 ml TID
Fluid Extract (1:1.5, 1:3): 1-4 ml TID
Powder Extract: 100 mg – 200 mg TID