Efficacy and Effects of Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) from the Apiaceae Family and How to Brew It as Herbal Tea

There is a wild vegetable commonly found in the grass piles and thickets of rural Kaiping, with leaves that look like copper coins, bright green. Its name is Leigonggen, also known as Centella asiatica (gotu kola), horse-hoof herb, Bengdawan, blood clam shell herb, lamp grass, old ear, and copper coin grass. So what are the efficacy and effects of Leigonggen? How do you brew it as herbal tea?

Leigonggen is a herbaceous plant of the Apiaceae family. Its roots and leaves are the usable parts. It likes to grow on soft, moist grassland, and is mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, such as southern China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and South Africa.

Efficacy and Effects of Leigonggen

Leigonggen has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over a thousand years, mainly to treat joint problems, strengthen blood vessels, increase blood circulation, and eliminate numbness, while also having the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying and promoting urination.

1. Leigonggen has been used in Asia for several centuries. It is believed to promote cognition and is used to treat a variety of skin diseases, from hard-to-heal wounds to leprosy.

2. Leigonggen is also used to treat high blood pressure, rheumatism, fever and nervous disorders.

3. In traditional Indian herbal medicine (Ayurvedic medicine), Leigonggen is used to treat heart disease, water retention, hoarseness of voice, bronchitis, children's coughs and skin problems as an external paste.

4. Leigonggen can strengthen blood vessels and promote blood circulation.

5. Leigonggen has excellent effects in clearing heat and detoxifying, beautifying the skin, and refreshing the mind.

Contraindications

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid consuming Leigonggen.

Consuming too high a dose may cause nausea and dizziness.

How to Brew Leigonggen as Herbal Tea

Ingredients

Leigonggen, white sugar (or rock sugar)

Step 1

Wash the Leigonggen clean. It is best to soak it in baking soda and salt for over ten minutes. Drain the water.

Step 2

Place it in a mortar and pound it until soft and mushy.

Step 3

Add water to a pot, put the pounded Leigonggen and sugar into the water and bring to a boil. After a few minutes, turn off the heat and let it steep for a while.

Step 4

The broth without any added coloring is a faint yellow-green, not the bright green kind found in today's beverage shops. A natural drink for cooling down in summer.

Leigonggen Stewed with Old Chicken

Ingredients: 300 grams of Leigonggen

One two-year-old hen, about 1500 grams

250 grams of pork ribs

2 slices of ginger

First, thoroughly wash the Leigonggen clean, making sure to remove the mud stuck to the roots. Blanch the ribs in water to remove the blood foam. Then chop the hen into pieces. Put the cleaned Leigonggen together with the ribs, candied dates, ginger, chicken neck and chicken feet into a ceramic soup pot to stew. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Then add the chicken meat, bring to a boil over high heat, turn to low heat and simmer for 40 minutes. Add an appropriate amount of salt and it is ready.

This soup pairs hen with Leigonggen, giving it rich layers of flavor. It can both absorb the oil in the soup and serve to clear heat and drain dampness, detoxify and reduce swelling. In addition, candied dates are added to the soup, making the flavor even more delicious, and its nutritional value is high.