This vegetable helps to cool the body, detoxify, prevent infections, combat toxicity, and promote urination. However, to consume it safely, you should pay attention to the following points.
The Collagen-Rich Vegetable that Vietnamese People are Overlooking!
In home gardens, there is a type of vegetable that often grows in tiny clusters, thriving in moist areas; this is Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola). Many people mistake it for a weed and have not yet realized its potential, while in reality, this vegetable is sold at prices 2-3 times higher than regular vegetables. Its nutritional components are also quite remarkable.
According to modern medical research, the components of Centella Asiatica (in %) are as follows: Water 88.2; Protein 3.2; Glucid 1.8; Cellulose 4.5; Total minerals 2.3. In 100g of Centella Asiatica, it provides 21 calories.
Centella Asiatica contains numerous rare phytonutrients.
Additionally, many studies have shown that extracts from Centella Asiatica can activate cell division and stimulate collagen synthesis in connective tissues. It helps heal wounds and keeps the skin looking youthful, which is why Centella Asiatica is a key ingredient in many skincare products that reduce aging and promote a radiant complexion.
Surprising Benefits of Centella Asiatica
Centella Asiatica is rich in rare phytonutrients. In an interview, Dr. Huỳnh Tấn Vũ, a specialist in Traditional Medicine at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, noted that according to ancient texts such as the “Bản thảo cương mục” and “Dược tính luận”, Centella Asiatica has a bitter taste and a cool nature.
Its benefits include cooling the body, reducing dampness, treating swelling (swelling is a condition of fluid retention in the body), detoxifying, and treating summer-related diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice due to damp heat, urinary stones, burns, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), hematemesis (vomiting blood), conjunctivitis, allergies, etc.
Through experimental studies on white rats and laboratory rats, scientists found that Centella Asiatica has a calming and sedative effect through its direct action on the central nervous system.
Moreover, it also has the ability to heal wounds on the skin and mucous membranes due to its saponin content. This compound stimulates skin cell growth, helping tissues regenerate rapidly and promoting faster wound healing.
On the other hand, Centella Asiatica has significant antibacterial effects, reduces smooth muscle tension in the intestines (anti-spasmodic), mildly stimulates respiration, and lowers blood pressure. Clinically, researchers also noted that consuming dried Centella Asiatica powder three times a day, at 5-7 grams each time, provides good pain relief.
How to Prepare Centella Asiatica for Delicious and Healing Dishes
According to general practitioner Bùi Đắc Sáng (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi Oriental Medicine Association): In Traditional Medicine, Centella Asiatica has a bitter and slightly sweet taste, with a cooling nature. It serves various medicinal purposes, including cooling the body, detoxification, infection prevention, combating toxicity, and promoting urination. From Centella Asiatica, we can prepare many dishes and remedies as follows.
1. Nutritious Drink or Smoothie
Preparation: Use clean Centella Asiatica, blend to extract juice, and mix it with coconut water. Drinking this mixture will provide benefits.
2. Heat Relief, Treating Fever, Skin Irritations, and Boils
Preparation: Pound Centella Asiatica to extract juice for drinking and apply externally.
Centella Asiatica Soup with Dried Shrimp.
3. Treating Gastrointestinal Discomfort and Lower Abdominal Pain
Preparation: Use a handful of Centella Asiatica, decoct it, and drink.
4. Treating Colds, Thirst, Headaches, Skin Heat, and Allergic Rashes
Preparation: Prepare a handful of Centella Asiatica, a handful of Portulaca oleracea, and 30g of cassava starch. Pound them, add boiling water, strain, and drink or decoct.
5. Detoxification (from toxic mushrooms, arsenic, etc.)
Preparation: Pound 250g of Centella Asiatica and 250g of water spinach, mix with boiling water, strain, and drink.
6. Treating Gum Bleeding, Nosebleeds, Hemoptysis, Hematuria, etc.
Preparation: Take 30g of Centella Asiatica, 15g of Eclipta prostrata, and 15g of Cupressus funebris, roast them, and decoct as medicine.
7. Treating Cough, Painful Urination, Frequent Urination
Preparation: Take a handful of fresh Centella Asiatica. Pound to extract fresh juice for drinking or decoct.
Centella Asiatica Juice.
8. Treating Vaginal Discharge and Menstrual Cramps
Preparation: Use dried Centella Asiatica, powder it, and take 2 teaspoons each morning.
9. Promoting Lactation
Preparation: Eat fresh Centella Asiatica, or boil it to consume the water.
10. Making Cream for Slow Healing Wounds
Preparation: Use Centella Asiatica to make a cream for external application.
Important Considerations When Using Centella Asiatica for Food or Medicine
Dear Practitioner Bùi Đắc Sáng, Centella Asiatica is widely used in daily life, but is it safe to consume in large quantities?
Practitioner Bùi Đắc Sáng: Centella Asiatica is not entirely benign. If consumed excessively, it can cause unpredictable health effects. Overconsumption can lead to increased blood sugar levels, which is very dangerous, as it can also raise cholesterol levels, leading to various diseases. Particularly, people with diabetes should avoid consuming large amounts of Centella Asiatica.
Recent studies have indicated that excessive consumption of Centella Asiatica juice for cooling purposes may result in headaches or even transient loss of consciousness. Therefore, it should not be overused.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid Centella Asiatica as its compounds may lead to miscarriage, which is extremely dangerous.
Although Centella Asiatica has certain beauty benefits for women, prolonged use can reduce fertility. Therefore, women wishing to conceive should limit their intake of Centella Asiatica juice.
General Practitioner Bùi Đắc Sáng (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi Oriental Medicine Association)
So what is the recommended daily dosage of Centella Asiatica?
Practitioner Bùi Đắc Sáng: To date, no research has precisely determined the amount of Centella Asiatica that can cause illness, but clearly, anything in excess is not good. A healthy person can consume one cup of Centella Asiatica, approximately 40g, daily. It is important not to use it continuously for more than a month. If you wish to continue, it is advisable to take a break for half a month before using it again.
There are claims that Centella Asiatica has strong detoxifying properties, and that drinking Centella Asiatica juice daily can help eliminate toxins, combat viruses, including treatment for Covid-19 and prevention of blood clot complications caused by Covid-19. Is this credible?
Practitioner Bùi Đắc Sáng: Centella Asiatica is a traditional herbal remedy. It has a bitter taste, a slight sweetness, and a cooling nature. It serves to cool the body, detoxify, prevent infections, combat toxicity, and promote urination. In Traditional Medicine, Centella Asiatica generally has a cooling property, but using it solely to treat Covid-19 or to reduce blood clot risk is very difficult. Covid-19 presents various symptoms, and each patient may experience different disease progression. Furthermore, Traditional Medicine prescriptions require the precise combination of multiple herbs. Therefore, using Centella Asiatica alone to treat Covid-19 lacks scientific basis.
It is also important to note that Centella Asiatica is considered both a functional food and a medicinal herb, so it should be used with appropriate dosages. Its cooling nature can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort, so excessive consumption may lead to diarrhea. Those with health issues should consume Centella Asiatica under professional advice.
Additionally, drinking fresh Centella Asiatica juice can cause digestive disturbances or poisoning if not properly sanitized, or if the Centella Asiatica contains pesticides; everyone should be cautious about this.
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