Botanical Index No. 465

Gotu Kola

centella asiatica

Medicinal Actions

Elephantiasis, Antiedemic, Antiinflammatory, Anticonvulsant, Anxiolytic, Sedative, Antiobesity, CNS-depressant

Primary Conditions Treated

Abscess Acne Adenopathy Albinism Allergy Alopecia Ameba Amenorrhea Amnesia Anemia Anorexia Anxiety Arthrosis Asthma Bacteria Biliousness Blood Disorder Boil Bronchosis Bruise Burn Calculus Callus Cancer abdomen colon uterus Cataract Catarrh Cellulite Cholera Cirrhosis Constipation Convulsion Cough Cramp Cut CVI Dehydration Dementia Depression Dermatosis Diarrhea Dizziness Dropsy Dysentery Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Earache Eczema Abdomen cancer Colon cancer Edema Encephalosis Epilepsy Epistaxis Failing Memory Fatigue Fever Fracture Fungus Furunculosis Gonorrhea Headache Hematemesis Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Hiccup High Blood Pressure Hydrocele Hysteria Immunodepression Induration Infection Inflammation Insanity Insomnia Itch Jaundice Keloids Leprosy Leukoderma Leukorrhea Liver Longevity Lung Lupus Lymphatic Insufficiency Malaria Measles Miscarriage Mycosis Nephrosis Nervousness Neuralgia Neurosis Ophthalmia Pain Pleurosis Psoriasis Rheumatism Rib Ache Scabies Scar Schizophrenia Scleroderma Scrofula Skin Disease Smallpox Snakebite Sore Spasm Splenomegaly Sprain Stomachache Stress Striae gravidarum Stutter Swelling Syphilis Thirst Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor Ulcer Ulcus cruris Urethrosis Urinary Discharge Uterosis Uterus cancer Varicosis VD Virus Water Retention Wound Promote healing Keratinization stimulation Preventing or alleviating varicose veins

General Dosage

0.5–1 tsp herb/cup water 2–3 ×/day; 0.6 g herb, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 1–2 tsp dry herb/cup water 2–3 ×/day; 0.5–1.5 g powdered herb; 2–4 g crude leaf/day; 0.25 cup fresh leaf; 6 g dry leaf; 6 g dry leaf:30 ml alcohol/30 ml water; 600 mg powdered leaf/day; 0.5–1 dropper 2–3 ×/day; 2–4 ml liquid extract; 12–20 ml infusion; 10–20 ml tincture 3 ×/day; 330–680 mg 3 ×/day; 60–120 mg StX/day. Not specified for therapeutic use.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. LRNP says that, despite claims of nonallergenicity, dermatosis has been reported in some patients taking gotu kola. Asiaticoside may be carcinogenic to the skin, following repeated applications. Reading their account, I’d not be any more afraid of gotu kola than wild lettuce. Contraindicated in epilepsy and pregnancy; may photosensitize. CAN cautions against dermatosis and phototoxicity. Ingestion may induce pruritus. Because it is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. May interact with other blood pressure, cholesterol, and depression medications. “Excessive ingestion of hydrocotyle should be avoided”. Not allowed as nonmedicinal ingredient in oral use products in Canada.. Nausea may rarely follow extremely high doses. Because it is reputed to be abortifacient and to affect the menstrual cycle, its use in pregnancy and lactation is to be avoided. May interact with other blood pressure, cholesterol, and depression medications. “Excessive ingestion of hydrocotyle should be avoided”. Not allowed as nonmedicinal ingredient in oral use products in Canada.. Nausea may rarely follow extremely high doses.

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