This herb has an interesting history, and has been used in herbal medicine for ages, yet Centella is a relative newcomer to skin care cosmetics. It is an excellent ingredient to include in skin care creams and lotions, as it has a pronounced effect on the health of the skin. General Apart from the beauty use of Centella asiatica, it is also of great help when used on post-operation and trauma scars, as it promotes healing, yet helps to prevent the formation of excess scar tissue. Its historic use was in the healing of leprosy wounds, as well asulcerated skin, wounds, burns and ulcers. Research has shown that asiaticoside can also help provide treatment for leprosy and skin tuberculosis, as the bacteria are coated in a wax-like substance that the body's immune system can not penetrate, but this waxy coating is dissolved by centella, thereby allowing the body's immune system to destroy the bacteria. Centella asiatica extract is an extract of the leaves and roots of the Hydrocotyle Centella asiatica. It is classed as a biological product and is used as a miscellaneous skin-conditioning agent. It is also known as extract of hydrocotyle, Fo-ti-tieng extract, gotu kola extract, hydrocotyl extract, hydrocotyle asiatica extract, Asiatic pennywort, Indian pennywort, hydrocotyle, Mandukaparni (Hindi), luei gong gen (Chinese) and is an aromatic creeping perennial that is indigenous to both tropical and subtropical areas and is found in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and South Africa. The word "gotu kola" means "cup-shaped leaf" in Singhalese - the language of Sri Lanka. Gotu kola is NOT related to cola or kola nut and contains no caffeine. It is such a magnificent herbal ingredient that it is used as one of our "signature" ingredients, and used in almost every product, as it has a positive effect on nearly any type of skin and skin condition.