Health Benefits of Gotu Kola (As Backed by Science)

I first tried gotu kola (Centella asiatica) while living in Thailand.  It is eaten fresh in salads and you can find shots of gotu kola in some juice bars. The superfood not only tastes nice, but it has a long history of medicinal use.  Gotu kola health benefits have started to get a lot of attention recently, particularly for improving skin, treating anxiety and reducing inflammation.

Over the past decade, there have been numerous studies on gotu kola. Below are the main benefits of gotu kola which are actually backed by science.

Also Read: Best Gotu Kola Extracts (And How to Use)

 

1. Wound Healing

One of the traditional health benefits of gotu kola is treating wounds, including burns.  Studies show that glycosides in the plant help stimulate wound healing by speeding up epithelialization, a process in which skin cells move upwards towards the injury.  Gotu kola also increases tissue granulation where new connective tissue and blood vessels form at the wound.

The antioxidants in gotu kola also reduce inflammation and reduce likelihood of infection, thus speeding up wound healing even more.

 

2. Increase Collagen in Skin

Gotu kola contains terpenoids and saponins.  Some of these, such as asiaticoside and madecassoside, have been shown to directly increase type I collagen in the skin.  In one study, women with sun-damaged skin applied an extract from gotu kola to their skin.  After six months, they had “significant improvement in firmness, elasticity and skin hydration, which was confirmed by appropriate biometrological tests.”

Because wrinkles are caused by the breakdown of collagen in the skin, taking gotu kola could help fight signs of aging.

Recommended: Be Plain Gotu Kola healing skin serum

 

3. Anxiety and Depression

There have been a lot of promising studies on gotu kola for anxiety.  The benefit has to do with the fact that gotu kola binds to cholecystokinin receptors which are involved in the anxiety pathway. It was able to reduce anxiety without having a sedative effective.

Most studies on gotu kola and anxiety were done on lab animals.  However, one study had people take 500mg of gotu kola twice a day.  After 60 days, there was a significant improvement in anxiety as well as depression.

 

4. Psoriasis

Another skin benefit of gotu kola for the skin is treating psoriasis.  This has to do with the plant’s ability to speed up wound healing, improve collagen in the skin, increase tensile strength of new skin and also inhibiting inflammatory responses.  Also see these natural remedies for psoriasis.

 

5. Reduce Cellulite

A few studies look at the benefits of gotu kola for reducing cellulite.  Results show that gotu kola reduces the diameter of fat cells.  In one study, people with cellulite applied a gotu kola extract four times a day.  After four months, there was a significant improvement in 85% of the participants.

 

6. Varicose Veins

Varicose veins occur when blood vessels become damaged or lose their elasticity, causing fluids to leak out of blood vessels.  High blood pressure worsens the condition.

Gotu kola helps varicose veins because it improves the strength of blood vessels.  It also improves blood flow.  Some studies confirm this benefit of gotu kola, such as a study which found that people taking gotu kola had less fluid leakage from their veins compared to control groups.

 

7. Cognitive Benefits

Gotu kola has long been considered a “brain tonic” used for enhancing memory and fighting age-related mental decline.  The research isn’t conclusive but does show that antioxidants in gotu kola may have neuroprotective benefits.  It may help increase attention span, improve concentration, and improve memory recall after strokes.

 

8. GI Health

Studies show that taking gotu kola can help treat gastric ulcers.  It likely works by helping to strengthen the gastric mucosal barrier.  Antioxidants in the plant also reduce damage and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

 

9. Anti-inflammatory

Gotu kola extract has an anti-inflammatory effect in the body and, because of this, is often used to treat arthritis.  Research attributes this benefit to the compound madecassoside in gotu kola. It suppresses interleukin-related inflammation responses in the body.

 

10. Antimicrobial

Gotu kola contain phytochemicals like isoflavones and flavonoids to help protect them against disease.  These same phytochemicals can also fight infection in humans.  Research shows that gotu kola has antimicrobial activity against many microbes, including Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Shigella.  It is also effective in fighting some viruses such as herpes and influenza.

 

11. Cancer

There is some evidence that gotu kola extract may have anti-cancer benefits.  Research shows that Asiatic acid, a triterpene found in gotu kola, is cytotoxic in cancer cells. This includes lung cancer, melanoma, leukemia and various other types of cancer cells.  While more studies are needed, researchers have concluded that “the use of C. asiatica extract as a component in herbal medicines could be justifiable.”

 

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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Image credits: “Gotu Kola shot (healthy local version of” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by jj-walsh
“Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.” (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by Ahmad Fuad Morad