Supplement
Gotu kola is a creeping herb long used in Ayurvedic medicine, whose triterpene compounds help support connective tissue and small blood vessels. People look at it mostly for chronic venous insufficiency, and the evidence is strong: trials found the signs of poor leg circulation improved, and blood flow went up in a smaller group. Most of those studies were of moderate size, while the anxiety findings rest on one small trial.
Sources: PMID 6896366; PMID 7936334
- Updated
- How we grade
- 16 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 11
- Outcomes
- 28
- Graded outcomes
- 1261
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Diabetic Microangiopathy
- Blood Flow: improves
- Leg Edema: changes; see studies
- Microcirculation: improves
High Blood Pressure
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs: improves
- Microcirculation: improves
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Anxiety Symptoms: improves
- Attention: improves
- Depression Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Symptoms Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 33 people | ||
Studies that measured anxiety symptoms | ||||||
| Attention | Improves (the measure goes up) | 33 people | ||||
| Depression Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 33 people | ||||
| Stress Signs and Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 33 people | ||||
Microangiopathy
- Blood Flow: improves
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs: improves
- Microcirculation: improves
General Cardiovascular Health
- Blood Flow: improves
- Microcirculation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Flow Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 50 people | |||
| Microcirculation | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 50 people | |||
Studies that measured microcirculation
| ||||||
Cognitive Improvement
- Alertness: improves
- Processing Accuracy: improves
- Reaction Time: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alertness Small Improvement | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 28 people | |||
| Processing Accuracy | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 28 people | |||
Studies that measured processing accuracy | ||||||
| Reaction Time | Improves (the measure goes up) | 56 people | ||||
| Subjective Well-Being | Improves (the measure goes up) | 28 people | ||||
Mental Resilience
- Heart Rate
- Subjective Well-Being: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 12 people | |||
| Subjective Well-Being | Improves (the measure goes up) | 12 people | ||||
Venous Hypertension
- Microcirculation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microcirculation | Improves (the measure goes up) | 3 studies | 62 people | |||
Studies that measured microcirculation
| ||||||
Skin Health
- Wound Healing: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wound Healing | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 400 people | |||
Studies that measured wound healing | ||||||
Key findings
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency SignsImproves (the measure goes up)
- Blood FlowImproves (the measure goes up)
- Anxiety SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Fullscript collectionHeart and circulation: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript
The collection holds the supplements we grade A or B for its theme, in third-party tested products where the catalog has them. It opens in our Fullscript store. You can look through it without signing in; Fullscript asks for a free account to order.
Or shop one supplement
Third-party tested Gotu Kola products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure
Studies cited
16 studies from PubMed
- Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbs
- Flight microangiopathy in medium- to long-distance flights: prevention of edema and microcirculation alterations with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica
- Microcirculatory effects of total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in chronic venous hypertension: measurement by laser Doppler, TcPO2-CO2, and leg volumetry
- Centella asiatica extract in venous disorders of the lower limbs. Comparative clinico-instrumental studies with a placebo
- Centella asiatica extract in venous pathology of the lower limbs and its evaluation as compared with tribenoside
- The microcirculatory activity of Centella asiatica in venous insufficiency. A double-blind study
- Improvement of capillary permeability in patients with venous hypertension after treatment with TTFCA
- Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica
- A clinical study on the management of generalized anxiety disorder with Centella asiatica
- Total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in the treatment of venous hypertension: a clinical, prospective, randomized trial using a combined microcirculatory model
- Effects of the total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in venous hypertensive microangiopathy: a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trial
- Treatment of edema and increased capillary filtration in venous hypertension with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a clinical, prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-ranging trial
- Treatment of diabetic microangiopathy and edema with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a prospective, placebo-controlled randomized study
- Evaluation of treatment of diabetic microangiopathy with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a clinical prospective randomized trial with a microcirculatory model
- The efficacy and side effects of oral Centella asiatica extract for wound healing promotion in diabetic wound patients
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on acoustic startle response in healthy subjects