Centella asiatica, also known as gotu kola and pennywort

Can Gotu Kola Help Treat Varicose Veins?

Gotu kola may help reduce complications from varicose veins.

Gotu kola supports and strengthens veins by multiple mechanisms:

  • Asiaticoside, a major constituent of gotu kola, has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen.38
  • As demonstrated by clinical trial, gotu kola inhibits the production of enzymes that promote the breakdown of the mucopolysaccharide molecules that provide structural support to capillary walls.38,39
  • Studies show that gotu kola improves blood circulation and reduces the leakage from small capillaries.38

With insufficient strength to return blood to the heart, weakened veins can develop venous hypertensive microangiopathy (VHM). Although it is not considered a risk factor for coronary disease like arterial high blood pressure, VHM can lead to varicose veins, edema, and even leg ulcers.37 A number of human studies show that gotu kola can significantly improve these symptoms, including a randomized, controlled clinical trial that demonstrated significant improvement in VHM and no negative side effects with doses as high as 120 mg/day.17,24

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A structural protein
in blood vessel walls.
Condition where the high blood
pressure in the veins transfers to the
capillaries, enlarging and destroying them.