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One of the warning signs/symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss.  Alzheimer’s disease is a frightening disease for all of us because at the worst stage of alzheimer’s disease, the victim cannot even recognize faces or remember the names of those around him including his loved ones even if he stares at them the whole day.  

Not many know that alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia among older people especially in Western countries and Japan.  Dementia is a brain disorder that is characterized by impairment of memory which seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out his normal daily activities.

Do you know that there is an oriental herb that grows in our country as well as in other countries like India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, South Africa, Japan, China, Indonesia, and the South Pacific – that sharpens our memory?  I am referring to gotu kola, a creeping plant that has a stimulating effect on our brain. Cases have also been documented showing that gotu kola can reverse some of the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease.  Even developmentally disabled children have been found to have improved their concentration and attention levels after taking gotu kola for at least 12 weeks. 

The botanical name of gotu kola is centella asiatica.  Other common names are March pennywort, Indian pennywort, hydrocotyle, brahmi, and luei gong gen.  The last is the Chinese name of gotu kola.  Gotu kola has been used for centuries as an alternative medicine for the effective treatment of a variety of health problems.  In the United States, for example gotu kola is already popular to treat some health conditions despite the fact that the health properties of gotu kola have not yet been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While gotu kola has medicinal properties to heal a number of conditions (like hepatitis, syphilis, stomach ulcers, epilepsy, diarrhea, asthma, high blood pressure and arthritis) it is best known as a “food for the brain.”

Because of the awesome health benefits of gotu kola, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration (BFAD) of the Department of Health should conduct more researches and studies on gotu kola including its side effects.  Both our domestic and export businesses will certainly be benefited by more government interest and support to entities that are exploring at the vast health and medicinal potentials of gotu kola.   Although gotu kola can be taken internally/orally as a tablet or capsule or as a topical preparation as tea – the raw leaves of the herb can be chewed and taken orally.

(For comments/reactions please send to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected]).

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