Centella Asiatica in Antiaging Medicine

Author: Dr. Ignazio Sapuppo

A very efficient phytotherapy remedy against a tendency to water retention and to develop early stages of the so-called “cellulitis” is Centella asiatica, a plant belonging to the umbelliferae family which is native to India and Pakistan and which derives its name from the Sinhalese “Gotu Kola”, which means herb of longevity.

Its leaves contain high amounts of flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol), phytosterols and, above all, triterpene saponins, among which: asiaticoside, madecassoside, centelloside, brahmoside, and brahminoside.

The aglycans it contains are mainly Asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Centella asiatica is a herb suited for drainage and, therefore, its use in the prevention and treatment of cellulitis is very important, as it drains connective tissues, activates microcirculation and improves the tone of blood vessels. Moreover, this herb promotes the synthesis of collagen, thus improving blood vessel retention and circulation in the lower limbs, and thereby preventing water retention and peripheral oedema.

Centella asiatica is used in therapy for its diuretic, peripheral vasodilator, tonic, anti-rheumatic, cicatrizing, and healing properties for skin diseases like dermatitis and psoriasis.

In India, this herb is used to improve memory, thanks to its tonic effect on the brain. Scientific studies and clinical evidence have shown that when centella asiatica is prescribed to treat cellulitis (at a dose of at least 300 mg per day), an improvement in drainage, a stimulation of diuresis and an improvement in peripheral circulation is observed, with a reduction in blood vessel permeability and, therefore, a decrease in the formation of the exudates in tissues that cause the sponge-like appearance typical of cellulitis.

Centella asiatica can be administered as an infusion, as a fluid or dry extract titrated in oral preparations, or as gels or creams that can be locally applied to improve the tone of blood vessels. No relevant side or toxic effects are known, although, for precaution, it is not recommended to take Centella asiatica while pregnant, or to expose to sunlight after applying its active principles on the skin.

In conclusion, prescribed treatment with Centella and other natural extracts (birch sap, black blueberries, ivy, red vine leaves, root of ruscus aculeatus, known as butcher's-broom, and ginkgo biloba) helps against both swollen and heavy legs and the progress of cellulitis.