Centella asiatica, commonly known as Gotu Kola, is the inspiration for the Aletheia Naturopathy logo. The logo artistically combines an image of the brain with the Gotu Kola leaf to symbolise the importance of mental health and the benefit of herbs for the nourishment of our mind and body.
Gotu Kola is known as an adaptogen. Adaptogens are substances that can increase the body’s resistance to stressors – physical, emotional, environmental, or biological, supporting a return to normal physiological functioning. It is also a nervine tonic, supporting and relaxing the nervous system and improving its overall tone and function.
Gotu Kola has wound healing action (vulnerary), is anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and aids in detoxification and elimination of metabolic waste products in the body (depurative). All these actions make it very useful to promote healing for a variety of conditions such as burns, fractures, ulcers, psoriasis, dermatitis, varicose veins, diabetic ulcer and neuropathy, haemorrhoids, and post-surgery.
The positive impact on the nervous system makes it useful for anxiety, various stress states, and for improving cognition and concentration.
You will find Gotu Kola growing commonly in tropical/temperate gardens; look for small slender stems and fan-shaped green leaves.