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GOTU KOLA-
Gotu Kola (Canella asiatica, Hydrocotyle asiatica) is an
herb often confused with another plant, the dried cotyledon (seed leaf) of Cola
nitida, commonly known as kola nuts, a well-known ingredient of Coca-Cola
containing 3.5% caffeine.[1] Gotu Kola is not a stimulant, but rather a very
nutritious herb indigenous to hot, humid climates.
Dr. John Heinerman, Medical Anthropologist, presented an
address on Gotu Kola to the Second International Congress for the Study of
Traditional Asian Medicine, held at Airlanggu University in Surabaya, Indonesia,
September 2-7, 1984. He stated that Gotu Kola is used as a nourishing food and a
valuable medicine in many cultures. The Hosa and the Mfengu tribes in East
Africa have used it for both purposes. In the Philippines, the leaves are either
consumed raw in salads or as a tea for tonic and stimulant benefits to the body.
The leaves have been employed medicinally in the French West Indies, and Brazil
to cure uterine cancer, leprosy and elephantiasis. In the People's Republic of
China, gotu kola is used for fevers, common cold influenza, sore throat and
liver ailments such as cirrhosis and jaundice.[2]
Folk and traditional medicine have deemed this plant to
be a brain food, beneficial for memory and senility. Pharmacist Varro E. Tryler
states that there is currently no evidence to support the use of Gotu Kola as a
longevity promoter or to substantiate the extravagant claims made for it as a
revitalizing and healing herb. Substantial data on its safety and efficacy are,
in his opinion, simply non-existent.[3]
However, separate clinical studies to substantiate folk
claims for its alleged memory enhancing properties have been done in the United
States and India.[4]
In India, Gotu Kola, an Ayurvedic herb, is called
Mandookaparni. There, an impressive study dealt with the effect of gotu kola on
general mental ability of mentally retarded children. Whole plants were dried in
the shade, powdered, and made into 1/2 gram tablets. Half of the thirty children
studied were given one gotu kola tablet and half a placebo tablet daily. Apart
from nutritional deficiencies, the children had no major illnesses. A
Binet-Kamat test was administered and the children's Intelligence Quotients were
recorded. Separate tests were also administered to record any changes in the
children's co-operation, memory, concentration, attention, vocabulary and
overall adjustment. After three months, the tests were repeated.
The findings showed there was a very s youngsters taking
gotu kola had increased their powers of concentration and attention.[5]]
Another Indian study showed that gotu kola extracts
administered over a period of 42 months to normal healthy adults in the 45-50
age group had several benefits: hemoglobin increased by a significant percent,
and the mean levels of blood urea and serum acid phosphates were decreased.
Subsequent examinations have revealed that this herb has brought about a steady
increase in blood sugar level (statistically significant).[6] A relationship
between hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, and mood swings, mental
illness, fatigue, depression, confusion and schizophrenic tendencies is well
documented. Dr. Heinerman feels that perhaps the 'memory enhancing' attributes
of gotu kola may be attributed to the herb's ability to elevate blood sugar
levels markedly.
Gotu kola is higher in the B-complex vitamin group than
any other plant previously examined. This again may account for its effects on
the brain.[7] It is especially high in thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), and
pyridoxine (B6). B complex is necessary in providing energy for the body, by
converting carbohydrates into glucose, a usable form of sugar for the body to
burn. The B complex is responsible for the normal functioning of the nervous
system as well.[8] A healthy nervous system allows for a better functioning and
organized brain.
(Other nutrients include numerous free amino acids,
especially aspartate, glutamate, serine, threonine, alanine, lysine, histidine,
and aminobutyrate found in greater quantities in the roots, but also present in
leaves.[9] The leaves also contain measurable amounts of provitamin A or
carotene.)
Isolated constituents of gotu kola were applied locally
on wounds in laboratory rats. This resulted in healthy new connective skin
tissue and increased the tensile strength of the flesh, as well as decreased the
size of the would area.[10] Asaticoside, a constituent of gotu kola was injected
intra-muscularly or implanted directly into mice, rats, guinea pigs, and
rabbits. It produced a rapid thickening of the skin, an increased production of
white blood cells, increased growth of new blood vessels of the connective
tissue, and an increased growth of hair and nails.[11] Lupus erythematosus was
helped by extracts of gotu kola.
Other studies have indicated gotu kola to be effective
for gastric ulcers, phlebitis and varicose veins. It has been used for leprosy
and related skin disorders, eye lesions, and muscular atrophy.
One investigation of gotu kola was conducted in Provo
Utah at Brigham Young University by a research psychologist who wanted to
demonstrate gotu kola's amazing ability to overcome the negative effects of
fatigue and stress when used in conjunction with cayenne pepper (Capsicum
frutescens) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus).
Rodents were fed the three herbs by means of a surgical
technique in which tubing was inserted under the skin, a couple of centimeters
below the junction of the esophagus and stomach. Fatigue and stress situations
were set up. One involved swimming in a bucket of cold water, and another was to
jump a barrier in order to avoid a mild foot shock. Within 24 hours of
administration of the three herbs, the animals could successfully clear the
barrier after being dried off from the cold water treatment. Without the herbs,
they required up to 72 hours to recuperate in order to jump the barrier. Dr.
Mowrey concluded that a combination of capsicum, ginseng and gotu kola did have
a beneficial effect on behavior of stressed or fatigued animals whose metabolism
are similar in many respects to that of man.[12]
From this research carried out in 1975, several large
American herbal companies developed an "energy and stamina" formula utilizing
gotu kola. Some of these can be obtained at your local health food store.
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