Servings Per Container : 60 vegetarian capsules 500 mg. each

Latin Name : Centellla Asiatica.

Ayurvedic Name : Mandukaparni, Brahma-Manduki / Jalneem.

Common Names  : Gotu Kola

Gotu kola in the Products :
Gotu Kola in MentalClarity
Gotu Kola in Brain_Nutrients
Gotu Kola in PMS_Relief
Gotu Kola in Womens_Health
Gotu Kola in Oils

Indications :

Chronic venous insufficiency, Mental function, Minor burns, Scars, Scleroderma, Skin ulcers, Varicose veins, Wound healing, Gotu Kola is a rejuvenative nervine recommended for nervous disorders, including epilepsy, senility, and premature aging. As a brain tonic, it is said to aid intelligence and memory. It strengthens the adrenal glands while cleansing the blood to treat skin impurities. It is used as an aid for meditation that is said to balance the two sides of the brain. It is particularly helpful for super-stressed persons. Gotu Kola is considered "food for the brain". It is said to combat stress and depression, energize flagging mental powers, fight sterility, ward off a nervous breakdown, and improve reflexes.

Gotu Kola stimulates the central nervous system, rebuilds energy reserves, relieves high blood pressure, and helps the body defend against various toxins. It is used to treat rheumatism, blood diseases, congestive heart failure, urinary tract infections, venereal diseases, hepatitis, and high blood pressure. It is a mild diuretic that can help shrink swollen membranes and aid in the elimination of excess fluids. It hastens the healing of wounds.

Gotu kola has a positive effect on the circulatory system. It improves the flow of blood while strengthening the veins and capillaries. It has been used successfully to treat phlebitis, leg cramps, and abnormal tingling of the extremities.

It reduces scarring when applied during inflammatory period of the wound. It was found effective when applied on patients with third degree burns, when the treatment commenced immediately after the accident. Daily local application to the affected area, along with intramuscular injections, limited the shrinking of the skin as it healed. It prevented infection and inhibited scar formation.

Ayurvedic practitioners suggest the following applications for Gotu Kola : Adrenal purifier, AIDS, Blood purifier, Eczema, Epilepsy, Insanity, Hypochondria, Fevers (Intermittent), Hair loss, Immune system boost (Cleansing and Nourishing), Longevity, Memory, Nervous disorders, Psoriasis, Senility, skin conditions (Chronic and Obstinate), Venereal diseases, Tetanus, Convulsions, Rheumatism, Elephantiasis, Bowel disorders. Best rejuvenative herb for brain cells and nerves, Promotes intelligence.

Ingredients : Standardized extract of Gotu Kola 500mg 8.0% Triterpenes

Suggested use :

One capsule two times daily or as directed by your physician
60 vegetarian capsules 500 mg each

Clinical Studies :

Venous insufficiency

Gotu kola is effective in the treatment of venous insufficiency and has been shown to reduce ankle oedema, foot swelling and capillary filtration rate, and to improve microcirculatory parameters (9-11).

A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind multi-centre trial investigated the effect of a gotu kola extract (60 mg or 120 mg/day for 2 months) in 94 patients with venous insufficiency (12).

Significant and dose-dependant improvements in subjective and plethysmographic (extremity volume) parameters were seen with both dosages of Gotu kola treatment.

Another double-blind study with 40 patients suffering chronic venous insufficiency found that Gotu kola extract (60 mg/day for 30 days) significantly improved ankle circumference, vascular tone and leg volume compared with baseline (13).

Several other clinical studies have further confirmed the efficacy of gotu kola extract in venous insufficiency (3).

Venous hypertension

The valuable contribution of Gotu kola extract in the treatment of venous hypertension has been confirmed in randomised, double-blind controlled trials.

In one trial, 62 patients with venous hypertension took gotu kola extract (90 mg or 180 mg daily) or placebo (11) . A dose-dependant reduction in capillary filtration rate and ankle circumference was seen at the end of the 4-week study period, and changes were significant compared with placebo.

Another study involving 87 patients with chronic venous hypertensive microangiopathy found that microcirculatory parameters were significantly improved compared with placebo in patients taking gotu kola extract (60 mg or 120 mg daily) after 60 days (14).

