![<img src='https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/Centella_asiatica_vital_ly.png' /> Gotu kola](https://images.vital.ly/monographs/tr:w-800,c-at_max,dpr-2,q-100/Centella_asiatica_vital_ly.png)
Gotu kola
Scientific names: Centella asiatica, Hydrocotyle asiatica, Centella coriacea
Family: Apiaceae/Umbelliferae
Alternate names: Asiatic Pennywort, Brahma-Buti, Brahma-Manduki, Brahmi, Bua-Bok, Centella, Centella Asiática, Centella Asiatique, Centellase, Divya, Hydrocotyle, Hydrocotyle Asiatique, Hydrocotyle Indien, Indischer Wassernabel, Idrocotyle, Indian Pennywort, Indian Water Navelwort, Ji Xue Cao, Khulakhudi, Luei Gong Gen, Luo De Da, Madecassol, Mandukaparni, Manduk Parani, Mandukig, Marsh Penny, Pegagan, TECA, TTFCA, Talepetrako, Thick-Leaved Pennywort, Tiger Grass, Tsubo-kusa, Tungchian, White Rot
Actions: Anti-fertility, Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Hepatic, Neurologic/CNS, Wound healing
Background
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is an herb in the parsley family. It has a long history of use in the traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine systems.
Gotu kola contains certain chemicals that seem to decrease swelling and blood pressure. It also seems to increase collagen production, which might be helpful for wound healing.
People use gotu kola for burns and poor circulation that can lead to varicose veins. It is also used for scars, stretch marks, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Gotu kola contains certain chemicals that seem to decrease swelling and blood pressure. It also seems to increase collagen production, which might be helpful for wound healing.
People use gotu kola for burns and poor circulation that can lead to varicose veins. It is also used for scars, stretch marks, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When taken by mouth: Gotu kola extract is possibly safe for most people when taken for up to 12 months. It might cause nausea and stomach pain.
When applied to the skin: Gotu kola is possibly safe when used for up to 10 weeks. It might cause itchiness and redness.
Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if gotu kola is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Liver disease: Gotu kola might cause liver damage. People who already have a liver disease should avoid using gotu kola. It might make liver problems worse.
Surgery: Gotu kola might cause too much sleepiness if combined with medications used during and after surgery. Stop using gotu kola at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
When applied to the skin: Gotu kola is possibly safe when used for up to 10 weeks. It might cause itchiness and redness.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: Gotu kola is possibly safe when applied to the skin during pregnancy. There isn't enough reliable information to know if gotu kola is safe to take by mouth when pregnant. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if gotu kola is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Liver disease: Gotu kola might cause liver damage. People who already have a liver disease should avoid using gotu kola. It might make liver problems worse.
Surgery: Gotu kola might cause too much sleepiness if combined with medications used during and after surgery. Stop using gotu kola at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions
- Burns. Applying gotu kola to second-degree burns seems to decrease the time that it takes for burns to heal.
- Poor circulation that can lead to varicose veins and other conditions (venous insufficiency). Taking gotu kola or a specific extract of gotu kola (Centellase) by mouth for 4-8 weeks seems to improve blood circulation and reduce swelling in people with poor blood circulation in the legs.
Possibly ineffective Effectiveness definitions
- Memory and thinking skills (cognitive function). Taking gotu kola alone or with other ingredients by mouth doesn't seem to improve memory or thinking skills.
- Skin damage caused by radiation therapy (radiation dermatitis). Applying a cream containing gotu kola extract doesn't seem to reduce skin damage caused by radiation treatment for breast cancer.
Dosing & administration
Gotu kola extract has most often been used by adults in doses of 60-450 mg by mouth daily for 4-12 months. It's also used in creams, gels, and ointments. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Medications that can harm the liver (Hepatotoxic drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gotu kola might harm the liver. Some medications can also harm the liver. Taking gotu kola along with a medication that can harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage.
Sedative medications (CNS depressants)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Gotu kola might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Some medications, called sedatives, can also cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking gotu kola with sedative medications might cause breathing problems and/or too much sleepiness.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might harm the liver: Gotu kola might harm the liver. Taking it with other supplements that can also harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage. Examples of supplements with this effect include garcinia, greater celandine, green tea extract, kava, and kratom.
Herbs and supplements with sedative properties: Gotu kola might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking it along with other supplements with similar effects might cause too much sleepiness and/or slowed breathing in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include hops, kava, L-tryptophan, melatonin, and valerian.
