Get the Latest Anti-Aging Skin Breakthrough

March 10, 2015

Get the Latest Anti-Aging Skin Breakthrough: Gotu Kola the Ancient Herb

Get the Latest Anti-Aging Skin Breakthrough and Gotu kola is stealing the show

In the resent past we have been talking about beauty and skin care. A lot is actually being done in this line of business. In fact many people are in very serious business thanks to the ever rising demand in the beauty industry. That is as far as life is concern today. However what many people may not be aware of is that beauty is not just in the modern world, it can be traced from the ancient days and even up to creation. In other words from the beginning beauty was a serious factor and that is why after creating the first man the creator acknowledged that it was good. Now this herb is not new because it has been used for ages however its use in skin care is one that we want to concentrate on. People from different societies has their way of calling so whatever the name you call it gotu kola, centella asiatica, Indian pennywort, brahmi, or spade leaf an ancient healing plant is making a comeback in the modern science of preventing skin aging. Very interesting and you don’t want to miss it therefore get the latest anti-aging skin breakthrough for all your skin care needs with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Centella asiatica (often just called centella) is rich in amino acids, beta carotene, fatty acids, and numerous potent phytochemicals. The good news is that experts have established that these extracts are very effective in calming inflammation, speeding up wound healing, stimulating new cell growth, building collagen, and improving blood circulation which is a key factor in skin rejuvenation. It is no wonder that this herb is turning tables round and is becoming a force to reckon with in skin treatment.

So what really are we talking about when we say “get the latest anti-aging skin breakthrough”? Pay keen attention to what the experts are saying about this herb. Both history and science are in agreement of gotu kola’s effectiveness in protecting the beauty of your skin and therefore when you’re picking hat product, be careful to read the ingredient to find out if it has the content of gotu kola.

Get the Latest Anti-Aging Skin Breakthrough: A Long History of Skin Healing

History has it that only few medicinal plants have weathered the storm as centella asiatica. Actually there’s evidence that it was used even by prehistoric man a known in Chinese medicine as gotu kola, it’s listed among the “miracle medicines of life” and mentioned in legends as the herb that helped a famous sage live for over 200 years.

The Indians has baptized it in so many names including mandukparni, jalbrahmi, and just plain brahmi (not to be confused with bacopa monnieri, another ayurvedic plant also called brahmi). A centerpiece of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years, it’s used to treat infected wounds, syphilis, eczema, psoriasis, lupus, and female disorders. However the English refer to it as pennywort for because of its coin-shaped leaves. It was one of the earliest treatments for leprosy. In France, centella was first identified and accepted as a pharmaceutical agent in the 1800s for its use treating diarrhea, dysintery, and female issues including infertility.

This herb is the magic of both ancient and current time. It can be used in so many ways like being taken internally as tea or other beverage, it’s considered an effective treatment for fever, dysentery, hepatitis, and new findings indicate that it boosts memory and relieves depression and anxiety. In Thailand, centella is drunk as a cold beverage and considered a turn-back-the-clock health tonic.

Get the Latest Anti-Aging Skin Breakthrough: What the Science Shows

According to the Indian Journal of Medicine gotu kola is known as a “potential herbal cure-all” while a research summary published in Phytomedicine, says: “Centella asiatica has been subjected to quite extensive experimental and clinical investigations.”

Recently, researchers delving into how gotu kola heals wounds have identified specific plant chemicals called triterpenoid saponins and inparticular the asiaticoside, brahmoside, brahminoside, madecassoside and madecassic or madasiatic acid, the finding established that these have been very helpful in healing wounds by boosting antioxidants, increasing the blood supply to the area and strengthening the skin.

A further study done recently in 2012, experts applied saturated the skin of rats with open wound with centella asiatica and found that the formulation inhibited bacterial growth, fueled the growth of new skin cells and increased skin tensile strength and resilience. There’s also adequate evidence that gotu kola helps repair veins. Recent research shows that centella, unlike some herbal extracts, is able to penetrate the skin well enough to be utilized effectively. Nonetheless the scientists are experimenting with applying gotu kola to treat burns, prevent scars, treat psoriasis, and decrease stretch marks. Moreover it is believed that centella circulation boosting abilities are so powerful that it’s been used as an effective treatment for varicose veins and broken capillaries and to break down cellulite by shrinking the connective tissues that bind fat cells under the skin.

Get the Latest Anti-Aging Skin Breakthrough: the benefits of Gotu Kola

Skin care formulations use gotu kola for its ability to boost collagen and decrease inflammation. As with many plant-based compounds, you’re most likely to find a bioactive level of gotu kola (which may be listed as centella asiatica) in organic or all-natural product lines. Like for instance the following products are rich in gotu kola as their major ingridient:

Annmarie Gianni Anti-Aging Products – Annemarie’s anti-aging facial oil or anti-aging eye cream, both of which contain gotu kola extract as well as numerous other beneficial herbs and oils. Annemarie provides an excellent explanation of the role of gotu kola in skin rejuvenation.

Sundari Gotu Kola Products – Sundari gotu kola and yucca facial serum, in which gotu kola oil and sea algae extracts enhance skin renewal while yucca oil boosts skin hydration. Then there’s Sundari gotu kola and Indian asparagus mask, formulated for intensive firming action.

Bellanina Skin Care – Gotu kola takes center stage in Bellanina’s gotu kola + coconut serum, which binds the extracts in an exfoliating base of alpha-lipid acid.

The greatness of this herb will only be news to you until you try its application. You can seek for more information about the applications of this herb from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and explore its usage for the beauty of your skin and wound healing generally.

