706-722-9011

Locations

Piedmont Augusta

1350 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30901

Piedmont Augusta Breast Health Center

818 St. Sebastian Way, Suite 205
Augusta, GA 30901

Piedmont Augusta Summerville Campus

2260 Wrightsboro Road
Augusta, GA 30904
Piedmont Augusta
ER
Wait
Time
34
min *

Serving Our Community for Over 200 Years

Piedmont Augusta (formerly University Hospital) serves the Augusta-Richmond County area and 25 counties across two states. The hospital is an 812-bed acute-care facility and part of a multi-campus system that includes three hospitals, a heart and vascular center, prompt and primary care, home health and private physician offices. Founded in 1818 as City Hospital, Piedmont Augusta has since moved through four facilities to its present location, which opened in 1970, and includes its Summerville Campus on Wrightsboro Road.

Piedmont Augusta offers state-of-the-art, comprehensive medical and surgical care that includes emergency services, cardiovascular, orthopaedics, neuroscience, oncology, bariatrics and weight management, robotic surgery and women’s services. Our cardiovascular services include state-of-the-art treatments for advanced cardiac conditions – including the Left Ventricular Assist Device, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and MitraClip for severe mitral valve regurgitation – and vascular conditions – such as the Fenestrated Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Graft and the Penumbra Indigo® System for minimally invasive clot removal in arteries and veins.

Piedmont Augusta at Summerville Campus, formerly University Hospital, was founded in 1952 and joined the Piedmont family on March 1, 2022. The hospital is known for its comprehensive diagnostic services, including cardiac catheterization, magnetic resonance imaging, and osteoporosis treatment.

It offers a 24-hour, 15-bed Emergency Department, a 12-bed inpatient unit and new and enhanced imaging services. Outpatient services include Wound & Hyperbaric Services, Diabetes Services, Full-service Lab, Sleep Lab, Coumadin Clinic, Primary Care and Piedmont Heart. It offers these services in the Summerville Medical Building and in the newly renovated Occupational Medicine suite.


Other awards and recognition include:

  • Comprehensive Stroke Center
  • The American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With the Guidelines ®- Stroke Quality Award
  • The American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke(sm) Honor Roll Therapy award
  • The American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award
  • ACE™ Accreditation by Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence
  • IAC® Accreditation by Intersocietal Accreditation Commission
  • Credentialed DNV GL - Healthcare VAD Facility/CMS Certified Ventricular Assist Device Program
  • Piedmont Augusta receives Cycle Five Accreditation from Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
  • BCBS Association designates Piedmont Augusta a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care
  • Level 1 Emergency Cardiac Care Center designation from the Georgia Department of Public Health
  • Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons
  • Credentialed as a Ventricular Assist Device facility by DNV GL
  • Full Cycle Five Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
  • Blue Distinction Center+ designation for knee and hip replacement from Blue Cross Blue Shield®
  • Blue Distinction Center+ designation for spine surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield®
  • Accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers for Piedmont Augusta’s Breast Health Center, the first established breast center in our area
  • Named No. 1 in the region by “US News & World Report” and ninth in Georgia
  • Ranked “High Performing” in nine reportable conditions or procedures by “US News & World Report,” including:
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    • Colon cancer surgery
    • Heart failure
    • Heart attack
    • Stroke
    • Kidney failure
    • Knee replacement
    • Hip replacement
    • Diabetes

Piedmont Augusta (formerly known as University Hospital) became part of Piedmont Healthcare on March 1, 2022 – expanding quality health services to our community.

*Piedmont Augusta complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Piedmont MyChart

Download Piedmont MyChart

  • Connect with your care team
  • See your test results
  • Request Rx refills
  • eCheck-in before you walk in 

Download the app today!

Get Piedmont MyChart on Google Play Get Piedmont Mychart on iTunes App Store
Piedmont Augusta Hospital | Piedmont Healthcare
706-722-9011

Locations

Piedmont Augusta

1350 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30901

Piedmont Augusta Breast Health Center

818 St. Sebastian Way, Suite 205
Augusta, GA 30901

Piedmont Augusta Summerville Campus

2260 Wrightsboro Road
Augusta, GA 30904
Piedmont Augusta
ER
Wait
Time
34
min *

Serving Our Community for Over 200 Years

Piedmont Augusta (formerly University Hospital) serves the Augusta-Richmond County area and 25 counties across two states. The hospital is an 812-bed acute-care facility and part of a multi-campus system that includes three hospitals, a heart and vascular center, prompt and primary care, home health and private physician offices. Founded in 1818 as City Hospital, Piedmont Augusta has since moved through four facilities to its present location, which opened in 1970, and includes its Summerville Campus on Wrightsboro Road.

