What is Gotu Kola used for?
Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses Gotu kola has been widely used to treat a variety of illnesses. Sri Lankans noticed that elephants, renowned for their longevity, ate the leaves of the plant. Thus the leaves were believed to promote long life, with a suggested “dosage” of a few leaves each day. Among the ailments purported to be cured or controlled by gotu kola are mental illness, high blood pressure, abscesses, rheumatism, fever, ulcers, leprosy, skin eruptions, nervous disorders, and jaundice; it has also been touted as an aphrodisiac. Gotu kola should not be confused with the dried seed of Cola nitida (also known as kolanuts, kola, or cola), the plant used in cola beverages. Cola nitida contains caffeine and is a stimulant, while gotu kola has no caffeine and has sedative properties. General uses Traditionally used as treatment for a variety of ills and as an aphrodisiac, gotu kola has demonstrated efficacy for treating wounds, varicose veins, skin disorders, and venous insufficiency
