You might not have heard of gotu kola, and we don’t blame you, but some of the wisest people in human history sure have! In fact, gotu kola has a history in human civilization that predates recorded history itself. With archeological evidence of its use from early neolithic times to recorded use in some of ancient history’s most powerful early civilizations, such as Ancient China and the Indus Valley Civilization, to use in more recent kingdoms of world history, the gotu kola leaf has been one of the longest-standing ingredients being used for skin and skincare treatment.

The word itself comes from Sanskrit, the ancient language of early Indian civilizations, where it means ‘knowledge’ or ‘wisdom.’ Why it took this name is unknown, but likely it was due to the traditions, passed down from generations, of the wise elders using the leaf to combat the effects of aging. In a time long before modern medicine, and when human life rarely lasted anywhere close to how long we live today, an aging man or woman appearing wise and healthy must’ve been something to talk about!

Or perhaps it could be because Bengal tigers, commonly revered as the most intelligent beasts in Ancient Indian folklore, would often roll around in the leaves of this plant after being injured. Or perhaps because it’s always been a favorite food of Indian elephants, and an elephant never forgets!

But elephants, tigers, wise ancient scholars, and today’s dermatologists seem to all agree on one thing; that gotu kola has a lot going for it when it comes to maintaining healthy, radiant skin. Let’s take a closer look!

Anti-Inflammatory & Healing Properties

The gotu kola leaf is an incredibly powerful source of triterpenoids, which are one of the key building blocks of collagen and fibroblast production. In layman’s terms, it’s a key ingredient that your skin needs for the cells and proteins that are used to quickly repair dead or damaged skin after scraping, burning, inflammation, bruising, or discoloration. It’s soothing effect on irritated or damaged skin can be felt almost instantly – perhaps this is why tigers always run to the gotu kola bushes when they’ve got a scratch!

Anti-Aging Properties

Now, there’s no one thing that we can use to label something as ‘anti-aging.’ If it was that simple, we’d all be immortal by now! But the consensus among dermatologists is that skin that’s kept healthy and free of environment stressors, and kept strong and moist, is going to age at a far slower rate. While nothing can keep your skin free of unwanted bacteria, toxins, and burns from the environment, the polyphenols, flavonoids, and other antioxidants found in huge numbers in gotu kola do their job to get these things out of your skin as quickly as possible.

Although scientists are still not 100% sure what does it, numerous studies have confirmed the ancient theories that indeed, the regular use of gotu kola does improve the strength and firmness of skin, particularly as one ages, and reduces wrinkling. Strengthening the skin not only reduces wrinkling, but also adds another layer to the skin’s natural barrier between it and the outside world, allowing it to better retain moisture, exfoliate faster, and maintain a more healthy, radiant appearance.

How to Use Gotu Kola for Your Skin

Just follow the Bengal tigers into the bushes, of course!

Well, actually, that might not be the best idea. Not only is it not the greatest idea to follow a 500-pound tiger anywhere (don’t say we didn’t warn you), and not only is it unlikely that the leafy bushes in your local forest contain any gotu kola (it’s native to South Asia and East Africa and doesn’t grow naturally in North America), but the leaf can actually lead to itchiness and redness on your skin if used incorrectly. Especially if you’re not used to it, as we assume that big Bengal tiger is.

But with some of the wisest minds in human history knowing the potency of gotu kola, it’s no surprise that we, as the human race, have come up with some more convenient, practical, and effective ways of utilizing gotu kola. Let’s have a look.

Drink Freshly Brewed Gotu Kola in Tea

This is one of the classic ways of indulging in the benefits of gotu kola for the skin, as it’s probably not coincidental that tea making culture sprung up in the same part of the world as gotu kola grows abundantly. Brewing dried gotu kola leaves in a tea bag or tea strainer is one of the best ways to seep out the most powerful minerals and compounds from the gotu kola leaf. Indulge in a cup of freshly brewed organic tea and watch as the anti-aging and antioxidizing elements seep through your body to your skin, and your skin will be more moist, fresh, and radiant than ever.

Gotu kola can be brewed in tea on its own, but tea makers often mix the leaf with other flowers and herbs that are rich in antioxidants and other skin-benefiting compounds, such as chamomile and dandelion. To brew gotu kola tea and get the most benefits from the leaf, boil water to approximately 205 degrees (that’s right below boiling – so as the kettle starts to rumble, but before it starts steaming and hissing), and let the teabag sit in the hot water for 5 minutes before removing it and consuming.

