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What is Gotu Kola and Why Should You Incorporate It Into Your Skincare Routine?

One of the anti-aging herbs that should definitely be on your radar? Gotu kola. Let's dive into the benefits of gotu kola for the skin.

 

When it comes to skincare, we’re all about using natural, effective ingredients with well-proven benefits. Some of these - like jojoba oil, squalane, marula, aloe, and shea butter - are now well-known and major staple ingredients in most vanities and skincare regimens thanks to their skin benefits.

 

Others, though, are more unknown to Western consumers (though you may find they’re in more products than you’d think).


What Is Gotu Kola?

Known by many names - including Centella asiatica, Indian pennywort, Brahmi, tiger grass, and spade leaf - Gotu kola is an ancient plant that’s native to Asian and African wetlands. Today, it’s had a major rebirth as an anti-aging herb - and for good reason.


The History

Gotu kola has one of the longest histories of all medicinal plants. In fact, there’s evidence that it was even used by prehistoric people. Today, it’s used around the world for its healing benefits:

  • In China, it’s known as a “miracle elixir of life.”

  • In India, Gotu kola herb has been an Ayurveda staple that’s been used to treat eczema, psoriasis, and even broader health conditions like lupus, syphilis, and other infections.

  • In the U.S., it is often used to treat chronic venous insufficiency.

  • In England, it was one of the first treatments for leprosy.

  • In France, it was used by pharmacists in the 1800s to treat female issues and digestive concerns like diarrhea and dysentery.

  • In Thailand, it’s used in a beverage to provide general anti-aging health benefits.

  • In Asian medicine, Gotu kola leaf has been used to improve small wounds, scratches, burns, and hypertrophic wound healing.

Needless to say, it has tons of uses around the world, and there’s scientific evidence to back these benefits up.

 

Gotu Kola Benefits

While Gotu kola may be particularly beneficial for dry, reactive, or sensitive skin types, it can provide wide-ranging skincare benefits.

 

These include:


Clearer, Stronger Skin

The number of benefits for the skin is pretty impressive.

 

Gotu kola soothes the skin, and it can actually promote cell growth and increase the production of total protein and collagen. Its detoxifying properties remove harmful toxins, providing all-around plumper, more youthful skin and less noticeable acne marks and scars.


Decreases Redness and Acne

Gotu kola is a powerful anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and known antioxidant. It can soothe and balance out sensitive skin to reduce reactivity to environmental irritants like pollution, sun rays, or scented products. These capabilities have boosted gotu kola use for those who struggle with rosacea, acne, or skin sensitivity that leads to skin allergy.

 

Better Skin Elasticity

Collagen and elastin keep the skin firm and young-looking. As we age, we produce less of these substances and, combined with years of sun damage, contribute to the skin losing elasticity and becoming "saggy." Gotu kola's triterpenoid content, a pro-elastic compound, makes it one of the most effective herbs for skin elasticity.


Gotu Kola For Skin Tightening

Gotu kola not only stimulates collagen production but also protects existing collagen by helping to create the building blocks it needs to thrive. This can help both externally, by increasing skin firmness and decreasing fine lines, and internally, by repairing aging cells.

 

Specifically, when taking gotu kola as a gotu kola supplementation, it can stimulate type I collagen throughout the body and decrease inflammation. This is why it's one of our favorite herbs for tightening the skin!


Hydrates The Skin

A major gotu kola benefit is its natural anti-inflammatory abilities that detoxify the skin, protecting the natural pH and dewy texture. This makes it fantastic at balancing moisture and hydrating the skin.


Gotu Kola Extract For Skin Whitening

Acne scars, sun spots, and uneven tans are skin no-nos that happen no matter how hard we try to prevent them. Centella asiatica extract, AKA gotu kola, brightens the skin by reducing melanogenesis and reducing the appearance of dark spots. Numerous studies have proven lightening and brightening effects, including under-eye dark circles.


Anti-Aging Skin Elixir

Because of its high antioxidant concentration, gotu kola is a super-anti-aging herb. Antioxidants, of course, help decrease free radical damage to the skin, thereby helping to treat and reverse premature and accelerated aging, including wrinkles and loss of elasticity.


Promote an Overall Youthful Look

The gotu kola plant targets skin problems from every angle and acts as an overall anti-stress agent for the skin. Whether you use supplements, topical skin creams, or herbal creams, you'll be fighting free radicals and boosting collagen production inside and out.


What Is Gotu Kola Good For

Gotu kola leaves have far-reaching benefits, going way past skin care.

