What Exactly Is Centella Asiatica and How Does It Benefit Your Skin?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPotential BenefitsWhat Is It?Side Effects and RisksHow to Use ItHow Much Is Too Much?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Potential Benefits

What Is It?

Side Effects and Risks

How to Use It

How Much Is Too Much?

Centella asiatica(C. asiatica) is a flowering plant known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Traditional medicine has usedC. asiaticafor centuries to treat skin conditions and help with wound healing.

Cosmetic products and supplements containingC. asiaticaare becoming increasingly popular due to the plant’s potential benefits for skin health and cognition.

Potential Skin Benefits and More

Centella asiaticais commonly known for its use in skincare. It is particularly valued for its ability to support skin health, wound healing, and collagen production. Many ofC. asiatica’s benefits may be due to its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Skin Hydration

Centella asiatica, when applied to the skin with a vitamin C serum, may improveskin hydration, elasticity, and firmness. Madecassoside, an active compound inC. asiatica, increases collagen production.Collagenhelps skin retain water and is essential forelasticityor soft and smooth skin.

Wound Healing

Helps Skin Damage

Preliminary research revealed that applying aC. asiaticaextract to skin cells could repair and recover damaged skin cells. Skin damage occurs from aging, exposure to pollutants, or the sun.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Antioxidant Properties

C. asiaticamay help reduce the skin condition known asvitiligo(a chronic condition that causes patches of your skin to lose pigmentation or color). Genetic and environmental factors and oxidative stress (damage from free radicals) contribute to vitiligo. Madecassoside, a compound inC. asiatica, lessens melanocyte damage via antioxidant properties.

Also, triterpenes inC. asiaticacontribute to its antioxidant properties. Specifically,C. asiaticamay lessen cellular damage in the brain.

Venous Insufficiency

Under normal circumstances, veins in your legs push blood back to your heart. However, withvenous insufficiency, vein walls and valves are damaged. This prevents the legs from sending blood to the heart, causing blood to remain in the veins.

Research found that oralC. asiaticaimproved signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency, such asvaricose veins, leg heaviness, pain, and swelling (edema). However, studies included in the review measured different outcomes, making it challenging to draw definitive conclusions aboutC. asiatica’s effects on venous insufficiency.

Cognitive and Mental Health

Preliminary research points to a potential benefit ofC. asiaticaon cognitive function and health, namely supporting learning and memory, improving mood, and reducinganxiety. It may also protect against changes in brain structure associated with chronic diseases.

However, not all evidence supports its use for cognitive function. Some research found no benefit ofC. asiaticaon cognitive function compared to a placebo (an ineffective substance given to trial participants in a control group). However, it may improve working memory and boost mood and alertness. The cognitive benefits ofC. asiaticamay only occur at dosages higher than 3 grams daily.

WhileC. asiaticamay offer many potential benefits, further research is needed to understand its full effectiveness.

What Is Centella Asiatica?

Centella asiaticais an herbaceous plant from theApiaceaefamily (also known as theUmbelliferae)native to Southeast Asia, Madagascar, Pakistan, central Africa, and the Americas. It is a leafed plant with white to purple flowers.Common names includegotu kola,bua-bok, tiger grass, and Indian pennywort.

C. asiaticais used as an herb, spice, vegetable, or juice. Cosmetics and health products like supplements also containC. asiaticafor its alleged health benefits.

Ayurvedicmedicinetraditionally usesC. asiaticafor its potential neuroprotective, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial effects, among other properties.Traditional Asian medicine usedC. asiaticafor centuries for its nutritional and therapeutic properties, namely its influence on wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects.Other traditional uses focus on conditions that affect the skin, including lupus (chronic autoimmune disease),eczema (chronic skin condition causing inflammation),psoriasis (autoimmune disease causing raised, scaly skin patches), and leprosy (chronic bacterial infection).

Compounds inC. asiaticamay be responsible for its health benefits. The primary active compounds inC. asiaticaareasiaticacid,asiaticoside,madecassoside, andmadecassicacid. These compounds aretriterpenes, molecules found in plants, animals, andfungiwith potential health benefits.The amounts and types of these active compounds may vary, depending on the origin of theC. asiaticaplant.

Centella asiaticais generally not toxic. Still, some people may want to exercise caution withC. asiatica, and side effects and medication interactions are possible.

Who Should Avoid It?

AvoidC. asiaticaif you are allergic to it or its parts. Given its potential adverse effect on the liver, people with conditions that impact liver function should avoidC. asiatica.People with type 2 diabetes or elevated lipids (hyperlipidemia) should avoidC. asiaticabecause it can raise blood sugar and levels of lipids (fatty compounds in the blood, including cholesterol).

