Although more and more cosmetics companies are offering natural beauty products made from herbs and other organic ingredients, few have yet incorporated one of the most powerful beauty boosting herbs: pegaga (centilla aesthetica).

Known throughout Asia as “Miracle Hero of the Rainforest”, pegaga is a member of the parsley family and grows wild alongside ordinary grass. About the size of a thumbnail, its clover-like leaves are inconspicuous; but this belies their true capabilities. When used topically or orally, pegaga leaves possess several qualities that cause a chain of beneficial effects in the body.

For example, Paul Penders’ Pegaga Scalp Cleansing Treatment offers both antiseptic and antibacterial action that deep cleans the scalp in a way that is not possible from shampoo alone. This is important, since even small buildups of dirt and bacteria on the head can affect the health and appearance of the hair, causing it to loose luster and vitality. In the worst cases, excessive buildups of debris on the scalp can result in itching and flaking.
Pegaga also increases blood circulation to the scalp, thereby stimulating hair growth.

This ability to boost blood circulation has earned pegaga a place in LevensESSENTIE Gold, the proprietary blend of 22 herbs that is contained in all Paul Penders skin care and make up products. When applied to the skin in the form of cleanser, toner, moisturizer or other topical products, pegaga increases blood flow to the area, promoting cellular renewal and healing. This, in turn, results in fresher, healthier skin. Pegaga is also believed to help promote collagen production, leading to firmer, more toned skin.

Dr. Abdul Ghani, a Langkawi-based medical practitioner and researcher in Malay and Arab medical manuscripts, notes that many people in Asia also drink pegaga juice as a means to boost their mental and physical wellbeing. Although clinical studies have not been conducted to verify its effects, people taking pegaga, he says, claim to experience improved memory and better health.

Langkawi, a group of 99 islands located off the coast of Malaysia which recently achieved Geopark status in 2007 due to its unique flora and fauna, is a major source of the world’s pegaga along with India and China.

A rich source of vitamin K, magnesium and calcium, pegaga has been used in traditional Malay medicine for thousands of years to address a variety of ills. Pegaga helps alleviate fatigue and reduces the effects of depression and insomnia. Because it increases brain function, the herb improves memory and concentration. Pegaga also improves circulation, strengthening veins and capillaries, reducing vascular inflammation, improving wound healing, and supporting the heart, liver and kidneys. It is also used to relieve the symptoms of colds and respiratory problems, strengthen the immune system, and treat leprosy.

Indian ayurvedic medicine, a centuries-old practice that is based upon traditional methods of healing, also makes use of pegaga. In tablet form, the herb is used to address eye problems. These and another applications give pegaga one of the broadest spectrums of use of all herbal remedies and the World Health Organization has therefore classified pegaga as one of the most important plant species in the world.

Like coenzyme Q10 and various proprietary vitamin blends, such as Olay vitamins, pegaga tablets may be taken to achieve both health and beauty benefits. Several vendors, including Paul Penders, currently sell pegaga capsules for this purpose on the Internet. The capsules contain dried pegaga leaves in powder form, with each representing the equivalent of a handful of fresh pegaga.

Like other nutritional supplements, however, pegaga has not been subject to rigorous clinical testing so vendors are limited in the claims they can make about the benefits of pegaga products. While it may initially appear that the solution to this problem would be for pegaga sellers to simply conduct such studies, in practice this is prohibitively expensive for all but the largest manufacturers, since clinical trials typically cost many millions of dollars and take several years to complete. Therefore, pegaga is likely to remain one of the best kept beauty secrets, at least through the foreseeable future.

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