What Is the Scientific Evidence for Gotu Kola?
There is significant, but not definitive, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of gotu kola for the treatment of varicose veins/venous insufficiency4-8 . For example, a 2-month double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 94 people with venous insufficiency of the lower limb compared the benefits of gotu kola extract at 120 mg daily and 60 mg daily against a placebo. 7 The results showed a significant dose-related improvement in the treated groups in symptoms such as subjective heaviness, discomfort, and edema. Another 2-month study of double-blind design enrolled 90 people with varicose veins and compared the benefits of gotu kola at 60 mg and 30 mg daily against placebo. 6 Again, the results showed improvements in both treated groups, but greater improvement at the higher dose. In one study of people with venous insufficiency, 2 weeks of treatment with gotu kola extracts was shown to reduce the time necessary for the swelling to disappear. 4 Another study of double-blind design fol
