ECLIPTA PROSTRATA

Common name: False Daisy, Trailing eclipta • Hindi: भ्रिंगराज Bhringaraj, केशराज Kesharaj • Manipuri: Uchi-sumbal • Tamil: கரிசிலாங்கண்ணி Karisilanganni, Kavanthakara • Malayalam: Kannunni •Telugu: Galagara • Kannada: Ajagara • Oriya: Kesarda • Sanskrit: भ्रिंगराज Bhringaraj

Botanical name: Eclipta prostrata   

Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower family)

Synonyms: Eclipta erecta, Eclipta alba, Eclipta punctata, Verbesina prostrata

Introduction: False Daisy is an annual commonly found growing in waste ground. Stems are erect or prostate, entirely velvety, often rooting at nodes. Oppositely arranged stalkless, oblong, lance-shaped, or elliptic leaves are 2.5-7.5 cm long. It has a short, flat or round, brown stem and small white daisy-like flowers on a long stalk. Eclipta grows abundantly in the tropics and is used with success in Ayurvedic medicine. Bhringaraj was used by Hindus in their Shradh, the ceremony for paying respect to a recently deceased person. This plant is one of the Hindu’s “Ten Auspicious Flowers” and is sometimes called, “the king of hair.”
Medicinal uses: Bhringraj is mainly used in hair oils, but it has been considered a good drug in hepatotoxicity. In hair oils, it may be used alongwith Centela asiatica (Brahmi) and Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) It may be used to prevent habitual abortion and miscarriage and also in cases of post-delivery uterine pain. A decoction of leaves is used in uterine haemorrhage. The juice of the plant with honey is given to infants with castor oil for expulsion of worms. For the relief in piles, fumigation with Eclipta alba is considered beneficial. The paste prepared by mincing fresh plants has got an anti-inflammatory effect and may be applied to insect bites, stings, swellings and other skin diseases.

Geographical distribution

The plant occurs throughout India as a common weed.

Chemical composition

The leaves contain ecliptine, a-terthienyl-methanol, stigmasterol, b-amyrin and mixture of desmethyl wedelolacetone.

Therapeutic uses

The leaves are used as tonic; deobstruent in hepatic and spleen enlargement. The roots are purgative and emetic. The root powder is given in skin diseases and enlargement of the liver and spleen.

Folk medicinal uses

In cases of snakebite, 12 mg. whole plant of Bhrangraj, mixed with 4-5 cloves and animal fat, is given to the patient for atleast 6 times in an hour till cure. It is stated that whole poison will come out through anus by this treatment. A paste of the herb mixed with sesame oil is used over glandular swellings, elephantiasis and skin diseases; it is also used for headache, toothache and for dyeing the hair black. Two drops of the leaf juice with eight drops of honey are a household remedy for newborn children suffering from catarrh. The roots are given in doses of 180 mg. with salt in scaldery urine.

Preparations

Bringaraj-taila, sadavindu-taila, bhringarajadi-churna, bhringaraja-ghrita.

Flowers and Fruits: Throughout the year