111 Days of Herbal Tea — Day 50, Gotu Kola
Dear Gentle Reader,
Drink generously from the fountain of life. High up the Himalayan mountains, yogis integrate the health benefits of Gotu Kola with the benefits of their practice. They use the tea to increase clarity of mind, support their poses and meditation, as well as to relax the body. However, Ayurvedic medicine tells us there is much more to the lily-pad shaped leaves that taste similar to parsley…
One of the oldest teacher for the yoga group is said to have lived nearly 250 years, outliving 12 wives. The mountaineers said he drank a cup of Gotu Kola tea every day to retain his youthful appearance and sharp wit. Do we believe it?
I believe I will give it a try and find out. Will you? Even if you don’t live five times as long as most people, you may appreciate the health benefits of Gotu Kola tea in your day to day:
- Enhance cognitive function
- Improve memory
- Reduce the appearance of varicose veins
- Relax muscles
- Reduce inflammation
- Regulate menstruation
- Boost mood
- Treat leprosy
- Cure respiratory ailments
- Prevent bacterial and fungal infections
- Heal urinary tract infections
- Support the digestive system
- Stop diarrhea
- Boost skin health
- Treat psoriasis
- Reduce the appearance of stretch marks
- Enhance blood circulation (1)
Rejuvenate your mind and body with a delicious Gotu Kola tea recipe from a Himalayan yogi (she said it could balance your right and left brain hemispheres):
1 teaspoon of dried Gotu Kola
1 teaspoon of fresh green apple rind
1 inch piece of fresh ginger
half a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon of honey
1 cup of water
- Pour boiling water over the Gotu Kola, apple rind, and ginger
- Steep for 10 minutes
- Strain, then stir in lemon juice and honey
- Serve warm
To flowing with nature,
Valeria Paz
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Sources:
- Gray, N. E., Alcazar Magana, A., Lak, P., Wright, K. M., Quinn, J., Stevens, J. F., Maier, C. S., & Soumyanath, A. (2018). Centella asiatica — Phytochemistry and mechanisms of neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement. Phytochemistry reviews : proceedings of the Phytochemical Society of Europe, 17(1), 161–194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-017-9528-y
