By Darrell Miller

Gotu Kola is an herb that originates from Asia, most specifically in the South Pacific region. It is part of the Parsley family which has no taste and odor and dwells in and around water zones. It has a small heart shaped leaves which are green in color. It can produce white or pink flowers and bear small fruits in oval shape. Gotu kola leaf and stem can be effectively used in traditional medicine.

Gotu Kola is an herbal medicine that has been employed for thousands of years already. It has been widely employed since the ancient times in countries such as China, Japan and India. It was generally utilized to help improve wound healing, boost mental clarity and alleviate certain types of skin diseases. This plant has also been commonly used for alleviating symptoms of respiratory conditions like cough and colds. Nowadays, many utilize Gotu kola for preventing varicosities. Varicose is a condition which is a result of chronic venous insufficiency in which the blood pools in the legs destroying the valves of the veins. The specific chemical that is responsible for these benefits is called triterpenoids. This beneficial component of Gotu Kola can improve the health and elasticity of the skin and can increase blood circulation to wound area therefore improving healing of damaged skin areas. It is also rich in collagen which is a primary component of almost all tissues including the brain and nerves.

According to studies, Gotu kola has shown positive effects with memory and learning ability. The active ingredients of Gotu Kola include saponin glycosides, vitamin B complex and various amino acids. Vitamin B complex content of Gotu Kola include thiamine, riboflavin and pyridoxine. Thiamine or Vitamin B1 is a very important chemical needed by all tissues of the body most especially the brain. It improves nerve functioning specifically peripheral nerve conduction. Initial results on an experimental study done with mentally incapacitated children showed improvement on their intelligence tests.

The common preparations of Gotu Kola include dried leaves which can be made into tea and taken three times everyday. Powdered leaves and stems, which are available in the form of capsules in 1 to 4 grams, are also formulated. Herbalists suggest supplementation of one capsule three times daily. Another form is in tincture with 30% alcohol. The standard preparation of Gotu Kola should consists the following saponin glycosides, 40 to 45 % asiaticoside, 28 to 32 % Asiatic acid, 30 to 35 % madecassic acid and 1 to 3 % madecassoside.

Gotu Kola is relatively safe. However, it should not be used as supplement among children under four years old. Pregnant women and lactating mothers must also avoid use of Gotu Kola to be completely safe. Experts also highly recommend that you should consult your physician first before taking any supplements to be able to discuss health condition and history. You also to report to your health care provider any medications or supplements taken so that drug interactions will be avoided. Individuals who are taking sedatives must not take Gotu Kola.

If you want to boost memory give gotu kola a try. You can find gotu kola at your local or internet vitamin store in capsule forms. Always choose name brands like Solaray to ensure quality of what you buy for better health.

About the Author: Get a memory boost with

gotu kola

at VitaNet, LLC Vitamin Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

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