Genus species (Plantae): Centella asiatica

Centella grows in tropical swampy areas. The stems are slender, creeping stolons, green to reddish-green in color, connecting plants to each other. It has long-stalked, green, rounded apices which have smooth texture with palmately netted veins. The leaves are borne on pericladial petioles, around 2 cm. The rootstock consists of rhizomes, growing vertically down. They are creamish in color and covered with root hairs. The flowers are white or pinkish to red in color, born in small, rounded bunches (umbels) near the surface of the soil. Each flower is partly enclosed in two green bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are minute in size (less than 3 mm), with 5-6 corolla lobes per flower. Each flower bears five stamens and two styles. The fruit are densely reticulate, distinguishing it from species of Hydrocotyle which have smooth, ribbed or warty fruit. The crop matures in three months, and the whole plant, including the roots, is harvested manually.

Chemistry

Centella asiatica has large amounts of pentacyclic triterpenoids including asiaticoside, brahmoside, asiatic acid, and brahmic acid also known as madecassic acid. Other products include centellose, centelloside, and madecassoside.

Use

Part used: above ground leaves

Gotu Kola is originally an Indian herb and is perhaps the most important rejuvenative herb in Ayurvedic medicine. It is the main revitalizing herb for the nerves and the brain cells. It increases intelligence, longevity, memory; it decreases senility and aging. It fortifies the immune system, both cleansing and feeding it, and strengthens the adreneals. At the same time, it is a powerful blood purifier and is specifiec for chronic skin diseases, including leprosy and syphilis, as well as eczema and psoriasis. It is valuable in intermittent or periodic fevers, like malaria.

Gotu Kola is a tonic and rejuvenative for Pitta. At the same time it inhibits Vata, calms the nerves, and helps reduce excessive Kapha. It is perhaps the most spiritual and sattvic of all herbs. Growing commonly in the Himalayas, Gotu Kola is used by yogis as food for meditation. It awakens the crown chakra and heps balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

As a milk decoction, Gotu Kola makes a good nerve tonic. The powder may be used externally as a paste for chronic skin conditions. With basil and black pepper, it is good for fever. As a rejuvenative, it is best prepared in ghee. Brahami ghee is an important revitalizer of the spirit that should be in every home.

Reference: Wikipedia