Can you take gotu kola with medication?
Taking gotu kola with any medicines that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your healthcare provider before taking gotu kola with medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures. Gotu kola can harm your liver. This effect is increased when you also use other medicines harmful to the liver. People with liver disease, or who take medications that affect the liver, should not take gotu kola. Ask your doctor if you take any prescription medications, or often take over-the-counter pain relievers. If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant it is best to avoid Gotu Kola.Potential side effects and risks Gotu kola is generally well tolerated. In some cases, it can cause headache, upset stomach, and dizziness. Starting with a low dose and gradually working up to a full dose can help reduce your risk of side effects. You should only take gotu kola for two to six weeks at a time.Gotu kola hepatotoxicity is generally self-limited and only mild-to-moderate in severity. Appearance of clinically evident liver injury developing during therapy should lead to prompt withdrawal of the herbal product.
What not to mix with gotu kola?
Gotu kola may raise cholesterol levels and should not be combined with cholesterol-lowering medications such as Lipitor, Lopid, Mevacor, niacin, or Zocor. It is not known if the sedative effects of gotu kola are synergistic with those of other agents that promote sleep or reduce anxiety. It would be best not to mix C. Enhanced Mood and Mental Clarity: By supporting the balance of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, gotu kola promotes a stable mood, making it an excellent herb for those who struggle with irritability or low mood.Many herbalists often mislabel gotu kola as brahmi but the plants are totally different. Gotu kola is Centella asiatica whereas brahmi is Bacopa monnieri. The comparative phytochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic properties of these two herbs are also distinct.Brahmi is ideal for memory and learning, while Gotu Kola improves focus through better brain blood flow. Brahmi helps with anxiety and mood balance; Gotu Kola lifts mental fatigue with adaptogenic effects. Brahmi reduces inflammation, while Gotu Kola aids wound healing and improves skin elasticity.
Will gotu kola keep you awake?
Gotu Kola isn’t specifically an herb that will make you sleep, but if stress is generally keeping you up the anti-anxiety benefits could certainly help you rest more easily. One study also found that Gotu Kola is able to help reduce the impact of sleep deprivation! Reduce Anxiety Some studies show that gotu kola may have a relaxing or anti-anxiety effect. In a 2016 study, researchers found that gotu kola reduced anxiety-induced behavior in mice that were sleep-deprived for 72 hours. While this research is still preliminary, it shows some promise in relieving stress and anxiety.Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with Gotu Kola. Gotu kola might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking gotu kola with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.