How To Take Gotu Kola – Top 4 Questions Answered

Asiaticoside is a triterpenoid compound derived from the Centella asiatica plant (Gotu Kola).[1] The plant Centella asiatica has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda for its potent health effects. Today the triterpenoid glycosides present in the plant are highly studied and well regarded for their potent medicinal properties.

Some of the key Gotu Kola benefits include speeding up wound healing, inhibiting scar tissue formation, increasing blood flow, enhancing cognition, and modulating inflammation.[2] Asiaticoside is believed to possess powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects which have been shown to strengthen epidermal barrier function. [3][4]

This article explores the general guidelines on how to take Gotu Kola. For more information about the effects and benefits of Gotu Kola, check out some of the highly-rated, peer-reviewed articles referenced here. In this article, we explore the recommended dosages, the interactions with other herbs and important safety aspects of Gotu Kola.

How to Take Gotu Kola: Recommended Dosage

 The dosage of Gotu Kola that you should take depends on the purpose and desired effects as well as the form. Asiaticoside is sold as a capsule, powder, or in liquid form (aqueous and alcoholic extracts). While recommended dosage between brands varies based on asiaticoside concentration, most supplements contain 40% asiaticoside.[5]

In general, studies use between 500 mg to 1000 mg per day. Some prefer capsules over powders as it is quick and easy.

For more specific usage, studies have found Gotu Kola to be safe and effective in the following doses:

• Studies performed on humans showed 750 mg/day of a 5% asiaticoside extract to be effective in improving mood states.[6]
• Also, supplementation of Centella asiatica in doses of 500 mg twice per day has stress-reducing effects in humans. [7]
• Topical use of Asiaticosides is also very common. It is added to creams and ointments (in purities of 0.2%, 1%, and 2%) or used as a cutaneous powder to promote wound healing. [8]

How to Take Gotu Kola?

Although it is well absorbed, higher doses of Asiaticosides may cause rare and mild side effects such as nausea and stomach pain. For this reason, it is best to consume Asiaticoside with food or around 20 minutes before a meal.

Since Asiaticoside is not a stimulatory supplement, it can be taken any time during the day, as it does not interfere with sleep. For most effective results, this supplement can be taken in separate doses, i.e. in the morning or lunchtime and in the evening with dinner.

Gotu Kola Side Effects and Interactions

If you are wondering if Asiaticoside is safe to take, the answer is yes. Mice studies have indicated that oral doses of 1000mg/kg in body weight over a 3-month period, exerted no clinical indications of toxicity. [9]

Except for individuals who are allergic to Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola), there is no known recorded side effects associated with Asiaticoside supplements.

Further,  despite the lack of interactions between Asiaticoside and medications, in theory, Asiaticoside may interact with blood glucose levels.  Asiaticoside exhibits antidiabetic activity and thus it should not be taken in combination with blood-sugar-lowering medications. If you take any medication or have underlying health conditions, always discuss the risks and benefits of adding any new dietary supplement to your health regimen.[10]

There is not sufficient research regarding the safety of Asiaticoside on breastfeeding and pregnant women nor on infants. For this reason, please consult your doctor before taking this supplement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article has hopefully explored some useful information on how to take Asiaticoside. The recommended dosage is around 500–1000 mg daily, taken in two separate doses to avoid stomach cramps. Asiaticoside can be taken with or without food. In case of sensitive digestion, opt for supplements with meals.

Asiaticosides may interact with blood-glucose-lowering medications. Do not take Asiaticoside if you are on any medication. Please consult your doctor if you’d like to take Asiaticoside but are on medication.

References

[1] Matsuda H. Morikawa T. Ueda H. et al. (2001). ‘Medicinal foodstuffs. XXVII. Saponin constituents of gotu kola (2): structures of new ursane- and oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, centellasaponins B, C, and D, from Centella asiatica cultivated in Sri Lanka’,  Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo, 49(10), pp. 1368-71. doi: 10.1248/cpb.49.1368. PMID: 11605675.

[2] Azis H.A. Taher M. Ahmed A.S. et al. (2017). ‘In vitro and In vivo wound healing studies of methanolic fraction of Centella asiatica extract’, South African Journal of Botany, Volume 108, 2017, pp. 163-174, ISSN 0254-6299, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2016.10.022.

[3] Park, J. H. Choi, J. Y. Son, D. J. et al. (2017). ‘Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Titrated Extract of Centella asiatica in Phthalic Anhydride-Induced Allergic Dermatitis Animal Model’, International journal of molecular sciences, 18(4), 738. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18040738

[4] Chong, N. J., & Aziz, Z. (2013). ‘A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Centella asiatica for Improvement of the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency’, Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 627182. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/627182

[5] Brinkhaus B. Lindner M. Schuppan D. et al. (2000). ‘Chemical, pharmacological and clinical profile of the East Asian medical plant Centella asiatica’, Phytomedicine. 7(5), pp.427-48. doi: 10.1016/s0944-7113(00)80065-3. PMID: 11081995.

[6] Farhana, K. M. Malueka, R. G. Wibowo, S. & Gofir, A. (2016). ‘Effectiveness of Gotu Kola Extract 750 mg and 1000 mg Compared with Folic Acid 3 mg in Improving Vascular Cognitive Impairment after Stroke’, Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine: eCAM, 2016, 2795915. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2795915

[7] Wattanathorn J. Mator L. Muchimapura S. et al. (2007). ‘Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica’, Journal of Ethnopharmacoly, 116 (2) pp.325-332. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.11.038. Epub 2007 Dec 4. PMID: 18191355.

[8] Shukla A. Rasik A.M. Dhawan B.N. (1999). ‘Asiaticoside-induced elevation of antioxidant levels in healing wounds’, Phytother Res. 13(1), pp.50-54. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(199902)13:1<50::AID-PTR368>3.0.CO;2-V. PMID: 10189951

[9] Chivapat, Songpol & Tantisira, Mayuree. (2011). ‘Acute and sub-chronic toxicity of a standardized extract of Centella asiatica ECa 233’, Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 35. pp.55-64.

[10] Fitrianda, E. Sukandar, E. Y. Elfahmi, E. & Adnyana, I. K. (2017). ‘Antidiabetic activity of extract, fractions, and asiaticoside compound isolated from centella asiatica linn. leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic mice’, Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 10(10), 268-272. https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i10.20419

 

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