Gotu Kola - Asiatic Pennywort

Detailed Description

If you wish to feel young again, start drinking Gotu Kola tea!

Botanical Information

Asiatic Pennywort is a perennial herb renowned for its rounded leaves carried on long stalks. Its creeping nature makes it an ideal groundcover, forming a lush green carpet in suitable environments. The plant produces white, five-petaled flowers arranged in small clusters, while its fruit is a ribbed schizocarp that naturally splits into two oval seeds.

Origin and Distribution

Gotu Kola thrives in warm, humid environments, often populating muddy or marshy soils. Native to India, it is also found widely across other South Asian countries and Madagascar. On rare occasions, it can be seen in dry soils or rocky areas at elevations up to 2,500 meters above sea level.

Usage / Dosage

The aerial parts of Gotu Kola are prized in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Folk medicine across Southeast Asia recommends Gotu Kola for fatigue, anxiety, common colds, tonsillitis, urinary tract inflammation, hepatitis, and digestive issues such as dyspepsia, stomach, and esophageal ulcers.

It is frequently used for acute bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, especially involving the urinary system, as well as for herpes, leprosy, cholera, dysentery, syphilis, seasonal flu (including swine flu/H1N1), tuberculosis, and schistosomiasis. Animal studies suggest Gotu Kola’s constituents may exhibit antibacterial activity (notably against leprosy and certain ulcers). Reports describe improved tissue lesions related to acute urinary schistosomiasis as well.

Further uses include the management of various types of tonsillitis, removal of fluid around the lungs, hepatitis, jaundice, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, gastric ulcers, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, and anti-aging support. Some research points to Gotu Kola extract enhancing cognitive abilities (memory, learning, and fact recall) in young people, especially when combined with DHA and Ginkgo Biloba extracts, though this effect is not statistically significant in seniors.

Gotu Kola is also recognized as a potential aid for fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, psychiatric disorders, and is explored for Alzheimer’s disease, memory improvement, mental performance, and logical reasoning. Folk healers recommend it for epilepsy, senility, premature aging, and as a brain tonic supporting intelligence and deductive reasoning. It appears to support adrenal function, helping the body cope with stress and depression, enhances libido, reduces collapse risk, and improves reflexes.

Triterpenoid compounds such as asiaticoside found in Gotu Kola demonstrate venoprotective properties in animals, and may help balance neurotransmitter activity critical for cognitive function and emotional well-being.

Animal studies by K. Nalini et al. in 1992 showed 3–60x improved learning and recall ability in rats using Gotu Kola extracts orally for 14 days, with a clear effect on spatial orientation and maze navigation.

Folk medicine also employs Gotu Kola to speed wound healing, recovery from trauma, enhance venous blood flow (including varicose veins), and dissolve blood clots in the lower limbs. Experiences suggest it is excellent for wound healing and tissue recovery after injury. Anecdotal medical evidence points to Gotu Kola promoting scar repair. Topically, it is applied in compresses for psoriasis – notably effective for psoriasis punctata.

Certain pharmaceutical blends, such as Trofolastin (not marketed in the US), claim positive effects when combining Gotu Kola, vitamin E, and collagen for long-term prenatal use to prevent stretch marks. A similar product, Verum, with Gotu Kola extract, vitamin E, essential fatty acids, hyaluronic acid, elastin, and menthol, has been tested for benefits during pregnancy. In early phases of scar and wound healing, Gotu Kola demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory and healing effects, especially for acute burns. Topical applications help repair damaged skin and connective tissue, smoothing cellulite.

While clinical trial outcomes are mixed, Gotu Kola’s active components may benefit venous insufficiency, supporting healthy blood return to the heart. Some research reports circulation improvement and reduced leg swelling with 4–8 days of Gotu Kola extract (exact dosage not specified).

Some evidence also suggests potential for atherosclerosis management by stabilizing plaques in arteries after 12 months of regular use, reducing the risk of heart attacks or strokes from clot formation.

Remarkable reports note relief from leg discomfort and swelling after long-haul flights with Gotu Kola extract, providing cardiovascular protection and improved venous circulation. Herbals of South Asia commonly cite Gotu Kola for strengthening vein and capillary walls, being particularly beneficial for phlebitis, varicose veins, and leg cramps.

People with type 2 diabetes may benefit from mild blood-thinning effects after 6–12 months of Gotu Kola supplementation, which is used therapeutically in Asia and considered a positive effect. This is akin to low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg) therapies.

In India, Gotu Kola is traditionally used as a contraceptive and abortifacient, and to stimulate sexual desire and manage missed periods. Externally, it is applied to help heal stretch marks and minor skin injuries. A 1988 pharmacological study (Kartnig et al.) documented the reparative effects of Gotu Kola compounds on skin injury, as well as enhancing skin, hair, and connective tissue during healing.

Active Compounds

Gotu Kola’s key active compounds are triterpenoids (also known as saponins), with asiaticoside credited for its antibacterial effect. Other essential constituents include madecassoside and madasiatic acid. This group of saponins influences collagen synthesis in connective tissue, jointly promoting scar healing and tissue repair. The plant is also a rich source of minerals, especially calcium, potassium, and magnesium—the latter helps ease muscle cramps.

Traditional Dosage

The leaves are mainly used medicinally. The traditional infusion is easy to prepare, using either fresh or dried leaves: steep one heaping teaspoon of Gotu Kola leaves in 250 ml of boiling water for about 15 minutes. Sweeten with honey or sugar if desired. Drink up to three times daily. After three weeks of daily use, a break of at least seven days is recommended.

In Asia, fresh Gotu Kola leaves are often enjoyed in salads or gently simmered as a savory side dish.