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Centella asiatica (aerial parts)

Centella (gotu kola)

Centella has limited human evidence: a small set of mostly older trials suggests a standardised triterpene extract eases leg heaviness and swelling in chronic venous insufficiency, and two creams showed modest scar benefits, but nothing here is firmly established. Reviews find no improvement in memory or other cognitive measures, and evidence for anxiety is preliminary. The main caution is that oral gotu kola has been linked to rare, sometimes severe liver injury in case reports.

Updated
30 September 2026
Gotu kola plant with round green leaves
At a glance
Last reviewed 30 September 2026
Evidence
Limited
Best for
Venous insufficiency symptoms
Typical form & use
Oral triterpene extract, 60–120 mg/day
Onset
4+ weeks
Safety
Rare liver injury reported with oral use. No interactions in our data.
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What it's used for

Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.

UseEvidenceWhat the research shows
Chronic venous insufficiency (oral)LimitedA systematic review of eight randomised trials found Centella improved microcirculation measures and rate of ankle swelling, and three trials without usable numbers reported less leg heaviness, pain and oedema. The authors caution that reporting was poor and risk of bias unclear; most trials used one triterpene fraction (TTFCA, 60–120 mg/day) and date from 1981–2001. A 2026 network meta-analysis of 51 trials found Centella reduced heaviness (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.11–0.81) but pooled ulcer healing and pain effects were not significant for it.1,2
Preventing or softening scars (topical)LimitedA double-blind trial in 23 completers after skin-graft surgery found better pigmentation scores on the Vancouver Scar Scale at 12 weeks. A 280-person trial of 1% extract cream after carpal tunnel surgery found modestly better scar scores at 3 to 6 months, but the control group received no cream, so it was not blinded. Both are small or open to bias and used different products.3,4
Cognition and memory (oral)LimitedA meta-analysis of randomised trials found no significant difference from placebo in any cognitive domain. It did find higher alertness (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.41) and lower anger scores one hour after a dose, from small studies; the authors say the evidence is not strong and that doses and preparations varied.5
Anxiety and low mood (oral)TraditionalA 2026 scoping review found only three small human studies of gotu kola: two randomised trials in healthy people that reported improved alertness, and one open-label study in 33 people with generalised anxiety disorder. It calls the evidence preliminary and hypothesis-generating, with animal studies making up most of it.6
Minor wound healing (topical)TraditionalThe EU regulator lists Centella herb as a traditional herbal medicine for minor wounds, based only on long-standing use. We found no controlled human trials showing topical Centella heals wounds faster; the supporting evidence we know of is animal and lab work. Treat cosmetic 'skin repair' claims with the same caution.7

How much

Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.

Venous studies (oral)
60–120 mg/day TTFCA1
The trials in the systematic review gave a total triterpenic fraction of Centella (TTFCA), 30–60 mg two or three times daily for 4 to 8 weeks. One trial did not report its dose. Whole-herb capsules were not tested this way.
EU monograph (topical)
0.6 g herb, 3 times daily7
Traditional use for minor wounds: 0.6 g herb as a warm infusion on a dressing, or as a powder, applied 3 times daily (1.8 g a day).
Duration
Topical: up to 1 week (EU)7,1
The EU monograph says not to use it for more than one week and to see a doctor or qualified practitioner if symptoms persist. The venous trials ran 4 to 8 weeks; long-term oral safety is not established.
Timing · The venous trials split the daily dose into two or three doses; no source we read gave a preferred time of day.With food? · One oral trial gave capsules after meals, but no source we read tested food effects. Stomach pain and nausea were reported in the venous trials, so stop and take advice if it upsets you.How long to trial · The venous trials judged effects after 4 to 8 weeks. Scar trials assessed effects over 3 to 6 months. A single dose is not a fair test.

How people take it

Standardised triterpene extract (oral)60–120 mg/day TTFCA in trialsThe form used in most venous insufficiency trials; supplement extracts vary and may not match it.
Cream or gel (topical)About 1% extract in the carpal tunnel trialThe scar trials used extract creams, one at 1% (the other trial's strength was not stated in its abstract). Products sold as cica skincare have not been shown to do the same.
Herb infusion or powder (topical)0.6 g, 3 times daily, up to 1 weekThe EU traditional-use preparation for dressings on minor wounds. It is not a tea to drink.

Safety

Who should avoid
  • Liver disease or unexplained jaundice — oral use linked to liver injury
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding — EU regulator says not recommended, no safety data
  • Children and adolescents under 18 — safety not established (EU regulator)
  • Allergy to celery, carrot, parsley or other Apiaceae plants — EU contraindication
  • Deep, infected or non-healing wounds — see a clinician rather than self-treat
Known interactions
No interactions in our data. Absence of a flag is not clearance.

Questions people ask

Does gotu kola help with varicose veins and heavy legs?

A systematic review of eight trials suggests a triterpene extract can reduce leg swelling and heaviness in chronic venous insufficiency, but the trials were mostly old with unclear bias. It has not been shown to remove varicose veins. Talk to a doctor about persistent leg swelling, which can have other causes.

Do Centella (cica) creams repair skin or fade scars?

Two small trials of Centella creams found modest scar improvements after surgery, and the EU regulator recognises minor-wound use on tradition alone. We found no trial evidence supporting the broader cosmetic marketing of skin repair, and results from one cream do not carry over to another.

Is gotu kola good for memory or anxiety?

For memory, a meta-analysis found no improvement in cognitive domains compared with placebo, though alertness rose for a few hours in small studies. For anxiety, the evidence is a handful of small human studies, one of them open-label.

Can gotu kola damage the liver?

Case reports say yes, rarely. One report described three women who developed jaundice after 20 to 60 days of oral Centella, and one had a recurrence on re-exposure. Case reports cannot show how common this is. Stop and seek medical advice if you develop jaundice, dark urine or upper-abdominal pain.

Sources

  1. Systematic review Chong NJ, Aziz Z. A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Centella asiatica for Improvement of the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013.
  2. Network meta-analysis Nguyen AN, Ta KT, Chuang KJ. Pharmacological interventions to treat chronic venous disease: A network meta-analysis. Phlebology. 2026.
  3. Randomised trial Jenwitheesuk K, Rojsanga P, Chowchuen B, Surakunprapha P. A Prospective Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Trial of the Efficacy Using Centella Cream for Scar Improvement. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018.
  4. Randomised trial Balevi M, Balevi A. The effect of Centella Asiatica cream on scar development in patients who underwent open carpal tunnel release surgery. J Hand Ther. 2023.
  5. Systematic review Puttarak P, Dilokthornsakul P, Saokaew S, et al. Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2017.
  6. Scoping review Pedregosa BIC, Navarro JC, Baroque GAB, et al. Therapeutic Potential of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica), Phosphatidylcholine, and Taurine in Mood Disorders: A Systematic Scoping Review. Complement Med Res. 2026.
  7. Regulator monograph European Medicines Agency HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., herba (EMA/HMPC/489142/2020). 2022.
  8. Case series Jorge OA, Jorge AD. Hepatotoxicity associated with the ingestion of Centella asiatica. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2005.

Reader notes

Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.

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Last reviewed 30 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence