Centella/Gottu Kola

Description:

Centella asiatica 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, reniform leaves with 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.

Habitat:

Centella grows along ditches and in low, wet areas. In Indian and Southeast Asian centella, the plant frequently suffers from high levels of bacterial contamination, possibly from having been harvested from sewage ditches. Because the plant is aquatic, it is especially sensitive to pollutants in the water, which are easily incorporated into the plant.

Notes:

Gotu Kola (Ca) is also a very popular herb in India for longevity and mental function. It is used to decrease fatigue and depression and to stimulate the sex drive. It energizes the central nervous system and aids the circulatory system, soothes and minimizes varicose veins and helps to minimize scarring. It is also useful in repairing skin and connective tissues and smoothing out cellulite. Medicinal Uses: For treatment of Leprosy and Skin Diseases; to improve memory; and treatment for many more ailments. www.101herbs.com/centella-asiatica.html