Gotu Kola – Cantella asiatica
Gotu Kola is often referred to as Long Life Tea or Arthritus Tea.
Gotu Kola is an evergreen, spreading groundcover plant that prefers to be planted in a moist, sunny or semi shaded position. Its round leaves are borne on short stems.
Its leaves are Edible – its delicious leaves can be picked and eaten directly off the plant, mixed into salads or steamed as a vegetable.
Its Medicinal – Improves Memory and Mental Clarity, Relieves Arthritus, Improves Circulation and has excellent Skin healing qualities.
Here is FOUR BIG Reasons why this medicinal herb should be included into your garden.
Skin healing:. Research has shown that Gotu Kola contains a substance that increases Collagen production and improves circulation which speeds healing of wounds and burns and reduces scarring. Its anti-inflamatory properties help to speed up the healing process.
Improves Circulation: Strengthens blood vessells giving rise to its use for varicose and spider veins and haemoroids. As well as improving the circulation and strengthening blood vessels.
Improves Memory and Mental Clarity
Relieves Arthritus: Eating 2-3 leaves a day has been shown to improve aches and pains in the joints due to arthritus.
Harvesting Gotu Kola:
Traditional Use – Thai people use Gotu Kola as a drink sweetened with palm sugar. Sri Lankans make a Sambal with the leaves, fresh coconut and lime juice.
HARVEST leaves regularly and eat directly off the plant or sprinkle into salads, curries or steam as a vegetable.
Much of the wisdom written on this page was discovered through reading a fabulous book called “One hundred and one Herbs to Grow in South East Queensland” compiled by the Queensland Herb Society.