Gotu Kola and Memory: What the Evidence Actually Says

What gotu kola is

Gotu kola, Centella asiatica, is a small creeping plant in the parsley family that grows in wet areas across Asia and elsewhere. It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for centuries, and its leaves are eaten in some cuisines.

Today it is sold in capsules, teas, creams and liquid blends. In supplements, it is usually promoted for three things: circulation, skin and wound healing, and thinking.

What the research says about memory

Memorial Sloan Kettering’s integrative medicine database notes that a preliminary study suggested possible benefits, but a meta-analysis did not find strong enough evidence to support gotu kola for improving cognitive function (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, “Gotu Kola (About Herbs)”).

In plain words: a few small studies were encouraging, but when researchers pooled the evidence, it was not convincing. Larger, well-designed studies are needed.

Why the hype outruns the data

Gotu kola appears in many “brain” products because it has a long traditional reputation and is cheap to include. Marketing often repeats the traditional claims without the research caveats.

Lab and animal studies can look exciting, but they do not always hold up in people. That gap between early promise and human proof is common with herbs.

Side effects and liver reports

The side effects listed by MSK include skin rash and contact dermatitis, and liver toxicity. There are case reports of liver damage linked to taking Centella asiatica by mouth. These are rare, but serious.

Signs of liver trouble include yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, belly pain and unusual tiredness. Stop and see a doctor if you notice them.

Drug interactions

MSK notes that gotu kola may inhibit several cytochrome P450 enzymes, the liver enzymes that break down many drugs. The clinical importance is not yet known, but it is a reason to check with a pharmacist if you take regular medicines.

Gotu kola in MemoFlow

In MemoFlow, gotu kola is the fifth of six herbs in a 195 mg proprietary blend. Because blend ingredients are listed from most to least by weight, gotu kola is one of the smaller shares. The exact amount and any standardization are not published.

The other herbs in the blend are mostly circulation and heart herbs, like horse chestnut (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “Horse Chestnut: Usefulness and Safety”) and butcher’s broom (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, “Butcher's Broom (About Herbs)”). So gotu kola is doing most of the “memory” branding work on a small share of the formula.

If you want to try it

1. Check with your doctor, especially about your liver and medicines.
2. Choose products that state the amount and extract type.
3. Keep a simple weekly note of focus and memory.
4. Stop if you notice rash, belly pain or yellowing.
5. Judge it after several weeks, not days.

What helps memory more reliably

The evidence is far stronger for habits than for any single herb. Regular sleep, physical activity, managing blood pressure, treating hearing loss and staying socially and mentally active are all linked to better brain health over time.

A supplement can be one small part of that picture, but it should not replace the basics or a doctor’s visit for new memory problems.

How gotu kola is sold

You will find gotu kola as dried leaf tea, capsules of powdered leaf, standardized extracts and liquid tinctures. Standardized extracts often state a percentage of plant compounds called triterpenes or asiaticosides. Products without a standard can vary widely in strength.

If a label lists gotu kola inside a blend with no amount and no standard, you have very little to go on. That is the case with most multi-herb “brain” liquids.

Gotu kola is one of six herbs in MemoFlow. See the full label before you buy.

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Questions to ask before trying it

1. Do I have any liver condition, or drink heavily?
2. Do I take several prescription medicines?
3. Am I pregnant or breastfeeding?
4. Is my memory change new or getting worse? If so, see a doctor first.
5. Does the product list the amount and extract type?

If any answer gives you pause, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

Gotu kola vs. other “brain herbs”

Gotu kola is one of several herbs sold for memory. Others include bacopa, ginkgo and lion’s mane. Each has its own mixed evidence base, and none is a proven memory treatment. We have not reviewed those herbs here, and MemoFlow does not contain them.

The practical point is the same for all of them: look for a stated amount, a stated extract, and realistic claims, and keep your doctor informed.

Keeping track if you try it

Write three numbers each week: focus, memory slips and sleep, each from 1 to 5. After four weeks, look at the trend. If nothing has moved, the herb is probably not doing much for you.

Where the “memory herb” idea came from

In traditional systems, gotu kola was used as a general tonic for the nerves and skin, and was said to support long life and a calm mind. Early lab and animal studies then looked at its compounds and their effects on nerve cells, which helped the reputation spread.

Human trials are the step that matters for buyers, and that is where the evidence is still thin. Until larger trials report clear benefits, treat memory claims for gotu kola as unproven.

A note on names

Gotu kola is sometimes called Indian pennywort or Asiatic pennywort. It is not related to the kola nut used in colas, and it contains no caffeine.

Gotu kola and skin

Much of the research interest in gotu kola is actually about skin and wounds, often using creams rather than pills. That is also where most reported rashes and contact dermatitis come from. If you have sensitive skin and notice a rash after starting a product with gotu kola, stop and check with a doctor.

The bottom line

Gotu kola has a long traditional reputation for the mind, but current evidence does not show it reliably improves memory. It is generally used safely, with rare liver reports and possible drug interactions to keep in mind.

Sources

1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Gotu Kola (About Herbs). MSK integrative medicine database. Checked September 22, 2026.
2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Horse Chestnut: Usefulness and Safety. NCCIH, updated April 2025. Checked September 22, 2026.
3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Butcher's Broom (About Herbs). MSK integrative medicine database. Checked September 22, 2026.