If You Spot This Vegetable at the Market, Buy It Immediately: Cheap but “Miraculously” Effective at Preventing Hair Loss and Boosting New Hair Growth

Hair loss is not merely a cosmetic issue—it can have a profound impact on mental well-being and self-confidence.

Healthline (USA), a leading health publication, has published a list of natural herbs known to help stimulate hair growth. Notably, one familiar and easy-to-find vegetable in Vietnam stands out for both hair care and overall health benefits: gotu kola (Centella asiatica).

Gotu Kola Helps Prevent Hair Loss

According to Dr. Zhang Ti (Trương Thể), Deputy Head of the Dermatology Department at Anhui Provincial Hospital (China), gotu kola contains several important bioactive compounds, including triterpenoids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. These substances possess powerful antioxidant properties that help protect the scalp and hair follicles from oxidative stress—one of the most common causes of hair loss and premature hair aging. As a result, dry, brittle, and split hair can be improved, becoming softer and shinier.

In addition, gotu kola has natural anti-inflammatory effects, helping to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi on the scalp. This reduces itching, seborrheic dermatitis, and other common scalp conditions—indirect factors that weaken hair and accelerate hair loss.

Moreover, nutrients found in gotu kola promote the dilation of scalp capillaries, improving blood circulation. Better blood flow ensures that hair follicles receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients, thereby preventing follicle shrinkage and significantly reducing hair shedding. Some experimental studies also suggest that gotu kola extract can prolong the growth phase of hair follicles, encouraging thicker, stronger hair growth.

How to Use Gotu Kola for Hair Care

1. Add gotu kola to your daily diet

Experts recommend incorporating gotu kola into regular meals to nourish hair from within. A healthy, nutrient-rich diet strengthens hair, reduces breakage, and effectively supports new hair growth.

2. Wash your hair with gotu kola water

Prepare about 50–70g of fresh gotu kola, wash it thoroughly, and boil it with 1 liter of water for 5–10 minutes. Let the water cool slightly, strain out the residue, and dilute if needed before using it to wash your hair. While washing, gently massage the scalp for 5–10 minutes, then rinse with clean water to enhance relaxation and stimulate blood circulation.

3. Use gotu kola as a hair mask

• Gotu kola and aloe vera: Blend fresh gotu kola and mix it with aloe vera gel. Apply evenly from roots to ends and leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing. Use 2–3 times per week for best results.

• Gotu kola and coconut oil: Blend fresh gotu kola with 1–2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Apply the mixture to the scalp and hair, leave it on for 15–30 minutes, then wash thoroughly. This method helps soften hair and reduce dryness.

Other Health Benefits of Gotu Kola

Beyond hair care, gotu kola offers numerous notable health benefits. According to Healthline, this herb may:

• Reduce stress and anxiety: Gotu kola contains triterpenoids that help calm the nervous system and improve mood. A study involving 33 people with anxiety disorders found that taking gotu kola for two months significantly reduced anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms.

• Improve blood circulation: Gotu kola has a positive effect on connective tissue in blood vessel walls, enhancing circulation and helping alleviate symptoms of varicose veins.

• Enhance sleep quality: Clinical observations indicate that gotu kola promotes relaxation and better sleep, especially for individuals under chronic stress.

• Support wound healing: Terpenoid compounds in gotu kola stimulate collagen production, helping wounds heal faster and reducing scar formation.

• Reduce inflammation and joint pain: With its anti-inflammatory properties and collagen-boosting effects, gotu kola can help prevent and alleviate joint inflammation and pain.

Gotu kola is a humble, widely available plant that thrives in moist, shaded areas such as ditches, valleys, and damp soil. Today, it is commonly cultivated as a food ingredient and is very affordable, typically costing only about 15,000–25,000 VND per kilogram. If you come across this familiar vegetable at the market, consider buying it—not only to prepare refreshing dishes but also to naturally care for your hair, helping it grow thicker, stronger, and shinier over time.