Try a Gotu Kola Supplement

In the era of Instagram-feed healthy supplements available at the click of a button, it’s no surprise that supplements based on the essence of gotu kola are now readily available at health stores and online. These supplements will usually take the form of pills or capsules filled with the potent extract of the gotu kola leaf. This can be beneficial as, when extracted correctly, your body gets just the benefits of gotu kola, and not any of the inactive “leafy” ingredients nor the slightly disadvantageous stuff that can make you itch in high doses.

You should refer to the individual package instructions on how to use a gotu kola supplement, as the correct dosage depends on how potent it is and what other ingredients are included. Some supplements may be ‘pure’ supplements, containing only the extract plus the gelatin pill, while others might have other antioxidant-rich ingredients with natural skincare benefits.

Implement Gotu Kola Cream Into Your Skincare Routine

If you want to really get all the benefits of gotu kola for your skin, you’re going to need to actually put it on your skin (but not the way Bengal tigers do). That’s because, despite what supplement-makers might claim, not all the benefits of the leaf will make it to your skin when you ingest it through the digestive system in the form of a tea or supplement. So to get the full benefit for your skin and let your skin receive 100% of gotu kola’s youthfulness and radiance, it’s best to find it in oil or cream form so that you can actually rub it into your skin.

Much like supplements, creams and oils usually use a carefully-obtained extract from the gotu kola leaf for maximum benefits and will mix it with a healthy skincare oil like coconut oil, grapeseed, or dandelion oil, which function as the base. What’s even better, is that skincare products will often mix gotu kola with extracts from other powerful herbs and fruits, creating a cocktail for your skin that’s more powerful than anything you’ll find in nature. Yet it’s still 100% natural!

Let’s look at one such potent skincare compound, which mixes the powerful healing and antioxidizing properties of gotu kola, with extract from camu camu, a berry native to the Amazon rainforest that happens to be one of nature’s most potent sources of vitamin C and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). This is Peri Skin Care’s Radiance Serum!

This special skin serum uses a carefully extracted extract from the gotu kola leaf, extracted using a patented process that takes 100% of the leaf’s powerful acids, proteins, and minerals and mixes it with the complementary, equally-powerful, and carefully extracted ingredients of camu camu, along with some naturally-soothing base oils, including watermelon seed oil, babassu oil, and grapeseed oil. These oils are not only soothing, but also rich in fatty acids that improve the skin’s elasticity and are known ofr their antimicrobial and antifungal properties, which protect the skin from rashes and discoloration.

The Radiance Serum is not only incredibly powerful, but also incredibly safe. You don’t have to worry about any of the itchy side effects of the gotu kola leaf, as the soothing oils counteract any of these that could possibly remain. It is natural, organic, and free of GMOs, fillers, or any other inactive or less-than-beneficial ingredients. Just plant oils straight from gotu kola and a few other of nature’s most potent superfoods.

Using gotu kola for your skin in the form designed by Peri Skincare is incredibly easy. Just take a small fingerful of the serum and rub it gently into your skin, ideally after showering. You can use it up to two times per day, ideally in the morning and at night.

Making the Most of Youthful, Radiant Skin

Finding a top-quality skin cream with one (and more!) of nature’s most powerful ingredients is a great start to the goal of keeping your skin young and shiny, but you can’t stop there. Maintaining skin like this as you grow older requires embracing a healthy lifestyle and embarking on a journey that includes applying only the best products to your skin.

While we’re here, let’s dive into another natural product that can do wonders for your skin, and you should absolutely incorporate into your skincare routine. One that radiates youth and beauty right out of the bottle. This is Sofiel Blue Energy facial mist.

Based on the goodness of beta-glucan, a powerful carbohydrate that lives naturally in a number of mushrooms, the skincare spray makes it easier than ever for your skin to get the energy and nutrients it needs. This translates to stronger skin, a more powerful immune system to protect it, and boosted collagen production.

And using the mist is easy. Just spray a few puffs from the bottle onto your face when it’s slightly moist, ideally in the morning. Though your skin can always use an extra carbohydrate (aka energy) boost throughout the day – it doesn’t hurt to bring this spray with you and pop a few puffs on your face throughout the day. This is what we mean when we say creating a healthy routine for your skin, day in and day out.

And trust us, if you keep the habits up, you’ll notice the benefits sooner rather than later!

* In partnership with our friends at Peri Skin Care LLC* Photo courtesy of Peri Skin Care LLC
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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