Centella Asiatica: A Brief History
Also known as Gotu Kola, brahmi, and tiger grass, Centella Asiatica is a small leafy green plant native to wetlands in Asia. It has a long history of use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Back in the day, it was prized as a “miracle elixir of life” for its healing and rejuvenating properties.
Traditional uses for centella abound. It was applied to wounds to promote faster healing with less scarring. Taken internally, it was believed to boost longevity and cognitive function. It was used to treat respiratory illnesses, arthritis, anxiety, stomach ulcers, fever, pain, and more.
Today, modern research is unveiling the science behind centella’s benefits. It contains a group of active compounds called triterpenes that reduce inflammation, stimulate collagen production, and encourage new blood vessel formation. Let’s explore the evidence behind this herb’s effects on skin.
The Benefits of Centella Asiatica for Skin
Centella checks a lot of boxes when it comes to desired skin care ingredients. Science shows it can:
Calm Sensitive Skin:
The triterpene compounds madecassoside and asiaticoside have anti-inflammatory and soothing effects. Centella extracts have been found to calm irritation and reduce redness in sensitive and eczema-prone skin. The madecassoside in centella may also suppress inflammation in acne.
Boost Skin Hydration:
Applied topically, centella improves moisture content in the outer skin layers. This helps strengthen the skin barrier to lock in hydration and prevent transepidermal water loss.
Support Wound Healing:
Centella extracts stimulate fibroblasts, collagen production, and new blood vessel formation within wounds. This speeds up healing and tissue regrowth. Centella may also curb excessive inflammation during the healing process.
Fade Scars:
By promoting collagen remodeling, centella improves the appearance of scars over time. The asiaticoside in centella has been shown to decrease scar redness, pliability, and height to improve the texture, color, and overall cosmetic appearance of scars.
Protect from environmental damage:
With high levels of antioxidants like asiatic acid, centella neutralizes skin-damaging free radicals from UV exposure, pollution, and other assaults. This helps prevent collagen degradation.
Preventing UV damage:
Applying centella prior to UV exposure limits inflammatory enzymes that break down collagen. It also reduces the formation of thymine dimers in skin, which cause DNA mutations that can lead to cancer.
Improve Elasticity and Firmness:
Centella stimulates production of collagen, elastin, and other structural proteins in the dermis. This improves elasticity and bounce to keep skin taut, smooth, and firm.
Minimize Fine Lines and Wrinkles:
The boot to collagen levels along with centella’s anti-inflammatory activity helps soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also slows the formation of new wrinkles.
Brighten Skin Tone:
Centella contains antioxidants like quercetin and rutin that inhibit melanin production. Its anti-inflammatory benefits also minimize post-acne marks. This evens out skin tone and creates a brighter complexion.
As you can see, centella asiatica is like a botanical Swiss Army knife for common skin concerns from acne to scarring.
How to Use Centella Asiatica for Best Results
From serums and moisturizers to cleansers and toners, centella is turning up in all kinds of skin care products lately. For best results, keep these tips in mind:
Be patient, as centella’s skin restoring benefits can appear with prolonged use. But the wait is worth it for naturally youthful, healthy skin!
let's get into some DIY ways to use centella at home.
Homemade Centella Skin Care Recipes
One of the coolest things about centella is that you can easily DIY your own skin care products using safe, food-based ingredients. Whip up one of these recipes:
Centella Asiatica Face Toner
Ingredients:
Steep the centella in boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain and let cool. Mix in the hydrosol. Apply to skin with a cotton pad. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Centella Scar Gel
Ingredients:
Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until well blended. Apply on clean skin and gently massage into scars twice daily.
Calming Centella face mask
Ingredients:
Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until well blended. Apply all over your face and neck on clean skin and leave it for 10 minutes. Rinse it off, apply your toner followed by a cream or serum.
Here is the video of the demostration: https://youtu.be/aFgDcHK4sU8
Give Your Skin the Gift of Centella
After centuries out of the spotlight, centella asiatica is having a major moment as the star ingredient in clean, green beauty. And for good reason! Extensive traditional use combined with modern research gives this humble herb some serious efficacy.
Revive your skin care routine by tapping into nature’s ancient wisdom with the help of centella. Feed your skin this botanical superfood and let the benefits begin to unfold. Slowly but surely, you’ll achieve a luminous, resilient, ageless complexion.