The ability of gotu kola extract to reduce capillary permeability in patients with venous hypertension has also been demonstrated in a placebo-controlled study (10).

Varicose veins and post-thrombotic syndrome

The topical application of a gotu kola extract 3 times daily was found to be effective in improving both objective and subjective symptoms including vascular tone assessed by ultrasound. This double-blind placebo-controlled study involved 80 patients with various venous disorders, in particular varicose veins and post-thrombotic syndrome (15) .

Cellulite

A clinical study published in 1979 found that the topical application of a Gotu kola extract 4 times daily resulted in significant improvements in 85% of 60 patients with cellulite (16).

Stretch marks

A double-blind study involving 80 pregnant women investigated the ability of a cream to prevent striae gravidarum (17).

The cream, which contained a Gotu kola extract as well as tocopherol and collagen-elastin hydrolysate, was applied once daily for 12 weeks.

Women using the cream developed significantly fewer stretch marks than women using placebo.

Wound healing

The ability of Gotu kola to promote rapid and good wound healing has been demonstrated in several clinical studies. Increased wound perfusion and proliferation of granulation tissue has been observed, as well as accelerated wound closure in the case of skin grafts (3) .

Some of these studies have combined the topical application of Gotu kola extracts with intramuscular injections.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Auld BA, Medd RW. Weeds: an illustrated botanical guide to the weeds of Australia. Melbourne: Inkata Press, 1992.

2. Brinkhaus B et al. Centella asiatica in traditional and modern phytomedicine - A pharmacological and clinical profile - Part I: Botany, chemistry, preparations. Perfusion 1998; 11:466-74.

3. Brinkhaus B et al. Centella asiatica in traditional and modern phytomedicine - A pharmacological and clinical profile -Part II: Pharmacological and therapeutical profile, conclusions. Perfusion 1998; 11:508-20.

4. Cambie RC, Ash J. Fijian medicinal plants. Australia: CSIRO, 1994.

5. Shukla A et al. Asiaticoside-induced elevation of antioxidant levels in healing wounds. Phytotherapy Research 1999; 13:50-4.

6. Arpaia MR et al. Effects of Centella asiatica extract on mucopolysaccharide metabolism in subjects with varicose veins. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Research 1990; 10:229-33.

7. Zheng MS. An experimental study of the anti-HSV-II action of 500 herbal drugs. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1989; 9:113-16.
 
8. Labadie RP et al. An ethnopharmacognostic approach to the search for immunomodulators of plant origin. Planta Medica 1989; 55:339-48.

9. Cesarone MR et al. [Activity of Centella asiatica in venous insufficiency]. Minerva Cardioangiologica 1992; 40:137-43.

10. Belcaro GV et al. Improvement of capillary permeability in patients with venous hypertension after treatment with TTFCA. Angiology 1990; 41:533-40.

11. Belcaro GV et al. Capillary filtration and ankle edema in patients with venous hypertension treated with TTFCA. Angiology 1990; 41:12-8
.
12. Pointel JP et al. Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Angiology 1987; 38:46-50.

13. Monteverde A et al. Comparison between extract of Centella asiatica and O-(b-Hydroxyethyl) rutoside in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Acta Therapeutica 1987; 13:629-36.

14. Cesarone MR et al. [The microcirculatory activity of Centella asiatica in venous insufficiency. A double-blind study]. Minerva Cardioangiologica 1994; 42:299-304.

15. Allegra C et al. [Centella asiatica extract in venous disorders of the lower limbs. Comparative clinico-instrumental studies with a placebo]. Clinica Terapeutica 1981; 99:507-13.

16. Pereira IC. Trattamento da celulite pela Centella asiatica. F.Med.(BR) 1979; 5:401-4.

17. Mallol J et al. Prophylaxis of striae gravidarum with a topical formulation. International Journal of Cosmetic Science 1991; 13:51-7.

18. Danese P, Carnevali C, Bertazzoni MG. Allergic contact dermatitis due to Centella asiatica extract. Contact Dermatitis 1994; 31:201.

19. Hausen BM. Centella asiatica (Indian pennywort), an effective therapeutic but a weak sensitizer. Contact Dermatitis 1993; 29:175-9.

20. Izu R et al. Allergic contact dermatitis from a cream containing Centella asiatica extract. Contact Dermatitis 1992; 26:192-3.