Gotu Kola or Shankhpushpi: Which One for Memory?

When choosing between gotu kola or shankhpushpi to support memory, the honest answer is not as clear-cut as for other mind-herb pairs. Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) has a larger body of human scientific literature than vacha/">shankhpushpi, but it remains nuanced: a positive trial on working memory in older adults, followed by a larger meta-analysis that found no significant difference from placebo across the cognitive domains tested. brahmi/">Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), for its part, currently has no solid human clinical data to point to: most of the available research remains preclinical or computational.

This comparison details what each herb actually shows for memory, without smoothing over this imbalance in evidence, to help you choose with full knowledge rather than on a ready-made promise.

Gotu kola and shankhpushpi: two herbs from the Medhya Rasayana family

In the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia, Medhya Rasayana refers to herbs traditionally associated with mental clarity, memory and emotional balance. Gotu kola and shankhpushpi both belong to this group, with distinct traditional nuances:

• Gotu kola (Centella asiatica): a creeping herb from wet areas, valued in Ayurveda for circulation, skin healing and a calm mental grounding. Its "memory" use is more recent in scientific research than its traditional circulatory and skin reputation.
• Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis): a bindweed whose name means "conch-shaped flower". Tradition uses it mainly to calm mental agitation, support clarity of mind and promote restorative sleep.

The two are often cited side by side in traditional mind-focused formulas, more as complements than opposites. This is in fact the subject of our article on gotu kola and shankhpushpi as a duo.

What does science say about gotu kola and memory?

This is where gotu kola stands out, while still remaining a nuanced scientific record rather than definitive proof.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial led by Wattanathorn and colleagues (2008, Journal of Ethnopharmacology) tested a dose of 750 mg per day of Centella asiatica extract for two months in 28 healthy older adults. Results showed an improvement in working memory and some electrophysiological attention markers, along with an improvement in self-reported mood (see the study on Google Scholar).

But one trial does not make a certainty. A systematic review with meta-analysis published by Puttarak and co-authors (2017, Scientific Reports), covering eleven clinical trials, found no significant difference between Centella asiatica and placebo across the cognitive domains tested overall. The authors do note a mood improvement — less anger, more perceived alertness — one hour after taking it (see the study on Google Scholar).

In short: gotu kola has genuinely been tested in humans for cognition, which is already rare for a traditional herb, but the overall picture is mixed. One encouraging trial on working memory is not enough to conclude general efficacy across all cognitive functions, as the larger meta-analysis shows. The most consistent effect across this body of work appears to be on mood rather than pure memory.

And shankhpushpi, on the science side?

The picture here is much simpler to state: to date, there is no solid human clinical data on shankhpushpi and cognition. Most of the available research remains preclinical (on cells or animals) or based on computational modeling exploring potential mechanisms of action, without a corresponding controlled human trial.

This does not mean shankhpushpi is ineffective: many traditional herbs simply lack funded clinical trials, for want of commercial interest in a hard-to-patent plant. But it does mean that today, its use for memory or mental clarity rests almost entirely on Ayurvedic tradition, not on clinical evidence comparable to gotu kola's. This is a fact to state clearly rather than mask behind vague scientific language.

Comparison table: gotu kola vs shankhpushpi

Criterion	Gotu kola	Shankhpushpi
Botanical name	Centella asiatica	Convolvulus pluricaulis
Dominant traditional use	Circulation, skin, calm mental grounding	Mental clarity, calming, sleep
Level of scientific evidence	One positive clinical trial on working memory; a meta-analysis of 11 trials with no significant difference vs. placebo	No solid human clinical data identified; research mostly preclinical or computational
Most common form	Powder, standardized extract or capsules	Powder, traditional syrup or capsules
Usual time to take	Morning or during the day	More often evening, to support relaxation

How to choose based on your goal?

To guide the choice concretely:

• You want to rely on the more substantial scientific record, even if it remains nuanced: gotu kola is the better-documented choice in humans, with a genuine clinical trial to its name, even though a larger meta-analysis tempers this optimism on overall cognition.
• You mainly want to calm a restless mind in the evening or support relaxation: shankhpushpi matches its traditional use, keeping in mind that no human clinical study currently supports it.
• You want to benefit from both approaches at once: Ayurvedic tradition frequently combines them, one for daytime circulatory and mental grounding, the other for clarity and calm. Our article on gotu kola and shankhpushpi as a duo details the practical approach.

This is not a final choice: many people try one, then the other, before finding what suits them — or opt directly for the traditional combination.

Precautions common to both herbs

Gotu kola and shankhpushpi share points of caution to know before starting a course:

• Sedatives and anti-anxiety medication: both herbs can potentiate the effect of sedative treatments. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: data are lacking for both herbs; they are traditionally discouraged in these situations, unless a doctor advises otherwise.
• Children: use should be reserved for professional supervision, for lack of suitable safety data.
• Underlying conditions: with liver disease or an ongoing treatment, prior medical advice is recommended, particularly for gotu kola.
• Quality: favor products tested for heavy metals, as with any imported powdered herb.

For the full detail of precautions, at-risk populations and warning signs, see our safety guide.

Neither a promise nor a substitute for medical advice

Neither of these two herbs replaces medical follow-up for a confirmed or unusual cognitive disorder — marked memory loss, confusion, a sudden change in concentration. These signs call for a consultation, not self-medication with herbs. Gotu kola has an encouraging clinical trial on working memory in its favor, tempered by a larger meta-analysis that finds no clear overall cognitive benefit over placebo. Shankhpushpi, to date, is carried almost entirely by tradition and preclinical research leads, without solid human data to confirm it. In either case, a realistically evaluated course of several weeks beats expecting an immediate result.