It is a prostrate, perennial herb. The stem is glabrous, pink and striated, rooting at the nodes. The leaves are fleshy, orbicular-reniform, crenate, base cordate and often lobed and long-petioled. The flowers are red, pink or white, in fascicled umbels. The fruits are oblong, dull brown, laterally compressed; the pericarp hard, thickened, woody and white.

Antiprotozoal, alleviates spasms and sedative (plant); on keratinization and collagen synthesis (stimulates hair and nail growth and provides support for the repair of cartilagen); neutralizes acids in the blood, antiinflammatory, laxative (mild), diuretic, antispasmodic.

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Ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, beta-elemene, niacin, pectin, riboflavin, thiamin(leaf); asiatic acid, asiaticoside, aspartic acid, beta-sitosterol, betulinic acid, brahminoside, brahmoside, glycine, inositol, kaempferol, linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stigmasterol (plant); camphor (essential oil)

For healing wounds (plant extract); in tuberculosis and leprosy (plant decoction); improves intellectual capacity, concentration and memory of children, in skin diseases, asthma, bronchitis, gastric problems, leucorrhea, catarrh, as an antidote in cholera; on boils and tumours (plant paste); to cure severe headache, to prevent and cure urinary tract infections and the growth of kidney stones (leaf juice).

The raw leaf juice should be consumed in small doses. since it is very potent and an excess may lead to coma.
Nausea has been reported at very high levels of intake.
It should not be taken internally as a supplement by children under 4 or breast-feeding / pregnant mothers. People taking sedatives should also not use centella as a supplement.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.