24 things centella asiatica / gotu kola can do for your skin

“We have been using centella for a good 15 years at our clinic and have clearly seen the skin benefits this ancient herb has to offer”

The ancient Ayurvedic plant centella asiatica (gotu kola) is the new fashionable anti-ageing ingredient in cosmetics and nutritional supplements, used by more and more large cosmetic companies. London-based natural skincare specialists LipoTherapeia have been using centella asiatica in their skincare products and treatments for 15 years and have now published a comprehensive research-based overview of the benefits of gotu kola on skin and blood vessels, at lipotherapeia.com/centella.

Centella asiatica is one of the most important anti-aging, skin healing, blood vessel supporting, skin tightening and anti-cellulite actives known today. At the time of writing this article (November 2017) there are at least 47 research papers on the different skin properties of centella asiatica and a total of 648 peer-reviewed studies on gotu kola’s effect on general health, from atherosclerosis to cancer to Alzheimer’s. In fact one of these studies describes centella asiatica as ‘a medicinal plant panacea used for 3000 years’.

“We would not use the word ‘panacea', as it denotes hype and miraculous results, in which we do not believe, but we would definitely call centella asiatica an amazing herb that offers a natural, balanced approach to skin firming, anti-ageing and cellulite”, LipoTherapeia’s director, Georgios Tzenichristos explains. “We have been using centella for a good 15 years at our clinic and have clearly seen the skin benefits this ancient herb has to offer”, Georgios adds.

LipoTherapeia has published a 24-long list summary of centella’s benefits, based on those clinical, in-vivo, ex-vivo and in-vitro studies.

According to these studies, centella boosts the production of collagen type I, collagen type III, elastin and hyaluronic acid, and protect those precious skin molecules from breakdown, while at the same time protecting tissues from excessive collagen production / fibrosis.

In addition, centella can protect blood vessel walls and improve leaky capillaries; fight adipose tissue inflammation; protect from skin glycation; prevent hyper-pigmentation; protect cells from sun damage; and boost skin hydration.

Researchers state that these combined actions may help:
> Improve skin firmness, elasticity and reduce overall signs of ageing
> Improve stretch marks and cellulite
> Prevent hypertrophic scars and keloids, accelerate wound healing and treat burns
> Reduce ankle swelling / oedema / water retention, as well as leg heaviness, restlessness, cramps and tiredness (multiple clinical studies)
> Improve chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), lymphedema, vein hypertension, varicose veins, haemorrhoids and phlebitis (multiple clinical studies)
The full summarised list of all 47 research papers can be found at LipoTherapeia’s dedicated centella page.

Although centella asiatica has been used by doctors for anti-aging, wound healing and vein disorders in Germany, Italy and France for decades, it is relatively unknown in the US or the UK. However, more and more people are now becoming aware of centella and herbal teas, nutritional supplements, anti-ageing creams, cellulite creams, facials and cellulite treatments using gotu kola are now more common.

Centella asiatica is an edible herb mainly used as a tea and in salads in South and South East Asia, but it is unlikely to become the new turmeric for Instagramers any time soon (Georgios has centella plants in his kitchen and finds that its fresh leaves have a strong herbal taste, which may be a put-off for western palates). But in any case it is poised to become more and more popular in skincare and overall health, due to its multifunctional properties.

Georgios has used supplements of, and has formulated cosmetic products with, centella asiatica for the last 15 years and is available for further commenting on 02071182014 or at lipotherapeia.com/contact.

LipoTherapeia, The Hale Clinic, 7 Park Crescent, London, W1B 1PF
www.lipotherapeia.com

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Disclaimer: This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice/care or to diagnose/treat any medical condition. Always consult your doctor.