One preliminary trial found that a gotu kola extract helped heal infected wounds (unless they had reached bone).⁶ A review of French studies suggests that topical gotu kola can help wounds.⁷ One study found gotu kola extract helpful for preventing and treating enlarged scars (keloids).⁸ Standardized extracts of gotu kola containing up to 100% total triterpenoids are generally taken, providing 60 mg once or twice per day. Animal studies have shown that constituents in gotu kola, called asiaticosides, increase antioxidant levels during wound healing and facilitate repair of connective tissues.^9,10

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) extracts are sometimes used topically to help speed wound healing. Test tube studies have found that extracts of gotu kola high in the active triterpene constituents asiaticosides, madecassoides, asiatic acids, and madecassic acids increase collagen synthesis.^11,12 An animal study found that topical application of asiaticoside isolated from gotu kola, used in a 0.2% solution, improved healing in nonulcer skin wounds.¹³ An overview of three small human clinical trials suggests that topical use of an ointment or powder containing a gotu kola extract high in the active triterpene compounds may speed wound healing in people with slow-healing skin ulcers.¹⁴ These studies used either a topical ointment with a 1% extract concentration or a powder with a 2% extract concentration. People in these studies were typically treated with intramuscular injections of either isolated asiaticosides or the mixed triterpenes three times per week while using the topical ointment or powder.

Gotu kola has been used in the medicinal systems of central Asia for centuries to treat numerous skin diseases. Saponins in gotu kola beneficially affect collagen (the material that makes up connective tissue) to inhibit its production in hyperactive scar tissue following burns or wounds.¹⁵

The primary active constituents of gotu kola are saponins (also called triterpenoids), which include asiaticoside, madecassoside and madasiatic acid.¹⁶ These saponins may prevent excessive scar formation by inhibiting the production of collagen (the material that makes up connective tissue) at the wound site. These constituents are also associated with promoting wound healing. One preliminary trial in humans found that a gotu kola extract improved healing of infected wounds (unless the infection had reached bone).¹⁷ Additionally, a review of French studies suggests that topical gotu kola can improve healing of burns and wounds.¹⁶ Another trial found gotu kola extract helpful for preventing and treating enlarged scars (keloids).¹⁹

One preliminary trial found that a gotu kola extract helped heal infected wounds (unless they had reached bone).¹⁹ A review of French studies suggests that topical gotu kola can help wounds.²⁰ One study found gotu kola extract helpful for preventing and treating enlarged scars (keloids).²¹ Standardized extracts of gotu kola containing up to 100% total triterpenoids are generally taken, providing 60 mg once or twice per day. Animal studies have shown that constituents in gotu kola, called asiaticosides, increase antioxidant levels during wound healing and facilitate repair of connective tissues.^22,23

Gotu kola has been used in the medicinal systems of central Asia for centuries to treat numerous skin diseases. Saponins in gotu kola beneficially affect collagen (the material that makes up connective tissue) to inhibit its production in hyperactive scar tissue following burns or wounds.²⁴

Gotu kola extracts, standardized to triterpenoid content, have been found successful in small preliminary trials to treat CVI.²⁵ The amount of extract used in these trials ranged from 60 to 120 mg per day.

Oral supplementation with butcher’s broom²⁶ or gotu kola²⁷ may also be helpful for varicose veins.