Anyone use gotu kola?

[xactly]

In his book, Dr. Bredesen recommends 500 mg of gotu kola one to two times daily for alertness and focus. I searched the forum and did not find anything on this supplement. Anyone try it or currently using it? There are so many other supplements to consider, I don't mind knocking one off the list if there's not a significant reason to take it.

[JML]

Hi xactly, and welcome to the forum.

I do not take gotu kola (yet) and the only reference I could find on the site is here. However, it is just in a supplement list, and not much else is said. Looks like gotu kola is an herb used for a lot of purposes in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, including decreasing inflammation.

Hopefully, you have found the Primer on this site, but I see that gotu kola is not covered in the list that Dr. Stavia has included in the supplements chapter. Perhaps she will weigh in with her opinion on this.

I think there are others on the site who do take gotu kola, and hopefully they will share their experience too. It's good that you are asking questions. We can all learn from this.

Good health to you!

[apod]

Welcome to the site!

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) has been on my list of "intriguing supplements" for some time now, but I've yet to get around to checking it out. I've seen it mentioned for its adaptogenic / cholinergic mood & cognitive properties, but also through interviews with Charles Poliquin for its potential skin firming / collagen-boosting uses.

Examine.com is another great resource with a decent write-up on Gotu Kola:
https://examine.com/supplements/centella-asiatica/

I have come across some articles that it might raise cholesterol or be a little rough on the liver.

[xactly]

interviews with Charles Poliquin for its potential skin firming / collagen-boosting uses.

I certainly like the idea of skin firming and collagen-boosting! Since Bredesen recommends it for increasing alertness and focus, I may try making gotu kola tea when I feel sluggish or scattered during the day and see how it goes. I'm trying to put together the minimum effective dose of supplements to help my 88-year-old mother and me. (We are both E3/E4s.) She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, so I have a strong sense of urgency about finding a good doctor to work with (we live in Phoenix), getting the right tests, and getting the right supplements. I'm starting us both on a whole-foods, mildly ketogenic diet, and I'm working on an exercise plan with a trainer that should hopefully provide benefit for her.

Thanks for any and all help!

[Kylie]

I was in Bunnings today (Australian hardware and gardening store) and came across gotu kola seedlings. I've brought some to try, I'll incorporate it fresh into daily meals. A brief google suggests 2-3 leaves a day.

[xactly]

Kylie: I would be interested in knowing what you think about growing and consuming fresh gotu kola. I am dabbling with growing my own food, but I have a lot to learn. I have been making tea with dried gotu kola on an occasional basis, but incorporating two to three leaves a day into a salad or other meal sounds like a better solution.

[shenmen100]

I have been using Gotu kola for years on a daily basis. I put the powder in my morning shakes , in capsules, and water extractions as in teas and 8 hr long steeps for both mental clarity , ligament/ tendon strain , scar reductions, and one broken scapula . It is well tolerated by most, has a slightly metallic/acerbic taste, mixes well with other herbs in tea formulations and is not expensive to buy. biggest side effect listed are dermatitis, have not seen that in my professional practice

I also have recommended if for many of my clients mostly for ligament repair (extracted in oil to rub on their skin) or to drink post intestinal surgery to reduce scarring. I had a thick scar on my finger from a knife slip while cooking and after taking gotu kola tea for about 6 months the scar had thinned noticeably and the numbness that I had for years is completely resolved ( nerve regenernation anyone!).

I use both Gotu kola and Ginko but if I had to use one over the other it would be Gotu kola because it increases blood flow but is not contraindicated for post surgery bleeding or bleeding disorders, but also because it has all the other tissue/nerve rejuvenating properties.

Gotu kola is referred to as Brahmi in Ayurveda (as is bacopa another nootropic herb) and is traditionally used for all of the above reasons but also to help calm the mind for meditation. I have never tried the fresh juice but that also is another way to take it.
needless to say I am a fan...

[Lucy5]

Welcome to our community shenmen. Appreciate your review of Gotu kola. Awhile back I read somewhere that it was more-or-less interchangeable with bacopa monnieri which I've tried (w/o noticeable effect) and so hadn't looked into Gotu. After reading your post I also took a look at the examine.com site review; I may just give this one a try!

You mention recommending this herb to your clients. Just wondering in which area of healthcare you practice, if you're inclined to share. In any case, looking forward to seeing you on the forums and learning from your observations/experiences as well as those of your clients.
-Lucy

[shenmen100]

Hi Lucy,
I am an RN, Lac, and a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild. I learned 4 years ago of my 3/4 status . For 30 years I was a clinical specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology both as an RN and then in private practice as an Acupuncturist. I went on a sabbatical about a year ago , I currently formulate teas for a local herb company and still see an occasional client on the side.

good mail order sources are banyan botanicals, and mountain rose herbs.

You do not tend to feel the effects of Gotu kola like caffeine or Ginko hence the meditation usage, it can help clear and focus the mind.
I would not bother with the tincture as the constituents are readily water soluble and you will be adding alcohol to the mix.
the dermatitis is normally seen in the juice preparations. and in india Gotu kola and Bacopa are inter-changeable with Gotu kola grown in Northern India and Bacopa in the south-
best

[xactly]

Shenmen: I just started taking bacopa monnieri, and you mentioned that bacopa and gotu kola are in the same Ayurvedic class. Do you take both or just use gotu kola? I can easily add gotu kola tea to my afternoon regimen. I am definitely interested in the skin benefits gotu kola provides, which don't seem to overlap with bacopa.