Centella asiatica
(Gota kola)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Accelerates the healing time for wounds, burns and ulcers
• Adaptogen
• Analgesic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antiseptic
• Circulatory stimulant
• Connective tissue balancing effect
• Corticosteroid-sparing effects in rats under stressful conditions
• Decreases adrenal enlargement
• Decreases scar tissue buildup after injuries
• Diuretic
• Enhances connective tissue by stimulating glycosaminoglycan synthesis without promoting excessive collagen synthesis
• Improve memory
• Increases chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, structural components
• Increases development and maintainenece of blood vessels to connective tissue
• Increases endurance and energy
• Increases formation of mucin
• Increases keratinization of epidermis by stimulation of germinal layer of the skin
• Increases tensile strength of dermis
• Laxative
• Mild anti-stress, tranquilizing and anti-anxiety action by enhancing cholinergic mechanisms
• Reduces stress-induced ulcers
• Stimulates nail and hair follicle growth

Clinical Indications:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Diabetes mellitus
• Eczema
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Hemorrhoids
• Hypertension
• Impotence
• Incontinence
• Memory loss
• Multiple sclerosis
• Peptic ulcer
• Stress Incontinence
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• 2nd and 3rd degree burns by gas, boiling water or electrical current - daily compresses or IM injections
• Abscesses
• Anal fissures
• Bladder ulcers
• Cellulite
• Cirrhosis
• Improving mental function
• Keloids
• Leprosy
• Lupus erythematosus
• Mental retardation
• Mycosis fungiodes
• Perineal lesions
• Periodontal disease
• Retinal detachment
• Scleroderma - by reducing joint pain, improving finger mobility and decreasing skin hardening
• Skin ulcers
• Surgical wounds
• Tuberculosis
• Varicose veins
• Venous insufficiency
• Wound healing

Contraindications:

• Pregnancy due to the emmenagogue and abortifacient effects

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Limited data

Chemical Constituents:

• Amino acids
• Beta carotene
• Glycerides of fatty acids
• Falvonoids:
  
  Kaempferol
  Myo-inositol
  Quercetin
• Potassium
• Resins
• Sterols:
  
  Campesterol
  Sitosterol
  Stigmasterol
• Sugars
• Triterpenoid components:
  
  Asiatic acid
  Asiaticoside
  Madecassic acid
  Madecassoside
• Various polyacetylene compounds
• Vellarin, a bitter
• Volatile oil composed of:
  
  An unidentified terpene acetate
  Camphor
  Cineole

Toxicity:

• Orally - tolerated very well
• Topically - may rarely cause contact dermatitis

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).