  • Studies show that gotu kola enhances memory, cognition, and brain health and might reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's.

  • People who struggle to fall asleep have found success using gotu kola supplements to treat insomnia.

  • The herb also reduces stress and the negative physical impacts that come with it.

  • Because the herb promotes blood flow and contains antioxidants, it also may support the digestive system.

Gotu Kola Use in Medicine

Modern medicine is recognizing the natural healing value of herbs more and more. Researchers have discovered a slew of therapeutic uses for gotu kola leaves backed by scientific findings.

 

The "cure-all" ayurvedic herb has antiepileptic, antidepressant, and antiviral, exciting doctors and health enthusiasts alike.


Gotu Kola As a Supplement

In Chinese medicine, the gotu kola plant is called "the fountain of life." They include the herb in their daily diet because of its abundant bodily benefits. Try adding it to a juice, smoothie, or herbal tea.

 

A simpler and equally as popular method is in powdered capsule form. It comes in a variety of doses depending on the particular benefit you want from it.


Gotu Kola For Skin Care

Centella asiatica's skin benefits are so vast, it's a wonder it isn't an industry-wide household name like retinol or hyaluronic acid. It's a primary ingredient in several prescription medications for acne, burns, wounds, and dermatitis. Other studies found that it helps treat psoriasis as well as the appearance of scars and keloids!


The Science Behind It

Centella asiatica extracts, or Gotu kola, is rich in many anti-aging and free-radical fighting compounds, including amino acids, chlorophyll, fatty acids, beta carotene, flavonoids, and phytochemicals.

 

This gives the Gotu kola plant the ability to:

Unlike many other herbs, the benefits of Centella asiatica for the skin are science-backed. Let's take a look at the research.


Usage of Gotu Kola in Skin Treatments

Our skin is the barrier protecting us from the outside world, and it takes a beating from the environment whether from UV rays, toxins, sharp objects, or pathogens.

 

Centella asiatica creams and topical Centella asiatica solutions are commonplace in the skincare and pharmaceutical industries to treat various problems. Let's take a look at each.

 

Wound Healing

Gotu kola's antiseptic properties help prevent infections from spreading to surrounding cells. Because it promotes circulation, it accelerates the wound-healing process on varicose veins and bruises by delivering nutrients and white blood cells to the wounded area.

 

Lastly, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects, the herb lessens swelling near the wound. You can see how the many gotu kola skin benefits go further than cosmetics.


Treat Acne Scars

In a 2015 study, researchers found that wound dressing containing organic gotu kola could help heal multiple types of wounds, including clean cuts, irregular tears, infected tissue, and blunt force trauma.

 

Translation? Faster healing acne marks, decreased scarring, and less face hyperpigmentation.


Treats Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation looks like dark spots and is caused by excess melanin production. Though not usually dangerous, hyperpigmentation causes uneven skin tone and most sufferers seek to resolve it. The gotu kola plant contains asiaticoside, a component known to slow the growth of melanogenesis, or, the process that causes hyperpigmentation.


Treats Various Inflammatory Conditions

Being such a strong anti-inflammatory agent, gotu kola is used to treat many skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea, whose main symptoms are caused by inflammation. In psoriasis cases, the herb helps repair dry, irritated, broken skin when applied after a breakout.



Centella asiatica for skin is like smoke to an angry beehive. It soothes and calms without disrupting normal functions.


Popular As A Treatment of Skin Infections

Centella asiatica extract is effective in treating skin infections and actually hastens the healing process for wounds and ulcers. Those in the holistic health community try it first before resulting in antibiotic creams that can have unpleasant side effects.

 

Combats Cellulite

Cellulite is the dimpled appearance on the thighs, botox, or abdomen - any areas with a higher fat count. It's caused by the composition and distribution of fat cells, not any disorder or disease.

 

Exercise and fat loss are the main ways to combat cellulite, but it's impossible to get rid of it completely. Gotu kola herb can lessen cellulite through topical application.

 

But, how?

  • Gotu kola improves circulation, keeping tissues and veins healthy and strong.
  • The herb stimulates collagen production, boosting the integrity of a firm, smooth fat composition and tissue structure.
  • It reduces the size of fat cells and encourages lymphatic drainage

 

Fights Skin Cancer

Research studies looking into gotu kola's anti-cancer properties have been extremely promising. The broad consensus is that the herb does work to fight cancerous cells and could be a favorable addition to herbal supplements. 