Herbs and supplements with sedative properties: Gotu kola might cause sleepiness and slowed breathing. Taking it along with other supplements with similar effects might cause too much sleepiness and/or slowed breathing in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include hops, kava, L-tryptophan, melatonin, and valerian.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
Products
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Practitioner product
Per 8.3 g (Berry & Ginger):
- Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) ext. 150 mg
- Calendula officinalis ext. 200 mg
- Glycine 3 g
- Medicago sativa powder 28.3 mg
- Melissa officinalis ext. 500 mg
- Ginkgo biloba ext. 120 mg
- Chlorella vulgaris powder 5 mg
- Magnesium glycinate 1.05 g equiv. magnesium 105 mg
- Choline bitartrate 281.9 mg equiv. choline 112.5 mg
Practitioner product
Per tablet:
Practitioner product
Practitioner product
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Per 15 mL:
- Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) ext. 16.7 mg
- Echinacea purpurea ext. 21 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. 20 mg
- Gentiana lutea ext. 66.7 µL
- Ilex paraguariensis ext. 66.7 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 100 mg
- Cynara scolymus ext. 41.7 mg
- Echinacea purpurea ext. 23.4 µL
- Ginkgo biloba ext. 6.7 mg
- Glycyrrhiza glabra ext. 62.5 mg
- Smilax ornata ext. 83.3 mg
- Urtica dioica ext. 1 mL
- Zingiber officinale ext. 66.7 µL
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Per 10 g:
- Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) ext. 67 mg
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) 1 g
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder 333 mg
- Wheatgrass powder 333 mg
- Inulin (Dietary fibre) 800 mg
- Lactobacillus acidophilus 5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium bifidum 3 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium lactis 5 billion CFU
- Bifidobacterium longum 1 billion CFU
- Cynara scolymus powder 500 mg
- Hordeum vulgare 200 mg
- Malus (Apple) 200 mg
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf & sprout) powder (Kale) 100 mg
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple) 240 mg
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) 67 mg
- Beta glucan 50 mg
- Resveratrol 10 mg
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple oil) 65 mg
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed) 400 mg
- Oryza sativa (Rice bran) 500 mg
- Pea protein isolate 1 g
- R-alpha lipoic acid 67 mg
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) 400 µg
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) 5.3 mg
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 567 µg
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 434 µg
- Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) 1.7 mg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 0.8 µg
- Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D) 3.8 µg
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) 333 mg
- d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate 100 mg
- Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10) 8 mg
- Copper gluconate 225 µg
- Potassium phosphate dibasic 104 mg
- Folic acid 67 µg
- Biotin 10 µg
- Silica - colloidal anhydrous 14 mg
- Magnesium citrate 42 mg
- Zinc amino acid chelate 10 mg
- Chromium picolinate 10 µg
- Calcium citrate 132 mg
- Manganese amino acid chelate 1.4 mg
- Selenomethionine 30 µg
- Beta-carotene carotenoids (Vitamin A) 1.7 mg
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract 500 mg
- Citric acid anhydrous 150 mg
- Rosmarinus officinalis powder 68 mg
- Taraxacum officinale ext. 33 mg
- Vaccinium myrtillus powder 200 mg
- Glycyrrhiza glabra powder 67 mg
- Crataegus monogyna ext. 29 mg
- Astragalus membranaceus ext. 67 mg
- Vitis vinifera ext. 67 mg
- Camellia sinensis ext. 67 mg
- Ganoderma lucidum powder 21 mg
- Lentinula edodes powder 21 mg
- Aloe barbadensis ext. 500 mg
- Zingiber officinale powder 67 mg
- Eleutherococcus senticosus ext. 1 g
- Withania somnifera ext. 67 mg
- Silybum marianum ext. 67 mg
- Arctium lappa ext. 21 mg
- Rosa canina powder 168 mg
- Lycium barbarum 33 mg
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot) 167 mg
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot) 83 mg
- Carica papaya (Papain) 250 mg
- Lecithin 725 mg
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp) 8 mg
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural pineapple flavour
- Thaumatin
- Stevia rebaubiana
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Xanthan gum
- Brassica oleracea var. italica powder 150 mg
- Malpighia glabra ext. 267 mg
- Theobroma cacao powder 100 mg
1 kg
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Per 30 g (Triple Chocolate):
- Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) powder
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Natural flavours
- Sea mineral complex
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Cinnamomum verum powder
- Glycyrrhiza glabra powder
- Zingiber officinale powder
- Taraxacum officinale powder
- Ginkgo biloba powder
- Eleutherococcus senticosus powder
- Silybum marianum powder
- Capsicum spp. powder
- Syzygium aromaticum powder
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf) ext.
