How much gotu kola to take

They self-reported decreased stress, anxiety, and depression. Another study discussed in the review assessed the effect of gotu kola on rats induced with chronic depression. The herbal remedy had a positive effect on certain elements of behavioral depression, including body weight, body temperature, and heart rate. How to use: Take mg of gotu kola twice a day for up to 14 days at a time. You can take up to 2, mg per day during times of intensified depression.

Research from found that gotu kola can reduce problems with fluid retention, ankle swelling, and circulation tied to taking flights that last longer than three hours.

Participants who experienced mild-to-moderate superficial venous disease with varicose veins were asked to take gotu kola for two days before their flight, the day of their flight, and the day after their flight. Older research has also shown that gotu kola can be useful in treating varicose veins. This may be because gotu kola has a positive metabolic effect on the connective tissue of the vascular wall.

How to use: Take 60 to mg of gotu kola extract 3 times per day for a week, before and after any flights. You can also massage the affected area with a topical cream containing 1 percent gotu kola extract. To do this, rub a dime-sized amount on to the inside of your forearm. Given its perceived ability to treat anxiety, stress, and depression, gotu kola may also be used to treat the insomnia that sometimes accompanies these conditions.

Some consider this herbal remedy to be a safe alternative to prescription medications used to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders. Although older research does suggest that gotu kola can help treat sleep disorders , additional studies are needed to confirm these findings. How to use: Take to mg of gotu kola extract 3 times per day for up to 14 days at a time. According to a review , gotu kola can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. This may help prevent new stretch marks from forming, as well as help heal any existing marks.

How to use: Apply a topical cream containing 1 percent gotu kola extract to the affected area several times per day. Researchers in a study on rats found that wound dressing containing gotu kola had healing effects on multiple types of wounds.

This includes clean cuts by sharp objects, irregular tears caused by blunt-force trauma, and infected tissue. How to use: Apply an ointment containing 1 percent gotu kola extract to the affected area several times per day. If your wound is deep or otherwise severe, see your doctor before use. Health Information Library. Gotu Kola. Uses Botanical names: Centella asiatica. What Are Star Ratings? This supplement has been used in connection with the following health conditions: Used for Why 2 Stars.

Gotu kola extracts have been found to be successful in treating CVI in preliminary trials. Gotu kola extracts may be used topically to help speed wound healing. Take a standardized herbal extract providing 60 mg total triterpenoids once or twice per day. Applying an ointment containing gotu kola may speed healing of skin wounds. Gotu kola contains substances that inhibit scar tissue from forming, it has been used in the medicinal systems of central Asia for centuries to treat numerous skin diseases.

The primary active constituents of gotu kola may prevent excessive scar formation by inhibiting the production of collagen the material that makes up connective tissue at the wound site. Supplementing with gotu kola may be helpful for varicose veins.

How It Works Botanical names: Centella asiatica. How It Works The primary active constituents of gotu kola are saponins also called triterpenoids , which include asiaticoside, madecassoside and madasiatic acid.

Interactions Botanical names: Centella asiatica. Interactions with Medicines As of the last update, we found no reported interactions between this supplement and medicines. It is possible that unknown interactions exist. If you take medication, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a new supplement with your doctor or pharmacist.

The Drug-Nutrient Interactions table may not include every possible interaction. Taking medicines with meals, on an empty stomach, or with alcohol may influence their effects. For details, refer to the manufacturers' package information as these are not covered in this table. If you take medications, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a supplement with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side Effects Botanical names: Centella asiatica. However, many of these studies date back to the early s or earlier — more up-to-date research is necessary.

For example, an older study , from , found that participants who received 60 milligrams of triterpenic fraction of gotu kola twice daily for 8 weeks experienced improvements in the health of their veins. The participants all had conditions with significant vein involvement, such as severe venous hypertension and ankle swelling. Another study from the same year, and from some of the same researchers, produced similar results. The second study found that gotu kola extracts helped with diabetic microangiopathy by improving the function of the veins.

This health issue affects people with diabetes and involves having unusually small blood vessels in various areas of the body. According to a review of studies , some research supports the use of gotu kola to help wounds and burns heal. However, most of these studies involved animals or artificial wounds created in labs. This means that the herb may not have the same effects in humans. The authors also noted that a lack of medical supervision and knowledge about how gotu kola might react with medications made the herb potentially dangerous to use.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center also highlight the lack of trials in humans and call for further testing before the effectiveness of gotu kola as a wound treatment can be confirmed.

According to one review of studies , gotu kola may help support the functioning of the brain and nervous system, improve memory, and protect against aging. However, more recent studies do not support some of these claims. A study found that gotu kola may improve alertness and reduce anger but did not substantiate the other findings. Meanwhile, in a study , researchers looked at people who had experienced cognitive impairment following a stroke. They found that few, if any, improvements were associated with using gotu kola, compared with folic acid.

However, the authors noted that some participants experienced some improvement in long-term memory after taking the herbal extract. One arm got the fluid while the other forearm got a control cream. The researchers measured the hydration level and the amount of water lost throughout the day. That suggests that the fluid containing centella asiatica was effective at improving skin hydration.

Also, read: These 8 skincare tips from a dermat will help you prevent lines and wrinkles. Gotu kola is also known to repair veins on your skin. It is so effective that it is widely used as a treatment for varicose veins, and helps to break down cellulite by shrinking connective tissues that bind fat cells under the skin.

This story was originally published on HealthShots. Gotu kola or centella asiatica, as it is widely known, has taken the wellness world by storm for its restorative benefits for the skin. Read on to know why you should add it to your skincare regime. Share Via.