 

Its ability to inhibit melanogenesis is also exciting regarding the gotu kola skin cancer relationship. However, there's no evidence that it would cure cancer or prevent it in people with a genetic disposition for it.

 

Eight Saints Products With Organic Gotu Kola

Eight Saints uses gotu kola in so many products because it's beneficial to so many skin concerns! From redness to wrinkles, this magic herb gives the skin the tools it needs to heal and become its natural, beautiful self.


Skin Hydration and Moisturizing

Our Night Shift Hydration Gel is packed with vitamins and nutrients that combat dryness and aging. The lightweight formula provides year-long moisture without being too heavy for those humid summer nights.


The Daydreamer Natural Face Moisturizer contains hydrating natural ingredients already existing in the skin to complement and support its natural glow. The benefits of gotu kola for skin in this daytime cream allow you to fight redness so you can feel confident all day long.

.

Face Cream with Gotu Kola

Looking for a product that fades sun spots and prevents new ones? Look no further than the Cloud Whip Face Cream. It's got SAP Vitamin C to brighten the skin, antioxidants to fade discoloration, and all the benefits of gotu kola that reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark marks.

 

Next up is our Up The Anti Anti Aging Cream, a natural cream that firms skin and lets one age with grace. This anti-wrinkle cream has niacinamide and gotu kola to promote collagen, keratin, and elastin production. Get the plump, dewey skin you've been aiming for!


Skin Treatment

Eight Saints' skin treatment products address one or two skin concerns to the max.

 

Our Soulmate Brightening Treatment targets dullness and dark spots to provide extra hydration and promote rapid cell turnover. This means new, healthy cells come in and replace old, muted ones. Glycolic acid, combined with the benefits of gotu kola, is the ultimate regrowth combination for radiant skin.


Quality Control Acne Spot Treatment works by shrinking pimples and working hard to heal them quickly and naturally. The salicylic acid clears clogged pores and reduces redness, witch hazel soothes the skin and reduces oil production, and gotu kola stimulates blood flow to speed up healing. What more could you ask for?


Our Zen Out Of Ten Face Scrub is a full-blown spa day in a bottle. Exfoliate your skin with all-natural ingredients for a softer texture and brighter smile. This scrub will make your skin baby-soft every time.

 

Eight Saints Serums with Gotu Kola

At this point, you're probably convinced an organic, gotu kola-filled face cream or serum will be a game changer. Here's a glimpse at a few of ours:

 

Pep Rally Face Serum is an anti-aging staple that brightens and smooths skin, making you appear well-rested and refreshed!

 

Our Seeking C Face Serum, designed for daily use, has nourishing oils and detoxifying herbs designed to reduce inflammation, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. Brighter skin here we come!

 

Body and Hands

The face is the window to the world, but the rest of your skin is just as important and needs TLC just as much.

 

We make divine Gotu kola cream for hands with almond butter, vitamin c, and a ton of other nourishing goodies. This lotion is ideal for healing rough, cracked skin and calming irritations from a hard day's work.

 

Our Coco Cocoa Creme Body Butter will make you feel as soft as butter. It's triple-whipped for ultimate absorption and thick enough to deliver long-lasting moisture. We love it after a shower to restore the skin's natural pH and even to start the day off feeling dreamy and confident.

 

Precautions

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • The effects of gotu kola may typically be well tolerated, but if you have any allergies (parsley in particular), talk to a doctor before diving in. Consider applying it to a patch of skin to confirm you won't have a reaction.
  • If you're seeking the benefits of gotu kola for a specific skin condition, consult your doctor to decide if you can replace your current medication, or simply use gotu kola as a natural addition to your routine.

 

Gotu Kola Side Effects

Taking extremely high quantities of the herb has resulted in some undesirable gotu kola side effects:

  • Drowsiness
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Skin irritation

This is more of a problem when taking an oral supplement and not following the recommended dosage.


Gotu Kola and Pregnancy

Doctors advise and urge not to take centella asiatica extract orally while pregnant or breastfeeding. The effects on a baby are unknown and potentially harmful.


Final Thoughts

As you can see, gotu kola's potential is vast and exciting, offering support not just for skincare but holistic wellness - including better cognitive function, relief for venous insufficiency, or even aiding dietary supplements aimed at lowering stress or boosting energy.



Stay radiant and enjoy your skin's healthiest look by adding gotu kola products to your daily routine!

 

Ready to get started? Find Gotu kola in Cloud Whip day cream, Night Shift night gel, Pep Rally day serum, and Zen out of Ten face scrub.

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