- Ananas comosus (Bromelain)
- Theobroma cacao (Cocoa powder)
- Acacia sp. (gum)
1 kg Triple Chocolate
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Per serve (Loose Leaf):
100 cups Loose Leaf
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Per 10 g:
- Centella asiatica (Gotu kola)
- Pea protein isolate
- Malus (Apple)
- Apple pectin
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed)
- Sunflower lecithin
- Marine algae
- Wheatgrass powder
- Beta vulgaris (root) powder (Beetroot)
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Zingiber officinale
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Cynara scolymus
- Ribes nigrum
- Vitis vinifera
- Malpighia glabra
- Vaccinium myrtillus
- Camellia sinensis
- Rosa canina
- Silybum marianum
- Rhodiola rosea
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Withania somnifera
- Taraxacum officinale
- Lycium chinese (berry)
- Citric acid anhydrous
- Citrus bioflavonoids extract
- R,S-alpha lipoic acid
- Beta glucan
- Ubiquinol-10 (Coenzyme Q10)
- Dunaliella salina
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Potassium phosphate dibasic
- Magnesium citrate
- Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
- Natural vanilla flavour
- Natural pineapple flavour
- Zinc citrate
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Selenomethionine
- D-calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5)
- Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
- Retinyl palmitate
- Cholecalciferol
- Copper gluconate
- Thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Folate
- Chromium picolinate
- Panax ginseng
- Fucus vesiculosus
- Stevia rebaubiana (leaf)
- Phytomenadione (Vitamin K1)
- Biotin
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
- Lentinula edodes (fruiting body)
- Ulmus rubra (bark inner) powder
- Hordeum vulgare
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Theobroma cacao
- Tocopherols concentrate - mixed (Vitamin E)
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Manganese gluconate
- Menaquinone 7 (Vitamin K2)
- Fallopia japonica
- Amylase enzyme
- Protease
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Bacopa monnieri
- Salvia officinalis
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
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Per 9 g:
- Centella asiatica (Gotu kola)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Medicago sativa
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Green banana
- Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30)
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Vaccinium corymbosum
- Malpighia glabra
- Beta vulgaris
- Punica granatum juice dry
- Lycium chinese
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Apple pectin
- Rubus idaeus (berry)
- Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry)
- Hippophae rhamnoides
- Lycopersicon esculentum
- Arctic sea algae
- Sea salt
- Sunflower seed extract
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed)
- Malus (Apple)
- Lepidium meyenii
- Natural flavours
- Silybum marianum
- Equisetum arvense
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Althaea officinalis (root)
- Melissa officinalis
- Taraxacum officinale (leaf)
- Zingiber officinale (root)
- Withania somnifera
- Aloe barbadensis (leaf)
- Panax ginseng
- Pumpkin powder
- Sweet potato powder
- Sunflower seed
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Grifola frondosa (mushroom)
- Lentinula edodes (mushroom)
- Myrciaria dubia (fruit) powder (Camu Camu)
- Protease
- Amylase enzyme
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Mesquite (pod) powder
- Thaumatin
- Prunus salicina (Queen Garnet plum)
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder
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Per 11 g:
- Centella asiatica (Gotu kola)
- Golden pea protein (sprout) bio-fermented
- Medicago sativa
- Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina)
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Chlorella vulgaris
- Brassica oleracea var. italica
- Spinacia oleracea
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Vaccinium corymbosum
- Fragaria ananassa (Strawberry)
- Euterpe oleracea (berry) ext. (Acai)
- Rubus idaeus
- Punica granatum
- Beta vulgaris
- Lycium barbarum
- Malpighia glabra
- Hippophae rhamnoides
- Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
- Natural flavours
- Inulin (Dietary fibre)
- Apple pectin
- Green banana starch
- Bacillus coagulans (GBI-30)
- Arctic sea algae
- Sea salt
- Linum usitatissimum (seed) (Flaxseed)
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Sunflower seed extract
- Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
- Malus (Apple)
- Lepidium meyenii
- Silybum marianum
- Glycyrrhiza spp. (root)
- Althaea officinalis (root)
- Melissa officinalis
- Taraxacum officinale (leaf)
- Zingiber officinale (root)
- Aloe barbadensis (leaf)
- Panax ginseng
- Pumpkin powder
- Sweet potato powder
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Grifola frondosa
- Lentinula edodes
- Myrciaria dubia (fruit) powder (Camu Camu)
- Protease
- Amylase enzyme
- Lipase
- Cellulase
- Lactase
- Mesquite (pod) powder
- Thaumatin
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