Gotu kola for insomnia

by Paul
(Athens, GA, USA)

I was wondering if you know of the herb known in English as Gotu Kola, and if so, whether you recommend its use for the treatment of anxiety/insomnia. Thanks.

Matthew's reply:

Hi Paul, while Gotu Kola is used for stress, relaxation and to promote sleep I can't say if it's the best herb for any one person. This is because Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognizes a number of different causes of anxiety and insomnia and therefore the treatment for each is different. The only way to find out the cause from the TCM viewpoint is to consult face to face with a TCM practitioner.

Sorry if this isn't very helpful right now, but one of the key benefits of TCM is that it regards each of us as a unique individual and therefore tailors treatment precisely to suit each individual - even if two people have insomnia they will receive different TCM treatment because they are not the same physically, mentally or emotionally.

If you have further questions feel free.