yourolddog-logo-YOD.png
gotu kola for dogs
Facebook
Twitter
Email
WhatsApp

Gotu Kola for Dogs and It’s Benefits

In the herbal world, there are many herbs that offer tremendous support for both people and animals. Gotu kola for dogs is one of them.

Natives of Sri Lanka would notice elephants nibbling on the herb’s leaves throughout the day and it’s believed this herb can help with longevity. 

When Should You Use Gotu Kola?

Gotu kola has several applications in traditional medicine. It is used to treat minor wounds and various disorders, plus it has been noted to stimulate lactation. There has been some testing done in humans related to the “startle response,” a key facet of anxiety, and the use of Gotu kola versus a placebo. The test revealed that those who took Gotu kola had a significantly reduced startle response to loud noises.

What this means for your four-legged friend is encouraging. The calming agents of Gotu kola help dogs that are easily disconcerted, plus the other applications for supporting collagen and the digestive system make it a remarkably useful herbal option. It can be used to help treat arthritis and other ache-related conditions as well.

There are several exciting uses for Gotu kola, but the most exciting prospect is its capacity to support existing collagen and promoting the synthesis of new collagen. This is due to chemical compounds known as triterpenes, which are produced by all plants, animals, and fungi and are reportedly the predecessor of all steroids.

Learn more below.

Gotu Kola Benefits  

  • Strengthen Tissues and Blood Vessels: It’s thought of as a pure blood tonic and the triterpenes of Gotu kola evidently support the production of collagen and the fusion of collagen in the skin and vein walls. For dogs, this can help strengthen tissues and blood vessels. This, in turn, helps treat stress and improve circulation while improving the dog’s ability to heal wounds and recover. (https://www.srikotamedical.com/) Gotu kola provides support to the epithelial cells inside the veins.
  • Outstanding Rejuvenator: In Ayurvedic Medicine, Gotu kola is regarded as one of the best herbs for cleansing the immune system and strengthening the adrenal glands as well. Medicine. Sri Lankans noticed that elephants, renowned for their longevity, munched on the leaves of the plant. Thus the leaves became known as a promoter of long life. It is said to fortify the immune system, both cleansing and feeding it and to strengthen the adrenals. It has been used as a pure blood tonic and for skin health. It has also been used to promote restful sleep. Gotu kola is often confused with kola nut.
  • A Calming Agent: Gotu kola has been known to stimulate the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase, which creates the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid. This alleviates jumpiness in the nervous system. By stimulating glutamate decarboxylase, Gotu kola helps calm the brain and assuages edginess and irritability at the source. This, in turn, can be a boon for those with jittery pets.
  • Help Ease Arthritis Symptoms: Gotu kola is an excellent herb for easing the symptoms of arthritis. Treating this inflammatory disease is often difficult for dog owners because of the vast nature of symptoms, but Gotu kola’s role in healing tendons and ligaments can’t be discounted. This herb stimulates the synthesis of collagen, as mentioned, and thusly creates a system of healing when combined with treatments like comfrey and ginger.

How to Feed Your Dog Gotu Kola

There are several ways include this wonderful herb into your dog’s regimen. You can make a tea, use the natural leaves (if you notice dermatitis appearing when you use the natural leaves, move to another method), use a powder or capsules.

Our article here on how to use and dose herbs will guide you through the process. Here’s a recipe to make a simple tea and again use our guide for tea dosage based upon your dog’s weight. 

  • Gotu Kola Tea Recipe for Dogs: Simply dry and crush leaves of the Gotu kola plant and steep them in a cup of boiling water. An effective dosage is one to two teaspoons of the crushed herb. The mixture should be allowed to cool before use, of course. This medicinal tea is easy to make and use.

Preventative Measures/Side Effects

As is often the case with herbal medicine, the amount of high-profile medical research is minimal. But there are indications that contact dermatitis can occur with topical contact with either fresh or dried parts of the plant. Large doses of Gotu kola for dogs can have a sedative effect in smaller animals, so ensure you follow the correct quantity.

Gotu kola should, like many herbs, be avoided by pregnant or nursing dogs. This is because Gotu kola dosage for dogs can stimulate and/or increase menstrual flow to a hazardous degree. Brahmi Gotu kola side effects are Gotu kola may also interact negatively with certain drugs, like sucralfates and antiepileptics.

Reasons to Use Gotu Kola for Dogs

Gotu kola for dogs is a fascinating herbal treatment for conditions like arthritis. Its effect regarding stimulating collagen growth ensures it lessens pain and constructs a complete system of healing pain and inflammation.

There are some noted side effects related to topical application and large doses should be avoided, but for the most part, Gotu kola is a plant we heartily recommend.

History of Gotu Kola

Also known as centella or Brahmi, Gotu kola is a perennial plant and member of the celery, carrot or parsley family. Native to the wetlands of Asia, Gotu kola is noted for its use in medicine and as a vegetable.

The plant is aquatic and therefore sensitive to chemicals or contaminants in water, which means they should be cultivated in drier soil in a home garden. 

The leaves of this plant are known as “the promotor of life” due to the elephants attraction to the herb and their own longevity.

References: Herbs for Pets by M.L. Wulff-Tilford and G.L. Tilford, Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats by CJ Puotinen

yourolddog-logo-white-4up
Search