Piedmont Augusta offers state-of-the-art, comprehensive medical and surgical care that includes emergency services, cardiovascular, orthopaedics, neuroscience, oncology, bariatrics and weight management, robotic surgery and women’s services. Our cardiovascular services include state-of-the-art treatments for advanced cardiac conditions – including the Left Ventricular Assist Device, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and MitraClip for severe mitral valve regurgitation – and vascular conditions – such as the Fenestrated Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Graft and the Penumbra Indigo® System for minimally invasive clot removal in arteries and veins.

Piedmont Augusta at Summerville Campus, formerly University Hospital, was founded in 1952 and joined the Piedmont family on March 1, 2022. The hospital is known for its comprehensive diagnostic services, including cardiac catheterization, magnetic resonance imaging, and osteoporosis treatment.

It offers a 24-hour, 15-bed Emergency Department, a 12-bed inpatient unit and new and enhanced imaging services. Outpatient services include Wound & Hyperbaric Services, Diabetes Services, Full-service Lab, Sleep Lab, Coumadin Clinic, Primary Care and Piedmont Heart. It offers these services in the Summerville Medical Building and in the newly renovated Occupational Medicine suite.


Other awards and recognition include:

  • Comprehensive Stroke Center
  • The American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With the Guidelines ®- Stroke Quality Award
  • The American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke(sm) Honor Roll Therapy award
  • The American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award
  • ACE™ Accreditation by Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence
  • IAC® Accreditation by Intersocietal Accreditation Commission
  • Credentialed DNV GL - Healthcare VAD Facility/CMS Certified Ventricular Assist Device Program
  • Piedmont Augusta receives Cycle Five Accreditation from Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
  • BCBS Association designates Piedmont Augusta a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care
  • Level 1 Emergency Cardiac Care Center designation from the Georgia Department of Public Health
  • Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons
  • Credentialed as a Ventricular Assist Device facility by DNV GL
  • Full Cycle Five Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
  • Blue Distinction Center+ designation for knee and hip replacement from Blue Cross Blue Shield®
  • Blue Distinction Center+ designation for spine surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield®
  • Accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers for Piedmont Augusta’s Breast Health Center, the first established breast center in our area
  • Named No. 1 in the region by “US News & World Report” and ninth in Georgia
  • Ranked “High Performing” in nine reportable conditions or procedures by “US News & World Report,” including:
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    • Colon cancer surgery
    • Heart failure
    • Heart attack
    • Stroke
    • Kidney failure
    • Knee replacement
    • Hip replacement
    • Diabetes

Piedmont Augusta (formerly known as University Hospital) became part of Piedmont Healthcare on March 1, 2022 – expanding quality health services to our community.

*Piedmont Augusta complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Piedmont MyChart

Download Piedmont MyChart

  • Connect with your care team
  • See your test results
  • Request Rx refills
  • eCheck-in before you walk in 

Download the app today!

Get Piedmont MyChart on Google Play Get Piedmont Mychart on iTunes App Store

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Gotu kola

Show Alternative Names
Brahmi
Centella
Centella asiatica
Hydrocotyle
Indian pennywort
Luei gong gen
Marsh pennywort

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) has been used to treat many conditions for thousands of years in India, China, and Indonesia. It was used to heal wounds, improve mental clarity, and treat skin conditions such as leprosy and psoriasis.

Some people use it to treat respiratory infections, such as colds, and in the past it was used for that in China. It has been called "the fountain of life" because legend has it that an ancient Chinese herbalist lived for more than 200 years as a result of taking gotu kola.

Historically, gotu kola has also been used to treat syphilis, hepatitis, stomach ulcers, mental fatigue, epilepsy, diarrhea, fever, and asthma. Today, in the U.S. and Europe gotu kola is most often used to treat varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency, a condition where blood pools in the legs. It is also used in ointments to treat psoriasis and help heal minor wounds.

Gotu kola is not the same as kola nut (Cola nitida). Unlike kola nut, gotu kola does not have caffeine and is not a stimulant.

 

Plant Description

Gotu kola is a perennial plant native to India, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the South Pacific. A member of the parsley family, it has no taste or smell. It thrives in and around water. It has small fan-shaped green leaves with white or light purple-to-pink flowers and small oval fruit. The leaves and stems of the gotu kola plant are used as medicine.