Because limited research exists on the effects ofC. asiaticaon pregnancy and lactation, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid it.

Side Effects

Potential side effects of topicalC. asiaticamay include allergic reactions and a burning sensation. When used at its recommended dosage, side effects from topicalC. asiaticaare rare. Side effects of oralC. asiaticainclude nausea, headache, stomach pain, and indigestion.Liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity) is a severe side effect ofC. asiatica.

Interactions

C. asiaticasupplements may be harmful to the liver. Therefore, avoid takingC. asiaticawith other medications that may be harmful to the liver. Because of its stress-reducing properties,C. asiaticamay increase the effects of antianxiety medications. Additionally,C. asiaticamay enhance the effects of diuretics (drugs that remove excess water from the body).

While Centella asiatica is generally considered non-toxic, it’s essential to use it cautiously, particularly for people with specific conditions or taking medications that may interact with it.

Always consult your healthcare provider before use to ensure safety.

Whether you’re using it for skin health, wound healing, or overall vitality, the method of application and dosage can vary based on your needs and the specific product you’re using.

Available Forms

Centella asiaticais available in a variety of forms, which may provide flexibility depending on your overall goals.C. asiaticais available as an oral, topical, or injectable medication.Oral preparations include powders, water extracts, and capsules. Some evidence suggests that encapsulatedC. asiaticamay be more potent than other forms.

Studied Dosages

Dosages depend on the intended use ofC. asiatica. For skin health, the dose for topical creams varies, with ointments containing 0.05 to 3%C. asiatica.Topical creams may contain other ingredients, such as vitamin C, to enhance skin health. Use a topical cream containing 1%C. asiaticafor three weeks to help with wound healing.

Research suggests an oral dose of 50 to 60 milligrams (mg) twice daily for two to six weeks to support skin health. If you’re takingC. asiaticafor mood and alertness, a higher dose (750 mg) daily for two months may be required to see improvements.

How to Apply It

When to Stop Taking It

UsingC. asiaticafor more than six weeks is not recommended. If you plan on usingC. asiaticafor a prolonged period, take a two-week break between treatment rounds.

Remember that exact dosages are unclear, and many studies do not report the percentages of active ingredients in the supplement. Speak with your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Limited research exists on the side effects of taking too muchCentella asiatica. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limitingC. asiaticato 330 to 680 mg daily.

Still, studies, particularly those on the mental health benefits, use doses upward of 750 mg daily with no severe side effects reported.

Instead of too much, it may be about how long you takeC. asiatica. It is not recommended to takeC. asiaticafor more than two months because of an increased risk of liver toxicity.You may want to consider stopping it after six months.

Still, it is essential to consult a healthcare provider before startingC. asiaticato ensure it will be safe and effective for you.

Summary

The herbCentella asiaticamay support skin health, wound healing, and mood. Cosmetic products like skin creams may containC. asiaticato help with skin hydration, and ointments withC. asiaticaaccelerate wound healing.

C. asiaticais considered relatively safe when used at the recommended dosage for short periods. If you are considering usingC. asiaticafor its skin or mood benefits, speak with your healthcare provider to ensure it is safe.

9 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bylka W, Znajdek-Awiżeń P, Studzińska-Sroka E, et al.Centella asiatica in dermatology: an overview.Phytother Res. 2014;28(8):1117-1124. doi:10.1002/ptr.5110

Arribas-López E, Zand N, Ojo O, et al.A systematic review of the effect ofCentella asiaticaon wound healing.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(6):3266. doi:10.3390/ijerph19063266

Bylka W, Znajdek-Awiżeń P, Studzińska-Sroka E, et al.Centella asiatica in cosmetology.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2013;30(1):46-49. doi:10.5114/pdia.2013.33378

Park KS.Pharmacological effects ofCentella asiaticaon skin diseases: evidence and possible mechanisms.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:5462633. doi:10.1155/2021/5462633

Sabaragamuwa R, Perera C, Fedrizzi B.Centella asiatica (Gotu kola) as a neuroprotectant and its potential role in healthy ageing.Trends in Food Science & Technology. 2018;79(1):88-97. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2018.07.024

MedlinePlus.Venous insufficiency.

Chong NJ, Aziz Z.A systematic review of the efficacy of Centella asiatica for improvement of the signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:627182. doi:10.1155/2013/627182

Puttarak P, Dilokthornsakul P, Saokaew S, et al.Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):10646. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-09823-9

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