After spending last 2 weeks in Asia, I’ve added a new practice to my daily routine – “Brahmi” (Gotu Kola) shots. It’s like yogi happy hour - we toast to the health benefits of this bitter, dirty, spicy, grassy flavored herb! Why would I put myself through this routine if it makes me shake my head and squinch my face after downing a shot of this green elixir?
The ancient Chinese texts tell of an herb to increase longevity. The Daoist Master and herbalist Li Ching-Yue reportedly lived to the ripe old age of 256! Along with other practices, he took Gotu Kola (Brahmi) daily.
The Indian text, Sushruta Samhita, penned over 2,000 years ago, lists a plant, whose leaf is shaped curiously like a human brain. It improves cognitive function, increases intelligence and concentration, repairs and restores nerve function, increases collagen, restores digestion, heals wounds, improves circulation, and as a side benefit, supports enlightenment.
WebMD and dry scholarly articles agree with its benefits and safety, so it sounds too good to be true!
Our yoga resort in Thailand had fresh Gotu Kola at the juice bar, a luxury I hadn’t been expecting. My Ayurveda Teacher recommended a daily dose for healthier skin, a calmer mind, and increased longevity. I'm glad I tried it!
A modern day yogi enjoys a daily practice of meditation, and works to follow ayurvedic guidelines… but life happens, schedules are busy, and it’s easy to get wrapped up in social drama that makes our minds spin – stopping this spinning is the goal of yoga, according to the Yoga Sutra.
Yoga Sutra 1.2 loosely translated says: Get calm. Stay calm. Master your mind, then experience a state beyond time, space and causation; the source of your greatest potential - unify yourself with That.
OK, so how do we get calm, much less stay calm these days?
Yogarupa Rod Stryker says "Just Practice". OK, practice always helps, but there's more to the science of living - it's simple, but not easy, but there is safe*, effective herbal support.
So consider adding the SuperHerb Brahmi / Gota Kola - applauded by Ayurveda and Chinese medicine alike as the most pure and beneficial remedy to repair and balance the human condition, to fight the common cold and flu, improve circulation and immunity, heal skin issues, improve digestion, and increase your mental calm and capacity. Having all of this makes the rest of life so much easier.
~Check with your Ayurveda Counselor to put this in your goodie bag: Brahmi powder (in milk or as a tea according to your constitution), Brahmi capsules or tincture for on-the-go yogis, Brahmi in coconut oil to the top of your head and soles of your feet at bedtime. Trusted sources include Banyon Botanical and Organic India.
*Herbs are not a replacement for your current prescribed medications or your doctors recomendations, do not take if you are pregnant or breast feeding, and keep your doctor informed of any new regimes. For any new herbal product it is recommended to start off slowly, never exceeding recommended dosage, and work up to higher dosages as you become familiar with its unique effects on your body and mind. It is found that Gotu Kola taken according to recommended dosage is safe to take long term, but many practitioners suggest taking 3-7 days break in between periods of extended use.
Enjoy this medical article on the benefits and risks of gota kola
And see what WebMD has to say about it as well.