The wonder plant of Sri Lanka

Pennywort Centella Asiatica Sanscrit Brhami (Gotukola) improves intelligence, heals and cures:

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

Easily accessible to the rich and poor alike, Gotukola is one of the best plants one can grow and consume .It is a miracle working plant of all ages. It has been scientifically proven that memory, intelligence and retrieval power have improved with the consumption of our very own local produce Gotukola explained Dr Vajira P.S. Seneviratne, visiting lecturer of the Moratuwa University cum pharmaceutical consultant .

Dr.Seneviratne is a multidisciplinary academic with integrated knowledge of Ayurveda and modern Pharmaceuticals Sciences.

The scientific named attributed to the plant itself connotes the meaning of intelligence as in Brhami and of Asia as in Asiatica. Gotukola is one of the few plants created by Lord Brahama which was associated with intelligence even far back as then Dr Seneviratne explained.

Scientists the world over have studied the properties of this wonder plant from time to time and found it a very powerful in not only healing wounds but also leprosy.

Brahamino sides are also an interesting area which scientists have explored which have been found to improve the effect of intelligence and memory capacity.School children, children up to two years and the aged in particular are said to have recorded improvement in memory and memory retrieving power as well as the articulation of speech in children.

The smaller gotukola leaf, a creeper is the best for this purpose while the bigger leaves are proven as a healer of many illnesses such as catarrh ,phlegm conditions, Sinusitis and even eye diseases. But , all these can be extracted only from fresh Gotukola.

A simple home remedy to improve memory power is to add finely chopped Gotukola in to fresh milk or coconut milk, bring to a boil and consume at least three days a week.

It has to be consumed in this form to be effective. A home remedy to treat hemorrhoids and piles is equal parts of Gotukola and Kohila and red onion crushed together to form a pulp. Steam the pulp for about fifteen minutes and extract the juice.

To 30ml juice add 2 teaspoons of bee honey and take it 2-3 times a day. More than 90 per cent of your health problems could be managed, Dr Seneviratne further explained.

One research conducted by Lithgo and Tritae in the late 50's has proved Gotukola also contains very unique glycosides which have been found in the Gotukola varieties grown in rubber estates and villages. Gotukola oil also helps in improving vision and nourishes the brain and brain cells.

Today, people's diets have changed drastically and this has affected children's education to a great extent . We see that more than 25 per cent of students fail mathematics today as a result, due to lack of essential nutrients which connects memory with the functioning of the brain.

Thus, it would be a good idea if the government could take steps to provide Gotukola kande or porridge to school children which would help them in the long run, Dr Seneviratne added.

There are four varieties of Gotukola which are rich in a wide range of nutrients and amino acids 150,000 parts per million while carbohydrates are considerably low. Rich in Niacin, Thiamin, Riboflavin, B vitamin series, Vitamin A and Beta Carotene, Iron, Prosperous, Calcium, Potassium and Manganese. Gotukola leaves are also very rich in Chromium, Cobolt, Copper, Manganese, Selenium, Sodium and Zinc.

It has more than forty forms of chemical components. Much of our local produce is now being exported in the form of capsules, tablets, powders, dehydrated herbs and green teas. So why not enhance your health by a making the best use of our locally produced and freely available leafy vegetables rich in nutrients, a simple answer to a better tomorrow.

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