One of the most popular benefits of gotu kola leaves is to maintain healthy skin. Not only maintaining, gotu kola leaf extract is also widely used to treat various skin problems, such as wounds or keloids.
Almost everyone wants to have healthy, bright, and clean skin. Various efforts have been made to get it, ranging from diligently cleaning the skin, routine skin care, to using natural ingredients, such as gotu kola leaves.Centella asiatica).
Gotu kola leaf is a wild herbaceous plant that is commonly found in Asian countries, including Indonesia. This plant has long been known for its benefits to nourish the skin and treat skin problems.
Various Benefits of Gotu Kola Leaves for Skin Health
The following are some of the benefits of gotu kola leaves for skin health:
1. Reducestretch marks
There are various studies that show that gotu kola leaf extract can disguise or reduce acne stretch marks, especially in pregnant women. This leaf extract is usually used in the form of a gel, lotion, or cream.
The effectiveness of gotu kola leaves is even considered to be able to equalize olive oil and almond oil in improving the shape and texture of the skin. However, the benefits of gotu kola leaves still need to be studied further.
Moreover, stretch marks in pregnant women will usually disappear or fade by itself after delivery.
2. Disguise scars or keloids
Content asiaticoside in gotu kola leaf is known to stimulate the production of collagen which is good for repairing and stimulating the growth of skin tissue.
Thanks to these benefits, gotu kola leaves are often used to prevent and disguise scars or scar tissue that appear after the wound healing process.
Several studies have also shown that topical medications containing gotu kola leaf extract can prevent keloids from forming after a wound.
3. Heals wounds on the skin
Gotu kola leaves have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that are important in the wound healing process. In addition, various studies also state that gotu kola leaves can increase the production of collagen which is also good for healing wounds on the skin.
4. Moisturizing skin
Gotu kola leaves can also be used as a natural skin moisturizer. A study shows that the use of creams or lotions containing this plant extract can maintain skin moisture and treat dry skin.
Thanks to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in it, gotu kola leaves are also good for preventing and relieving skin irritation and inhibiting the growth of bacteria on the skin.
Things to Pay Attention to Before Using Gotu Kola Leaves
Like herbal medicines in general, gotu kola leaves can also cause side effects, although they rarely occur. These side effects include:
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Nauseous
- Dizzy
- Drowsiness
- Soreness or irritation on the skin
- Allergic reaction
In addition, until now there has not been enough research that can ensure the effectiveness and safety of the use of gotu kola leaves in pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Therefore, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should consult a doctor first if they want to use gotu kola leaves, either in the form of topical drugs or supplements that are taken.
Gotu kola leaves should also not be used by people with certain medical conditions or diseases, such as impaired liver function and hepatitis, because of the risk of exacerbating the condition.
Although the benefits of gotu kola leaves are well known for skin health, you are still advised to consult a doctor first when you want to use gotu kola leaves to treat skin problems or treat certain diseases.