Centella asiatica Complex Health Tea: Opportunities and Challenges in the Development of a Commercial Product Based on Indigenous Knowledge

Centella asiatica (commonly known as gotu kola, the Chinese name is Jixuecao) has a long history of application and is widely used in many countries. Ethnobotanical fieldwork with Buyi villagers in Guizhou Province, China revealed that Centella asiatica is one of the most frequently consumed herbal teas. This paper reports on the nutritional value of Centella asiatica and some preparation methods for a new complex health care tea that we developed with it. The main objective of this short case study is to reflect on the social and ethical implications of developing a commercial tea product based on traditional ethnobotanical knowledge.