Tiger grass | What's that?
Tiger grass (Centella asiatica) – also known as gotu kola, or Indian or Asiatic pennywort – grows in tropical climates around the world. It prefers riverbanks and swampy areas where there is semi-shade and moist or marshy ground rich in humus and nutrients.
If the conditions are right, this ground-covering creeping plant with mottled white or pink flowers can also grow at European latitudes. The active substances it contains, such as essential oils, amino acids, fatty acids and mineral salts, protect the skin and have an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.
Tiger grass has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to treat skin conditions, ulcers and mental disorders. Known as an ‘elixir for longevity’, it also promotes the skin’s natural regeneration process, helping to keep skin firm and young.
This is thanks to substances that boost the skin’s production of collagen and the generation of new blood vessels. Eczema and sore or burned skin can also benefit from the healing powers of tiger grass. In addition, it gives pallid skin a fresh glow.