Medicinal Uses and Indications

Treatment

Venous insufficiency and varicose veins

When blood vessels lose their elasticity, blood pools in the legs and fluid leaks out of the blood vessels. That causes the legs to swell (venous insufficiency). Several small studies suggest gotu kola may help reduce swelling and improve blood flow. In a study of 94 people with venous insufficiency, those who took gotu kola saw their symptoms improve compared to those who took a placebo.

One study also found that people who took gotu kola before flying had less ankle and leg swelling than those who did not take it.

Wound healing and skin lesions

Gotu kola has chemicals called triterpenoids. In animal and lab studies, these compounds seem to help heal wounds. For example, some studies suggest that triterpenoids strengthen the skin, boost antioxidants in wounds, and increase blood supply to the area. Based on these findings, gotu kola has been applied to the skin, or used topically, for minor burns, psoriasis, preventing scars after surgery, and preventing or reducing stretch marks.

You can find gotu kola in many creams for wound healing. Ask your health care provider if one is right for you.

Dosage and Administration

Gotu kola is available in teas and as dried herbs, tinctures, capsules, tablets, and ointments. Products should be stored in a cool, dry place and used before the expiration date on the label.

Precautions

Gotu kola has been used in some studies that lasted up to one year. However, gotu kola has the potential to be harmful to the liver. It is best not to use gotu kola for more than 6 weeks without talking to your doctor. You may need to take a 2-week break before taking the herb again.

People with liver disease, or who take medications that affect the liver, should not take gotu kola. Ask your doctor if you take any prescription medications, or often take over-the-counter pain relievers.

If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant it is best to avoid Gotu Kola.

Side Effects

Side effects are rare but may include skin allergy and burning sensations with external use, headache, stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, and extreme drowsiness. These tend to happen with high doses of gotu kola. Some studies suggest Gotu Kola can interfere with a person's ability to get pregnant, and that it may stimulate uterine contractions making it possibly unsafe to use during pregnancy.

Interactions and Depletions

Gotu kola may interact with the following medications:

Drugs that affect the liver: Gotu kola contains things that may hurt a person's liver, and taking it along with some other medications that also can harm the liver may cause liver damage.

Diabetes medications: In animal studies, gotu kola seems to lower blood sugar levels. People with diabetes should not take gotu kola without first talking to their doctor.

Diuretics (water pills): Gotu kola seems to act like a diuretic, meaning it helps the body get rid of excess fluid. Taking diuretic medications and gotu kola could cause your body to lose too much fluid, upsetting the balance of electrolytes you need. The same is true of taking gotu kola with herbs that have diuretic effects, such as green tea, astragalus, or gingko.

Sedatives: Because gotu kola acts like a sedative, it might make some drugs taken for anxiety or insomnia stronger. The same is true for herbs taken for anxiety or insomnia, such as valerian.

Supporting Research

Aronson JK. Apiaceae. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier B.V.; 2016:651-653.

Arribas-López E, Zand N, Ojo O, Snowden MJ, Kochhar T. A systematic review of the effect of Centella asiatica on wound healing. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(6):3266. PMID: 35328954 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8956065/.

Ganie IB, Ahmad Z, Shahzad A,. Biotechnological intervention and secondary metabolite production in Centella asiatica L. Plants (Basel). 2022;11(21):2928.. PMID: 36365380 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9656378/.

Gray NE, Alcazar Magana A, Lak P, et al. Centella asiatica - phytochemistry and mechanisms of neuroprotection and cognitive enhancement. Phytochem Rev. 2018 Feb;17(1):161-194. PMID: 31736679 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6857646/.

Kruzel TA. Kidney disease. In: Pizzorno JE, Murray MT, eds. Textbook of Natural Medicine. 5th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2021:chap 190.

Murray MT, Nowicki J. Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola). In: Pizzorno JE, Murray MT, eds. Textbook of Natural Medicine. 5th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2021:chap 64.

Murray MT, Nowicki J. Varicose veins. In: Pizzorno JE, Murray MT, eds. Textbook of Natural Medicine. 5th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2021:chap 22.

Nataraj M, Carmelin DS, Geetha Sravanthy P, Saravanan M. Evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of Centella asiatica-mediated selenium oxide nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant upper respiratory isolates. Cureus. 2024 ;16(4):e58350. PMID: 38756255 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11096689/.

Patterson JW. Disorders of collagen. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon’s Skin Pathology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2025:chap 12.

Sabaragamuwa R, Perera CO. Total triterpenes, polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of bioactive phytochemicals of Centella asiatica by different extraction techniques. Foods. 2023;12(21):3972. PMID: 37959090 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10647812/.

