Ayurverita

Share this post

#HerboftheHour - #GotuKola

www.ayurverita.com

#HerboftheHour - #GotuKola

Vitalizing herb of longevity

Sindhura
Sep 23, 2020
3
2
Share this post

#HerboftheHour - #GotuKola

www.ayurverita.com

Centella asiatica, also known as pennywort, is a member of the parsley family. It is native to South Africa, Eastern and South Asia.

Of the plant’s many indications, nervous system support and memory enhancement are at the forefront. Based on a study done in 2011 by Soumyanath and team, Gotu kola demonstrates positive changes in "beta-amyloid-associated behavioral abnormalities.”1 Specifically, it prevents the accumulation of toxins in certain immature nervous system cells not only from the environment but also the harmful substance that already-damaged nerve cells create, beta-amyloid.

Within pennywort exists a component called asiatic acid. Upon consumption of the herb, this acid has been detected in brain tissue and so it can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, Gotu kola demonstrates evidence for potentially protecting the mind from neuro-degenerative disorders.2

The initial recommended dosing is somewhere between 60-90 mg of concentrated extract powder/day by mouth. One with a (family) history of seizures should be careful with higher doses.3 This means pennywort can interact with medications used to treat epilepsy, and so liver lab values should be monitored.

I take Gotu kola (almost) every day

  1. Soumyanath A, Zhong YP, Henson E, et al. Centella asiatica Extract Improves Behavioral Deficits in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease: Investigation of a Possible Mechanism of Action. Int J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;2012:381974.

  2. Mohamed MFN, Goyal SN, Suchal K et al. Pharmacological Properties, Molecular Mechanisms, and Pharmaceutical Development of Asiatic Acid: A Pentacyclic Triterpenoid of Therapeutic Promise. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:892.

  3. “Centiella Asiatica (Gotu Kola)”, https://www.alzdiscovery.org/.

2
Share this post

#HerboftheHour - #GotuKola

www.ayurverita.com
2 Comments
Ian Berman
Sep 24, 2020

Is there a target dose that one should try to titrate up to? Is there a max dose per day? Does it benefit to separate dosing throughout the day?

Expand full comment
ReplyGift a subscriptionCollapse
1 reply by Sindhura
1 more comment…
TopNewCommunity

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 Sindhura
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing