Also commonly referred to as Centella, Asiatic pennywort or Indian pennywort, Gotu Kola is a versatile herb that goes by many names. Plus it boasts just as many health benefits.
As My Online Herbal course progresses, the abundance of Plant knowledge is readily available, literally at our feet.

Pennywort, Dollar Weed or commonly known as Gotu Kola could be easily found in anyone’s lawn or backyard. I took my pooches out and what do I see – The Herb that I just learned about-Gotu-Kola happily residing under my Bottle Brush Trees.
I couldn’t be happier with such surprising appearance next to my footsteps. Collecting it is so easy. Pinching it off and placing in your bag. Please wash when you get home.
Quick fun fact: Centella, means “little coin” because the leaf surface is shiny and reflects light and It’s about the size of a silver dollar under good conditions.

Here are some of the Gotu-Kola benefits that might be an interest to your well being:
- Enhances Memory and Mental Alertness
- Improves Cognitive Thinking
- Prevents Altheighmers
- Boosts Energy -great Coffee substitute
- Improves circulation
- Repairs skin
- Eases Depression and Anxiety
- Reduces Gastric Ulcers
- Prevents inflammation
- May help kill Cancerous cells
Because Gotu Kola is a rejuvenative nervine, it is often recommended for balancing the nervous system. Gotu Kola leaf & root contain key constituents that help the body to maintain healthy neurotransmitter function, while also promoting normal levels of mental alertness and a sound memory. Gotu kola also supports the body’s inherent ability to acclimate to temporary stress.

Fresh Gotu Kola can be served raw as a salad green, squeezed as juice, sort of as a wheatgrass shot or infused as the tea. Let me share that I tried eating it raw and it was very grassy tasting, at least to me. Thus, my favorite way to infuse this nutrient in the tea. That is what you see in the picture above mixed with a handful of Ginger and Turmeric. Sip this all day long to promote wellbeing.

∼About to depart from the blog, but leaving you with this exciting Chinese myth: Gotu-Kola tea supposedly let a king fulfill his husbandly duties to all his 50 wives.
Some of you might rethink the whole thing now∼.
Hope you found this interesting and helpful,
Until next time, my dear friends.
Luda@PlantsandBeyond🌿
All photographs belong to Luda @PlantsandBeyond.com except for the header image.
©PlantsandBeyond.com
Very informative. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Appreciate you reading. Thank you!
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I’m all over this!!!! Fantastic! Thank you so much! You’re such a treasure! 😍😘
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You are so dear, Mel. Thank you so very much for being you 🙂
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Awww… I am so lucky to find some really sweet and good people in the blogosphere. Thank YOU!
Hugs!💕
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Great information 😊 thanku dear ❤️
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💕🌿☀️🌿💕
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Thanks for a great share! I remember seeing this in my garden once upon a time and freely growing in open fields but with development, it has not been seen. Sigh! I think I will start looking for it.
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Thank you GH- or you can look for it in the local dark markets – perhaps some farmer might sell bunches of this herb
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👍
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OMG it had this many benefits, I never knew. We usually use them only on cuts and bruises.
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Really ? This I didn’t know either 😉 thank you for sharing this🌱 🌸☀️🌸🌱
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Hey I’ve already consumed the centella , it was in a mixture with the Equesitum arvense to get rid of the excess of water (cellulite) and i liked it
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Hi , B. Wow – you know so much – did you find it in its raw form or in the capsules ? 🤗😘🤗
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Dried leaves
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That’s great 🌱🤗🌱
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Very interesting! Thanks for sharing
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🌱🌷🌼🌷🌱 thank you for reading and visiting
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I didn’t realize all the benefits of this. I love being able to walk outside and discover this little treasure. 🌞💞
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😉 Hi Lisa and may be even draw it ;)🌿
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Such a good idea!! 💞
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😘🌸😘
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Hi! You have inspired a post! 🙂
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You inspire me to own a herb and vegetable garden!
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;)) thank you dear Qui, that is one awesome compliment🌸 🌿🌼🌿🌸
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🌱🌱🌱
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Indians use this wonder herb for making chutney, now I would love to try your herb infused tea that I can sip all day long. Like the addition of fresh turmeric & ginger roots in here.
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Yes! That’s how I prefer consuming it . Megala, your way is so interesting- may be you can share a recipe ? I would love to try cooking it with Indian spices!🌿🌿🌸☀️🌸🌿🌿
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Ahh, thats nice, you may click here for my recipe : https://megalaskitchen.com/2016/12/01/vallarai-thuvaiyal/ You can replace red chillies with pepper or ginger, if you can not withstand the heat of chillies.
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This is great, Megala – thank you !!!
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What great information! I learn something new every post. Have a great Monday!
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Thank you thank you thank you , Diana 😘🌸😘
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You’re utmost welcome, Luda! 💙
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Reblogged this on Vietnam Travel & Trade Portal .
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Xoxoxo
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This is amazing! Mother Nature provides us with everything we need. Keep them coming Luda.
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Thank you so much!🤗🌷🌿
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Nice Luda. It’s nice to find out the weeds are beneficial. Actually I keep several different species of them around for this very purpose. This one is special though …50 wives are a lot!
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Haha. I bet 🙂 Than you so much for your feedback. Which weeds do you grow and consume for medicinal purposes? So interesting.
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Dandelions and chamomile are common. Wild raspberry leaves too. Pig weed is another favourite. Tastes like spinach. There are more, but I may not have them in my yard at present. 😉
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Sounds medicinal to me. Have you consumed Pig weed? That is so insightful. I would love to try that plant
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Yes, my family used to eat pig weed regularly as a child, as it came up in the garden along with all the other “food”. Cooked, it tastes very much like spinach. I wouldn’t recommend the stems, but then again, I’ve never tried them.
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Wow, so very cool. I will look for this Plant from now on. Thank you so much for broadening my horizons!
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No problem, you’ve certainly broadened mine. 😉
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:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
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Thanks for following back 😍
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Turmeric and ginger is suppose to help with inflammation and my rheumatoid arthritis
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So True! Let me know if it does – dying to hear the results
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I’ve been taking before as a supplement and I was sure it contributed to feeling better. It’s hard for me to get some of these things in Germany right now, so I try to cook more dishes including those ingredients. There are so many factors that play a role with RA, I wish I could measure progress better when it comes to those specific things.
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Wow, appreciate you sharing this experience. Why don’t you get turmeric supplements then? They should definetly help.
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I have like I mentioned, just haven’t seen any here in Germany yet and need to check into it.
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Very informative. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
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Oh my goodness, Lisa!!!! One of my absolutely fave Sundays ever . I feel so humbled and honored to make a tiny difference in someone’s life and that makes me want to go on and share more and more with everyone . About to do a kart wheel from all the joy. Thank you dearest Lisa for enriching my life as well !!!! 🌿💚🌱🌷🌱💚🌿
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AH… Can you imagine the effect if this herbal tea is mix with some honey, also known to have viagra properties!!!!! I enjoyed your post. Very meaningful.
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Ha, Yes, Dominique, say it like it is :))) Thank you very much for visiting and reading.
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My pleasure!
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