Sun B, Wu L, Wu Y, et al. Therapeutic potential of Centella asiatica and its triterpenes: a review. Front Pharmacol. 2020; 11:568032. PMID: 33013406 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7498642/.

Woo SM, Davis WD, Aggarwal S, Clinton JW, Kiparizoska S, Lewis JH. Herbal and dietary supplement induced liver injury: highlights from the recent literature. World J Hepatol. 2021;13(9):1019-1041.PMID: 34630872 pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8473494/.

Review Date: 4/7/2025

Reviewed By

Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, Solutions Acupuncture, a private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Piedmont Augusta Hospital | Piedmont Healthcare
706-722-9011

Locations

Piedmont Augusta

1350 Walton Way
Augusta, GA 30901

Piedmont Augusta Breast Health Center

818 St. Sebastian Way, Suite 205
Augusta, GA 30901

Piedmont Augusta Summerville Campus

2260 Wrightsboro Road
Augusta, GA 30904
Piedmont Augusta
ER
Wait
Time
34
min *

Serving Our Community for Over 200 Years

Piedmont Augusta (formerly University Hospital) serves the Augusta-Richmond County area and 25 counties across two states. The hospital is an 812-bed acute-care facility and part of a multi-campus system that includes three hospitals, a heart and vascular center, prompt and primary care, home health and private physician offices. Founded in 1818 as City Hospital, Piedmont Augusta has since moved through four facilities to its present location, which opened in 1970, and includes its Summerville Campus on Wrightsboro Road.

Piedmont Augusta offers state-of-the-art, comprehensive medical and surgical care that includes emergency services, cardiovascular, orthopaedics, neuroscience, oncology, bariatrics and weight management, robotic surgery and women’s services. Our cardiovascular services include state-of-the-art treatments for advanced cardiac conditions – including the Left Ventricular Assist Device, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement and MitraClip for severe mitral valve regurgitation – and vascular conditions – such as the Fenestrated Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Graft and the Penumbra Indigo® System for minimally invasive clot removal in arteries and veins.

Piedmont Augusta at Summerville Campus, formerly University Hospital, was founded in 1952 and joined the Piedmont family on March 1, 2022. The hospital is known for its comprehensive diagnostic services, including cardiac catheterization, magnetic resonance imaging, and osteoporosis treatment.

It offers a 24-hour, 15-bed Emergency Department, a 12-bed inpatient unit and new and enhanced imaging services. Outpatient services include Wound & Hyperbaric Services, Diabetes Services, Full-service Lab, Sleep Lab, Coumadin Clinic, Primary Care and Piedmont Heart. It offers these services in the Summerville Medical Building and in the newly renovated Occupational Medicine suite.


Other awards and recognition include:

  • Comprehensive Stroke Center
  • The American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With the Guidelines ®- Stroke Quality Award
  • The American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke(sm) Honor Roll Therapy award
  • The American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award
  • ACE™ Accreditation by Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence
  • IAC® Accreditation by Intersocietal Accreditation Commission
  • Credentialed DNV GL - Healthcare VAD Facility/CMS Certified Ventricular Assist Device Program
  • Piedmont Augusta receives Cycle Five Accreditation from Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
  • BCBS Association designates Piedmont Augusta a Blue Distinction Center+ for Cardiac Care
  • Level 1 Emergency Cardiac Care Center designation from the Georgia Department of Public Health
  • Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons
  • Credentialed as a Ventricular Assist Device facility by DNV GL
  • Full Cycle Five Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
  • Blue Distinction Center+ designation for knee and hip replacement from Blue Cross Blue Shield®
  • Blue Distinction Center+ designation for spine surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield®
  • Accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers for Piedmont Augusta’s Breast Health Center, the first established breast center in our area
  • Named No. 1 in the region by “US News & World Report” and ninth in Georgia
  • Ranked “High Performing” in nine reportable conditions or procedures by “US News & World Report,” including:
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    • Colon cancer surgery
    • Heart failure
    • Heart attack
    • Stroke
    • Kidney failure
    • Knee replacement
    • Hip replacement
    • Diabetes

Piedmont Augusta (formerly known as University Hospital) became part of Piedmont Healthcare on March 1, 2022 – expanding quality health services to our community.

*Piedmont Augusta complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Piedmont MyChart

Download Piedmont MyChart

  • Connect with your care team
  • See your test results
  • Request Rx refills
  • eCheck-in before you walk in 

Download the app today!

Get Piedmont MyChart on Google Play Get Piedmont Mychart on iTunes App Store