Venous insufficiency

Gotu kola is effective in the treatment of venous insufficiency and has been shown to reduce ankle oedema, foot swelling and capillary filtration rate, and to improve microcirculatory parameters (9-11).

A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind multi-centre trial investigated the effect of a gotu kola extract (60 mg or 120 mg/day for 2 months) in 94 patients with venous insufficiency (12).

Significant and dose-dependant improvements in subjective and plethysmographic (extremity volume) parameters were seen with both dosages of Gotu kola treatment.

Another double-blind study with 40 patients suffering chronic venous insufficiency found that Gotu kola extract (60 mg/day for 30 days) significantly improved ankle circumference, vascular tone and leg volume compared with baseline (13).

Several other clinical studies have further confirmed the efficacy of gotu kola extract in venous insufficiency (3).

Venous hypertension

The valuable contribution of Gotu kola extract in the treatment of venous hypertension has been confirmed in randomised, double-blind controlled trials.

In one trial, 62 patients with venous hypertension took gotu kola extract (90 mg or 180 mg daily) or placebo (11). A dose-dependant reduction in capillary filtration rate and ankle circumference was seen at the end of the 4-week study period, and changes were significant compared with placebo.

Another study involving 87 patients with chronic venous hypertensive microangiopathy found that microcirculatory parameters were significantly improved compared with placebo in patients taking gotu kola extract (60 mg or 120 mg daily) after 60 days (14).

The ability of gotu kola extract to reduce capillary permeability in patients with venous hypertension has also been demonstrated in a placebo-controlled study (10).

Varicose veins and post-thrombotic syndrome

The topical application of a gotu kola extract 3 times daily was found to be effective in improving both objective and subjective symptoms including vascular tone assessed by ultrasound. This double-blind placebo-controlled study involved 80 patients with various venous disorders, in particular varicose veins and post-thrombotic syndrome (15).

Cellulite

A clinical study published in 1979 found that the topical application of a Gotu kola extract 4 times daily resulted in significant improvements in 85% of 60 patients with cellulite (16).

Stretch marks

A double-blind study involving 80 pregnant women investigated the ability of a cream to prevent striae gravidarum (17).

The cream, which contained a Gotu kola extract as well as tocopherol and collagen-elastin hydrolysate, was applied once daily for 12 weeks.

Women using the cream developed significantly fewer stretch marks than women using placebo.

Wound healing

The ability of Gotu kola to promote rapid and good wound healing has been demonstrated in several clinical studies. Increased wound perfusion and proliferation of granulation tissue has been observed, as well as accelerated wound closure in the case of skin grafts (3).

Some of these studies have combined the topical application of Gotu kola extracts with intramuscular injections.

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