Gotu Kola Side Effects, Warnings, Caution and Contraindications

Although uncommon, some gotu kola side effects, for example in the form of allergic reactions, have been reported.

Stop taking gotu kola and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.

Other less serious side effects of gotu kola have also been infrequently reported.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience itching or a rash that has arisen while taking gotu kola.

Gotu kola is generally considered safe; however, there are no large clinical studies in humans to fully document the gotu kola side effects.

When used on the skin, some possible side effects may include a burning sensation, itching, or allergic rash. Stomach irritation and nausea have been observed when the herb is taken by mouth. Drowsiness has been reported, especially at larger doses.

High doses of gotu kola have been reported to increase blood sugar and raise cholesterol levels. A few cases of hepatitis (inflamed liver) have been reported in people taking gotu kola. It may increase sensitivity to the sun, so avoid overexposure to sunlight while taking it.

The gotu kola herb can cause allergic reactions in some. It impairs fertility in mice, but gotu kola side effects on human fertility are less well known.

In addition, the potential interactions between gotu kola and other drugs and herbs should be considered. Some of these combinations may be dangerous. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you are taking. For those of you who do not take chemical drugs at all, this would not be a problem.

All in all, gotu kola side effects are not oft reported.

Gotu Kola Warnings, Caution and Contraindications

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use this herb.

Do not take gotu kola orally without first talking to your doctor if you have diabetes (or if you take medicine to control blood sugar levels), or high cholesterol levels (or if you take medicine to control cholesterol levels). You may not be able to take the gotu kola herb, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have either of the conditions listed above.

Before taking gotu kola, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal / health supplements. Gotu kola may not be recommended in some situations.

Do not take gotu kola without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Gotu kola may be dangerous during pregnancy.

Do not take gotu kola without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is not known whether gotu kola will harm a nursing infant.

There is no information available regarding the use of gotu kola by children.

Having said all that about the various gotu kola warnings, please bear in mind that almost all doctors and pharmacists have next-to-zero knowledge about herbs and herbal remedies in general. If that is the case, they will not be able to offer any constructive opinion at all, except to advise you not to take the herbs at all.

Herbs, being natural and from Nature itself, are, generally speaking, a lot safer for human consumption than any chemical drug, which are made of artificial substances. Of course, due to their medicinal properties, some herbs may cause unwanted reactions or results in certain situations (e.g. we won't want to further lower blood pressure in someone who is already suffering from low blood pressure), and thus caution should always be practiced, especially if one is pregnant or nursing an infant.

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