Skip to content

Ji Xue Cao

Centella asiatica

Family: Apiaceae Genus: Centella Species: asiatica Pinyin: Ji Xue Cao Latin: Herba Centellae

Synonyms: Centella cordifolia, Hydrocotyle sylvicola, Hydrocotyle ficarioides, Hydrocotyle ficarifolia, Centella asiatica var. crispata, Hydrocotyle asiatica var. crispata, Hydrocotyle dentata, Centella asiatica f. crispata, Centella asiatica var. boninensis, Centella boninensis, Hydrocotyle brasiliensis, Hydrocotyle brevipedata, Hydrocotyle wightiana, Centella hirtella, Hydrocotyle inaequipes, Hydrocotyle hebecarpa, Hydrocotyle asiatica var. monantha, Hydrocotyle lurida, Hydrocotyle lunata, Glyceria asiatica, Hydrocotyle indivisa, Hydrocotyle brevipes, Hydrocotyle thunbergiana, Centella asiatica var. cristata, Hydrocotyle nummularioides, Hydrocotyle sarmentosa, Chondrocarpus triflorus, Centella ulugurensis, Centella uniflora, Hydrocotyle abbreviata, Hydrocotyle abyssinica, Hydrocotyle ulugurensis, Chondrocarpus asiaticus, Hydrocotyle artensis, Trisanthus cochinchinensis, Hydrocotyle uniflora

Gotu Kola (English) Indian Pennywort (English) Asiatic Pennywort (English) Brahmi (Hindi) Ji Xue Cao (Chinese (Pinyin)) η§―ι›ͺ草 (Chinese)
Centella asiatica β€” flower
Centella asiatica β€” flower

☯ TCM Properties

Category: clearing_heat
Temperature: cold
Taste: bitter, pungent
Meridians: liver, spleen, kidney, bladder, lung, small_intestine, large_intestine
Functions:

Clears Heat, promotes diuresis, resolves swelling and removes toxicity; Invigorates the Blood, reduces swelling and stops pain; Clears Damp-Heat; Cools the Blood and stops bleeding; Clears the Liver and brightens the eyes

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
adaptogentonicvulnerarynervineanti-inflammatory

Botanical Description

Centella asiatica is a low-growing perennial herb in the carrot family (Apiaceae), with slender, creeping stems (stolons) that root at nodes. Leaves are kidney-shaped to round, 1-7 cm wide, with scalloped margins, long petioles, and a waxy, bright green surface. Tiny pinkish-purple flowers are borne in small umbels in the leaf axils. Fruits are small, hard, and ribbed. The plant forms dense mats in moist conditions and spreads rapidly via stolons.

Habitat:

Moist, tropical and subtropical regions including wetland margins, grasslands, rice paddies, and stream banks; native to Asia and Africa, widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

Native Region: Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Borneo, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cabinda, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Caroline Is., Central African Repu, Chad, Chatham Is., China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Comoros, Congo, East Himalaya, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Free State, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, Iran, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Korea, KwaZulu-Natal, Laos, Lesotho, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Marshall Is., Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New South Wales, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Nicobar Is., Niger, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Ogasawara-shoto, Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Rodrigues, Rwanda, RΓ©union, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Solomon Is., Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Transcaucasus, Uganda, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is., West Himalaya, Yemen, Zambia, ZaΓ―re, Zimbabwe
Conservation Notes:

Centella asiatica is a widespread plant found throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and other regions. It is commonly cultivated as a vegetable and medicinal herb. No conservation concerns, although wild collection pressure exists in some regions.

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional Chinese Uses

Ji Xue Cao (gotu kola, centella asiatica) is a cool, bitter herb used in Chinese medicine to clear Heat toxin, reduce swelling, and promote healing of sores. It addresses carbuncles, boils, skin infections, and inflammatory swellings from Heat toxin, as well as urinary tract infections and jaundice from Damp-Heat. Modern herbal medicine has extensively researched its collagen-stimulating and wound-healing properties, and it is widely used in dermatology for scar reduction, wound healing, and skin-barrier support. It is one of the most internationally recognized Chinese herbs.

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
158637

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

Back to Herb Database