Get the Latest Anti-Aging Skin Breakthrough: Gotu Kola the Ancient Herb

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola

March 9, 2015

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola: The Magic of Gotu Kola

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola as it was used then and the today’s application

Gotu kola is a kind of vegetation which has been instrumental in the traditional treatment of various diseases in most countries including India, China, and Indonesia. Scientifically it is known as Centella asiatica. Some of the major areas of applications included healing of wounds, improvement of mental clarity as well as treating skin conditions such as leprosy and psoriasis. This plant has been singled out to one of the most used herbs in providing alterative treatment for so many health complications. There is a lot being said about this herb and we want to get the clear understanding of the history of gotu kola as it was then and how it is beneficial currently. The roles of this herb are endless. Some people use it to treat respiratory infections such as colds and in the past China used it primarily for that among many other ways. And because of its ability to offer treatment solutions, it was nick named “the fountain of life”. The motivation of this nick name was because legend has it that an ancient Chinese herbalist lived for more than two centuries (200 years) and his long life was credited to gotu kola.

Archaeologically, gotu kola has also been used to treat some STI including syphilis, hepatitis, stomach ulcers, mental fatigue, epilepsy, diarrhea, fever, and asthma. Currently this herb is penetrating in to the American and Europe market where it is being used to treat varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. This is a health condition where blood pools in the legs. Besides that it’s also used in ointments to treat psoriasis and help heal minor wounds thereby keeping the good health of the skin. Experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury’s care are reiterating that gotu kola should not be mistaken for kola nut (Cola nitida) because they are not the same. Doctor Akoury explains that unlike kola nut, gotu kola does not have caffeine and is not a stimulant.

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola: Plant Description

Gotu kola is a perpetual plant native to India, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the South Pacific.
It is member of the parsley family it has no taste or smell.
It thrives in and around water.
It has small fan shaped green leaves with white or light purple-to-pink flowers, and small oval fruit.
The leaves and stems of the gotu kola plant are used as medicine.

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola: Medicinal Uses and Treatment Indications

Gotu kola has very good medicinal characteristics and can be very useful in treatment of so many health complications including the following:

Venous insufficiency and varicose veins – When blood vessels lose their elasticity, blood pools in the legs and fluid leaks out of the blood vessels. That causes the legs to swell (venous insufficiency). Several small studies suggest gotu kola may help reduce swelling and improve blood flow. In a study of 94 people with venous insufficiency, those who took gotu kola saw their symptoms improve compared to those who took placebo. In another study of people with varicose veins, ultrasound tests showed that people who took gotu kola has less leakage of fluid.

Wound healing and skin lesions – Gotu kola has chemicals called triterpenoids. In animal and lab studies, these compounds seem to help heal wounds. For example, some studies suggest that triterpenoids strengthen the skin, boost antioxidants in wounds, and increase blood supply to the area. Based on these findings, gotu kola has been applied to the skin, or used topically, for minor burns, psoriasis, preventing scars after surgery, and preventing or reducing stretch marks.

Anxiety – These same chemicals triterpenoids seem to decrease anxiety and increase mental function in mice. One human study found that people who took gotu kola were less likely to be startled by a new noise than those who took placebo. Since the “startle noise” response can be a way to tell if someone is anxious, researchers think that gotu kola might help reduce anxiety symptoms. However the dose applied for this study was very high making it impossible to say how gotu kola might be used to treat anxiety.

Scleroderma – A single study of 13 women with scleroderma found that gotu kola decreased joint pain and skin hardening, and improved finger movement.

Insomnia – Gotu kola acts as a sedative when given to animals in tests. Because of that, it is sometimes suggested to help people with insomnia. But no human studies have been done to see whether it works and whether it’s safe.

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola: Dosage and Administration

Gotu kola is available in teas and as dried herbs, tinctures, capsules, tablets, and ointments. Products should be stored in a cool, dry place and used before the expiration date on the label. At no given time should gotu kola be used for patients under the age of 18 years old. Nonetheless as for the adults, the standard dose of gotu kola (Centella asiatica) will fluctuate depending on what kind you use and what you use it for. Getting your doctor’s opinion would be highly recommended in choosing the right dose for you.

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola: Side Effects

Side effects are rare but may include skin allergy and burning sensations with external use, headache, stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, and extreme drowsiness. These tend to happen with high doses of gotu kola.

Pediatric use – Gotu kola is not recommended for children.

Geriatric Use – The dosage of 65 years old and above should take a lower dose of gotu kola. Your health care provider can help you determine the right dose for you, which can be increased slowly over time.

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola: Interactions and Depletions

Gotu kola may interact with the following medications:

Drugs that affect the liver – Gotu kola contain elements which are likely to injure the liver of the patient. It must therefore be noted that taking it along with some other medications that also can harm the liver may cause liver damage.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs (including statins) – In some studies where animal were involved it was established that gotu kola raised cholesterol levels of those animals. Therefore it can may also do the same (raise cholesterol levels) in humans. However this is still a hypothesis since it is yet to be confirmed.

Diabetes medications – While carrying out a study in animal it was established that, gotu kola seems to increase blood sugar levels. Individuals with diabetes should not take gotu kola without first talking to their doctor.

Diuretics (water pills) – Gotu kola seems to act like a diuretic, meaning it helps the body get of excess fluid. Taking diuretic medications and gotu kola could cause your body to lose too much fluid, upsetting the balance of electrolytes you need. The same is true of taking gotu kola with herbs that have diuretic effects, such as green tea, astragalus or gingko.

Sedatives – Because gotu kola acts like a sedative, it might make some drugs taken for anxiety or insomnia stronger. The same is true for herbs taken for anxiety or insomnia, such as valerian.

Understanding the History of Gotu Kola: The Magic of Gotu Kola

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