Re: gota kola--an herb of help to diabetics and for nerve damage and several other things from breast cancer to memory and concentration

hmm well although Bacopa Monniera seems like a good herb, you have to remember that this will decrease the amount of gota kola you are getting.

the best way to take an herb is always making an tincture as the alcohol menstrum extracts more of the healing phytochemicals while a tea will only extract of some types of phytochemicals/phytonutrients but not as many types as the alcohol.  the menstrum (vodka) makes digestability far superior as it goes directly to the bloodstream bypassing digestion which is good particularly of one has digestive problems.

Teas are 2nd best but taking herbs in capsules is the least effective as they are rarely absorbed and also can be burned in the powdering process.

Since gota kola is so cheap I would get more buy cut and sifted organic and make a tincture from it for optimal absorption.

Although if you never made a tincture it may should difficult it is super easy in practice..it just involves mixing the herbs with the vodka and making it when done and settled 50-75% herbs and 25-50% liquid by adding either more vodka or herbs as needed.

Once you have that done, you just shake it a few times a day and then strain it. It will last you a long time. I save up to 90% of the cost of tinctures by making my own. If an herb needs to be powdered you are better off doing it yourself.  You can also buy a ready made gota kola organic tincture for about 10 dollars. I  like herbpharm for good herb tinctures. But making it yourself it can be stronger than even good store bought.

Once it is done it is super easy to take just squirt a few dropperfuls in your mouth. Nothing could be simpler.

This way you are getting the real benefit while the powder done in yogurt is not going to give you the best chance of healing.

you can go ahead and take the herb as you are as long as you make a straight tincture as I suggested to be getting the prime delivery of the herb with the least lose of vital elements.

since the gota kola in the powered form may be less strong, it would not worry too much about taking too much.

Try taking 1-2 doses of it as is and 3 or 4 of the herb tincture..there are a few cautions but generally this herb is safe..knowing the side effects can help you know what to look for.

If you are afraid to do that then take 1 dose of what you have and 2 of the gota kola tincture which should be quite safe but I feel you could take more. It is up to you

here is one site on the cautions

http://www.all4naturalhealth.com/gotu-kola-side-effects.html

To increase absorbability on any herb take it with cayenne tincture (or tea) as cayenne is a catalyst herb that makes anything it is taken with more potent and gets it to where it needs to go.

they did a study on ginkgo and found maybe something like 35% of the people with senility improved but when taken with cayenne it jumped to like 94% improvement or something like that so you see this can really be a missing ingredients to taking herbs.

But never to rarely take herbs in capsules..tinctures I feel are best as does Dr Richard Schulze.

But I would guess something is better than nothing but I think it would be worth your while to get a few ounces and make some tinctures..these will also last far longer than powder--say 1 year compared to 50 years or so

Also Victoria Boutenko says if taking green smoothies it is not a good idea to add anything but the water and produce not powders etc...but it is up to you of course..just passing on what I feel would give you the best results.

what are you using it for?