Gotu Kola is one of my two favorite herbs for increasing brain function and memory. It is an herb from India with many wonderful qualities. Years ago, I started taking Gotu Kola for general forgetfulness-the kind of forgetfulness that makes you have to go from your car back inside the house 3 times before you can actually drive away, because you have to get all the things you forgot.

I took the *tincture of Gota Kola and it worked wonderfully for me. After taking it for 3 weeks, I noticed that I did not have to go back to the house to get things. I was remembering all I needed when I left the first time!! I was remembering small tasks at work more easily. At home I was remembering where I put things, what I needed on the grocery list, to return phone calls, when I needed to pay a bill. ( and where I had put it)

Gotu Kola is what herbalists would call my ‘herbal ally’, an herb that works really well for me with clear markers of improvement. I continue taking it today in my personal herbal formula, which is a mix of 7 or 8 herbs to nourish my whole body and body systems.

In addition to helping with memory, forgetfulness, and confusion, Gotu Kola has many other healing properties. It is an anti-inflammatory good for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and eczema, and it helps reduce inflammation of connective tissue, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.  It is even used in drug detox formulas!

In using herbs to treat chronic health issues, one herb may reduce symptoms but won’t make it all magically go away.  Herbs are usually best in a formula (but it is fine to try things one at a time to see how they work), and herbs need to be part of a whole approach to healing, which includes the food we eat, exercise, getting enough sleep, reducing stress.  There are no magic bullets, although for me, Gotu Kola comes pretty close!

Gotu Kola is native to India and used extensively in Ayurvedic Medicine which is the traditional Indian system of medicine. It can be used in herb formulas that are not created in the traditional Ayurvedic, system, such as the way I use it in my personalized herb formula.

*Tinctures are the liquid form of the herb that come in those little brown bottles you often see in health food stores. I took it 3 times a day, putting one teaspoon of tincture in water and drinking it.

I would be glad to help create a formula for you for brain health and memory, or any other health concerns you have. Thank you for reading! I appreciate feedback and comments.