Asian centella: get to know this important ally for your beauty and health

Centella asiatica is an ancient herb found in South Asia and Australia that helps to reduce measurements and brings a series of aesthetic benefits and, therefore, has drawn the attention of many people to its use.

It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and also in India. There are reports of use of this herb in eastern countries for over 2000 years, showing that its medicinal, therapeutic and cosmetic use is not known today.

The consumption of Asian centella can bring a series of benefits to your body and your beauty, increasing your well-being and self-esteem!

Curious and want to know more about this plant? Check out the full list of benefits, forms of consumption, as well as warnings about the use of this herb below.

Health benefits of centella

According to nutritionist Regina Moraes Teixeira, specialist in functional nutrition and phytotherapy, the active ingredient contained in the herb helps in vascularization and also in strengthening the veins, helping to prevent and relieve varicose veins and hemorrhoids, in addition to strengthening the immune system.

And the benefits are not just physical! Its use also helps to reduce anxiety, one of the great villains of recent years, in addition to allowing an improvement in brain functions, especially important for those who are entering old age.

The nutritionist also emphasizes the role in increasing the production of collagen, an essential substance for the woman’s body, and in the delay of premature aging.

Centella asiatica and its cosmetic use

The advantages of its consumption go beyond health, also helping to make you more beautiful and more confident with yourself.

Dermatologist Carlos Eduardo Fonseca Parenti, member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) points out several aesthetic benefits derived from its active principles (pentacyclic triterpenes, asiatic acid and asatoside, among others), which help in the “treatment of scars in general, burns, cellulitis and stretch marks, psoriasis and scleroderma (an autoimmune connective tissue disease) and photoaging”.

That is, if you want to soften the effect of these uncomfortable marks, you can invest in the use of Asian centella for this purpose.

And as pointed out by Regina, there is an increase in collagen production. According to the dermatologist, this increase occurs due to a stimulus for the fibroblast to produce healthy collagen. This substance helps to improve muscle tone, reducing sagging and dry skin.

forms of use

Centella asiatica can be found in several ways to be consumed. The most common of them is in capsules, but there are also versions in spray, ointment, gel or cream.

If you are going to ingest it, the ideal consumption, according to nutritionist Regina, is from 20mg to 60mg, 3 doses a day, always taking care not to exceed the maximum intake of 600mg daily. Otherwise, it can cause toxicity in the body and harm the liver and nervous system.

According to Carlos Eduardo, there is still no consensus on what is the best way to use it in case of topical use (directly on the skin), that is, you can use any of the available ones, following the guidance of your doctor.

Side effects

Despite being a natural substance, the use of centella asiatica can cause side effects for the body in some cases, especially if ingested in doses above normal. Although these situations are rare, you need to be careful.

According to dermatologist Carlos Eduardo few cases of jaundice, accumulation of bilirubin, leaving the skin and eyes yellow. There are still occasional cases of nausea and headache.

Contraindications

Likewise, there are also contraindications to the use of the herb. According to Regina, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use centella asiatica.

People with liver problems, ulcers, gastritis and kidney problems should also avoid consuming the substance, as they can overload these organs and worsen the existing condition.

The nutritionist ends by warning about the importance of consulting a health professional before starting to consume the Asian centella so that it can be evaluated if it really is the most suitable treatment for the intended purpose.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.