Gotu Kola
SanskritMandukaparniBotanicalCentella asiaticaAlso calledBrahmi (in some regions), Indian pennywort, Asiatic pennywort
A cooling green leaf, eaten as a salad green across South Asia, that Ayurveda uses to calm the mind and soothe heat in the skin.
Gotu kola has small, round, scalloped leaves on long stems, a bit like a tiny lily pad. The Sanskrit name mandukaparni means "frog leaf," and in Sri Lanka and Kerala it is chopped fresh into salads and coconut sambols.
The taste is mildly bitter, grassy and a little sweet. Ayurveda counts it among the herbs that nourish the mind, and in many lineages, including some popular Western Ayurvedic schools, it is the plant called brahmi. Bacopa shares that name too, which causes plenty of confusion. Both are valued for a clear, calm mind.
Gotu kola is especially loved for pitta, the fiery dosha, because it cools without feeling heavy.
Ayurvedic Properties
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Cooling
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Sweet
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Neutral for agni
Little direct effect on digestion.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: decreases
- Pitta: decreases
- Kapha: decreases
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Gotu kola is considered tridoshic and is especially calming for pitta. Vata types can enjoy it warm, with a little ghee or honey, to offset its cool, light nature.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support a calm, clear mind and steady focus.
- Traditionally used to support meditation and restful sleep.
- Traditionally used to support healthy, comfortable skin when there is excess heat.
- Traditionally used to support healthy hair and circulation.
How People Use It
- TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaf in a cup of hot water for 10 minutes. It tastes green and mild, and blends well with tulsi or mint.
- FoodFresh leaves can be finely chopped into salads, chutneys or a cooling summer drink, as they are in Sri Lanka.
- GheeA pinch of the powdered leaf stirred into warm ghee with honey is a traditional way to take it for the mind.
Cooling Gotu Kola and Mint Tea
A green, gentle cup for hot afternoons or a crowded head.
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons dried gotu kola leaf
- 4 to 5 fresh mint leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- A squeeze of lime and a little honey (optional)
- Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the gotu kola and mint.
- Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain, let it cool to warm or room temperature, and add lime and honey if you like.
- Sip it in the afternoon instead of a second coffee.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Gotu kola is eaten as a vegetable and is generally well tolerated, but rare cases of liver injury have been linked to gotu kola products. Stop and call your doctor if you notice fatigue, dark urine or yellowing skin.
- Skin rash, upset stomach, nausea, headache and drowsiness have been reported.
- Avoid medicinal amounts during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, since safety has not been established.
- It may affect how some medications are broken down and may add to the effects of sedatives. Talk with your doctor if you take prescription drugs or have liver disease.
- Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using gotu kola regularly.
In Our Shop
Organic Gotu Kola, from $6.50. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
Shop Gotu Kola →From the Journal
Sources and Further Reading
This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.