Gotu Kola by Wanderer MoonChild

Botanical Basics

1. Common Name(s): Gotu Kola, Indian Pennywort, Asiatic Pennywort
2. Folk Name(s): Brahmi (sometimes shared with Bacopa monnieri), Tiger Grass, Mandukaparni
3. Scientific/Latin Name: Centella asiatica
4. Family: Apiaceae (sometimes classified in Araliaceae, depending on system)
5. Plant Type: Creeping perennial herb
6. Botanical Description: Low-growing, mat-forming plant with slender creeping stems and fan-shaped, scalloped green leaves. Small, pinkish to red flowers form in umbels, followed by small fruit. Leaves grow in clusters at stem nodes and resemble tiny lotus leaves.
7. Growing Zones/Climate: USDA Zones 9–11; tropical to subtropical climates
8. Best Zones for Growth: Thrives in warm, humid climates with plenty of rainfall; cultivated in India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, and parts of Africa and the southern U.S.
9. Habitat & Range: Native to Asia; prefers wetlands, marshy areas, and riverbanks

Cultivation & Harvest

1. Soil & Sun Requirements: Moist, fertile, sandy-loam soil; prefers partial shade to full sun in consistently damp conditions
2. Propagation: Easily propagated by stem cuttings or division; also from seed though slower
3. Companion Planting: Pairs well with other water-loving herbs such as lemongrass, turmeric, and ginger
4. Harvesting Guidelines: Harvest leaves once plants are established; younger leaves are more tender and potent; can be picked regularly throughout the growing season
5. Drying/Preservation: Leaves can be air-dried in shade or used fresh; powdered leaf is common in Ayurvedic medicine; may also be made into tinctures or infused oils

Traditional & Historical Use

1. Cultural Significance: Revered in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years; considered a “herb of longevity” and spiritual enlightenment
2. Traditional Medicine: Used as a brain tonic to enhance memory and concentration; applied topically for wound healing, skin health, and leprosy; also used for digestive and nervous system disorders
3. Symbolism: Associated with wisdom, longevity, spiritual awakening, and inner balance

Medicinal & Practical Properties

1. Active Constituents: Triterpenoid saponins (asiaticoside, madecassoside), flavonoids, tannins, volatile oils, amino acids, vitamins (notably vitamin C), and minerals
2. Medicinal Uses:
   
3. Enhances memory, focus, and learning capacity
4. Promotes circulation and vascular health
5. Supports wound healing and collagen production
6. Reduces anxiety, stress, and nervous conditions
7. Used for varicose veins, skin rejuvenation, and as an adaptogen
   
8. Preparation Methods: Teas, tinctures, infused oils, fresh leaf eaten raw, powdered leaf in capsules or mixed into drinks, topical salves/ointments
9. Dosage & Guidelines:
   
10. Tea: 1–2 tsp dried leaf per cup, up to 2–3 times daily
11. Tincture: 2–4 mL up to 3 times daily
12. Powder: 500–1000 mg daily (Ayurvedic use often higher under guidance)
    
13. Safety/Precautions: Generally safe in moderation; high doses may cause headaches, nausea, or skin irritation. Avoid in pregnancy. Long-term high use may affect liver—best cycled or used under practitioner guidance.

Magical & Spiritual Properties

1. Elemental Association: Water (calming, flowing energy)
2. Planetary/Deity Correspondence: Mercury (intellect, communication), associated with Saraswati (Hindu goddess of wisdom) and Avalokiteshvara (compassion in Buddhism)
3. Magical Correspondences: Mental clarity, psychic development, meditation, longevity, enlightenment
4. Ritual Use: Burned or infused in teas for meditation, used in amulets for wisdom and memory, placed on altars for spiritual insight
5. Symbolism in Divination/Dreams: Appearing in dreams may signal a need for rest, renewal, or focus on mental clarity and spiritual practice

Ecological & Culinary Uses

1. Pollinator Value: Small flowers attract bees and other tiny pollinators
2. Wildlife Uses: Provides groundcover in wetlands; stabilizes soil against erosion
3. Culinary Uses: Leaves eaten raw in salads in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia; blended into smoothies, curries, and herbal juices; made into Sri Lankan “Gotu Kola Sambol” (salad with coconut, lime, onion)

Household/Practical Uses

1. Quick Uses: Herbal tea for focus, topical salve for wounds, longevity tonic in daily diet
2. Notable Traits: Famous as “the herb of enlightenment”; used by yogis and monks for meditation; improves both physical healing and spiritual practice
3. Special Notes: Sometimes confused with Bacopa (also called Brahmi), though they are distinct herbs with overlapping benefits

Supporting Notes

1. Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (2016)
2. Kapoor, L.D. Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants (2001)
3. Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal (1931)
4. Singh, R.H. “Gotu Kola in Ayurveda and modern medicine” (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014)
5. Duke, James. The Green Pharmacy (1997)