gotu kola

Gotu Kola (Centella Asiatica) is a dietary supplement.

Centella Asiatica

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Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 23, 2026·How we rate

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Key facts

Active ingredient: Centella Asiatica
Type: Supplement

What the evidence says

Limited evidence

What Gotu Kola is

Gotu kola is a dietary supplement made from Centella asiatica, a leafy plant native to wetlands of Asia. It has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems, and in the United States it is sold as a supplement (capsules, extracts, teas, and topical preparations). NIH-funded researchers are studying Centella asiatica, but it is not approved as a treatment for any condition in the United States.

Commonly used for

People take it for memory, focus, and general brain or cognitive supportUsed by some for anxiety, stress, or sleep concernsTraditionally applied to the skin for wounds, burns, and scarsUsed by some for circulation or vein health

What the evidence shows

There is no NIH Office of Dietary Supplements or NCCIH consumer fact sheet that establishes gotu kola as effective for any health condition, so rigorous evidence in people is limited. NCCIH notes only that it funds early-stage research exploring Centella asiatica's potential to support functional resilience in aging, including sleep deprivation; this is exploratory work, not proof that the supplement treats or improves any condition. The popular uses above reflect how people use it traditionally, not confirmed benefits.

Typical dosage

No authoritative US government source establishes a standard or proven dose for gotu kola, and amounts vary widely across products. Because it is not regulated like a drug, supplement strength and quality can differ between brands. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or another qualified clinician before starting gotu kola, especially regarding how much to take and for how long.

Safety

Remember that "natural" does not automatically mean safe, and labels like "standardized" do not guarantee a product's quality or consistency. Although gotu kola is generally regarded as safe, NIH's LiverTox resource notes it has been linked to rare cases of clinically apparent acute liver injury with jaundice, so it should be used cautiously. There is not enough authoritative government safety information to confirm gotu kola is safe for everyone. Talk to a healthcare provider before using it, particularly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, give it to a child, have liver problems, or take other medicines.

Side effects

High-quality government data on gotu kola's side effects in people are limited, but NIH's LiverTox resource has documented rare instances of liver injury with jaundice, which typically appeared after several weeks of use and resolved after stopping. Herbal supplements can cause unwanted effects and may not be free of risk simply because they are plant-based. Stop use and seek medical care if you notice signs of a possible problem, such as a rash, stomach upset, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or other unexpected symptoms.

Interactions & cautions

Authoritative government data on gotu kola drug interactions are limited, so its effects when combined with prescription or over-the-counter medicines are not well characterized. Dietary supplements can interact with medications and other supplements. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every supplement you take so they can check for possible interactions, especially before surgery or if you take medicines that affect the liver or cause sedation.

Sources

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Summarized from public health authorities; general reference, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed healthcare professional before starting any supplement.

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Information is sourced from public FDA regulatory data. Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

What people report to the FDA about Centella Asiatica

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 70 reports naming Centella Asiatica — the active ingredient in Gotu Kola, and the FDA flagged 99% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:

cerebral venous thrombosis34 reports
headache22 reports
thalamic infarction22 reports
fatigue21 reports
bradyphrenia17 reports
psychomotor retardation13 reports
slow response to stimuli13 reports
interstitial lung disease9 reports

Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean Centella Asiatica caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label.

Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved September 25, 2026.

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Key facts

What the evidence says

What Gotu Kola is

Commonly used for

What the evidence shows

Typical dosage

Safety

Side effects

Interactions & cautions

Sources

Ways to save

What people report to the FDA about Centella Asiatica

Reviews

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