Gotu kola - the old school skin herb that still surprises

An accessible, garden-to-balm deep dive - focused on topical use, with a few bits most people don’t hear about.

A quick origin story

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica), sometimes called mandukaparni, brahmi, Indian pennywort, or pegaga, has been part of Asian medicine for centuries. It appears in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese texts as a remedy for wounds, skin problems, and general 'strengthening' of the body - not as an exotic novelty but as a working, everyday herb. That long practical history is exactly why scientists started testing it properly - people were already using it on cuts, ulcers, and scar-prone skin (Sun et al., 2020, Accessed: 4 December 2025).

Topical use then - and why it mattered

Traditionally it was applied as a poultice, paste, or oil. Those simple preparations do a useful thing - they bring the herb’s full mix of compounds into direct contact with skin tissue. Unlike single-molecule drugs, whole-plant preparations deliver a handful of active phytochemicals together - and some of those compounds appear to work in concert on skin repair. The old recipes were pragmatic: cooked or crushed leaves, sometimes mixed with fat, kept the herb’s lipophilic (oil-loving) compounds where they could reach cells in damaged skin (Witkowska et al., 2024 , Accessed: 4 December 2025).

What’s in the leaf that helps skin? (a short chemistry lesson)

The names you’ll see in scientific papers are asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid - all part of the triterpene family. These molecules have been shown to:

Stimulate collagen production, especially collagen type I (the scaffolding protein skin needs to close wounds and strengthen scars) (Witkowska et al., 2024 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)
Reduce inflammatory signals that can slow healing (lower IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα) (Arribas‑López et al., 2022 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)
Encourage angiogenesis (more tiny blood vessels to feed regenerating tissue) (Somboonwong et al., 2012 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)

One nerdy but important detail - madecassoside seems to engage cellular signalling pathways that help fibroblasts (the cells that build collagen) do their job. That’s a clearer molecular link between the leaf and actual tissue repair than old folklore could provide. (Sun et al., 2020, Accessed: 4 December 2025).

What the research says now

Research shows promising effects for wound healing and skin repair, though results vary:

Wound healing: Multiple reviews and trials report faster closure and better tissue organisation with topical Centella preparations - especially when the extract is standardised for the triterpenes (Arribas‑López et al., 2022 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)
Scar modulation: Randomised trials show reduced scar development and improved scar appearance when Centella containing creams are used during healing phases (Somboonwong et al., 2012 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)
Sensitive, irritated skin & barrier support: Modern studies show Centella extracts can calm redness and help restore the skin barrier - handy for people using active treatments like retinoids that can sometimes irritate or dry the skin, or post-procedure care (Witkowska et al., 2024 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)

What most people don’t know

It’s not just 'anti-inflammatory' - it talks to fibroblasts. Many ingredients reduce inflammation; Centella also pushes fibroblasts to lay down better collagen and extracellular matrix components (Witkowska et al., 2024 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)
Whole-extract vs isolated compounds: Some brands use a total glycoside extract (the whole triterpene mix). Others isolate asiaticoside or madecassoside. Evidence suggests the full profile often behaves differently, sometimes better, than single compounds (Sun et al., 2020, Accessed: 4 December 2025)
Used internally for veins, used topically for skin: Centella has a long history as an oral medicine for chronic venous insufficiency. That vascular action partly explains the topical benefit - better microcirculation helps healing tissue get nutrients and oxygen (Arribas‑López et al., 2022 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)

Practical advice - how you’ll actually use it

For fresh cuts & nicks: A Centella infused balm or ointment can be a calming, collagen supportive option. Look for products that list “Centella asiatica extract” or standardized asiaticoside/madecassoside. (Somboonwong et al., 2012 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)
For redness, sensitised skin: Centella can reduce irritation and support barrier repair (Witkowska et al., 2024 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)
For scarring: Start topical care once the wound is closed and the site is clean; some trials used formulations during the first weeks of healing to reduce scar formation (Arribas‑López et al., 2022 , Accessed: 4 December 2025)

Final, plain-spoken verdict

Gotu kola is one of those herbs where folk practice and modern science meet cohesively. The old-school poultices pointed people in the right direction, and research has since mapped plausible mechanisms and clinical benefits - especially for topical wound care, scar modulation, and calming irritated skin. For everyday skincare, look for simple, small-batch or well-formulated Centella products (gels, creams, balms) and treat them like any effective herbal tool - highly useful but not a miracle cure - assisting the body to heal itself more effectively.

References

Arribas‑López, E., Zand, N., Ojo, O., Snowden, M.J. & Kochhar, T. (2022) A systematic review of the effect of Centella asiatica on wound healing. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8956065/ (Accessed: 4 December 2025).

Somboonwong, J., Kankaisre, M., Tantisira, B. & Tantisira, M.H. (2012) Wound healing activities of different extracts of Centella asiatica in incision and burn wound models: an experimental animal study. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546525/ (Accessed: 4 December 2025).

Witkowska, K., Paczkowska‑Walendowska, M., Garbiec, E. & Cielecka‑Piontek, J. (2024) Topical application of Centella asiatica in wound healing: Recent insights into mechanisms and clinical efficacy. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11510310/ (Accessed: 4 December 2025).

Sun, B., Zhou, X., Chen, Y. et al. (2020) Therapeutic potential of Centella asiatica and its triterpenoids. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.568032/full (Accessed: 4 December 2025).