gotu kola Health Article

Generic name(s):

gotu kola

Brand name(s):

What is the most important information I should know about gotu kola?

Gotu kola has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of gotu kola may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

What is gotu kola?

The use of gotu kola in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

Gotu kola is also known as Centella asiatica, Indian pennywort, marsh penny, white rot, thick-leaved pennywort, hydrocotyle, Indian water navelwort, and talepetrako.

Gotu kola has been used orally for muscle and joint stiffness and pain and skin afflictions. Gotu kola has been used topically for wound healing, leprosy sores, and post-operative scarring.

Gotu kola has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of gotu kola may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Gotu kola may also have uses other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take gotu kola?

Do not take gotu kola orally without first talking to your doctor if you have

• diabetes (or if you take medicine to control blood sugar levels), or

• high cholesterol levels (or if you take medicine to control cholesterol levels).

You may not be able to take gotu kola, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have either of the conditions listed above.

Before taking gotu kola, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Gotu kola may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take gotu kola without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Gotu kola may be dangerous during pregnancy. Do not take gotu kola without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is not known whether gotu kola will harm a nursing infant. There is no information available regarding the use of gotu kola by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.