Hydrocotyle Asiatica – The Homeopathic Remedy for Leprosy & Thickened Skin

• Common Name: Indian Pennywort / Gotu Kola
• Family: Umbelliferae
• Source: Tincture from whole fresh plant
• Miasm: Sycosis
• Temperament: Irritable, lymphatic
• Thermal: Hot patient

Sphere of Action

Acts prominently on skin, connective tissues, and lymphatic system. Especially indicated in cutaneous affections with thickening, hypertrophy, and chronic inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes.

Key Clinical Indications

Skin Disorders

• Lepra (leprosy), psoriasis, eczema, acne rosacea
• Dry eruptions with thickening of skin and intolerable itching
• Scaly eruptions worse at night and when scratched
• Elephantiasis – thickened, indurated skin
• Fissures, especially in folds of skin

Syphilitic / Sycosis Affections

• Condylomata, sycotic skin affections
• Warts, especially in sycotic constitutions
• Chronic pelvic inflammation or ovarian indurations

Glandular and Fibrous Tissue

• Glandular enlargement and indurations
• Hypertrophy of connective tissue
• Chronic rheumatic complaints with skin involvement

Characteristic Symptoms

• Hypertrophy and induration of skin and underlying tissues
• Itching worse at night, often with bleeding from scratching
• Skin becomes hard, leathery, cracked, especially on hands and feet
• Great thickening of epidermis and connective tissue

Modalities

Worse From	Better From
Night (itching increases)	Open air
Scratching	Cold applications

Potency & Dosage

• Mother tincture (Q) and 3x commonly used in skin conditions
• Can be applied externally and taken internally in low potencies
• In chronic cases, 6C to 30C may be used

Relationships

Complementary	Similar Remedies	Antidotes
Sulphur	Graphites, Thuja, Natrum mur	Not specifically noted

Mnemonic for Hydrocotyle

“HARD-SKIN HYDROCOTYLE”

• Hypertrophied, hard skin
• Yearning to scratch all night
• Dry eczema and warty growths
• Rough, cracked skin on limbs
• Affection of connective tissues

One-Line Summary

Hydrocotyle Asiatica is indicated in chronic skin diseases with hypertrophy, dryness, and intolerable itching, especially in sycotic constitutions.