Eclipta, Han Lian Cao 旱莲草

Han Lian Cao, Mo Han Lian (TCM)
Bhringaraja (Ayurveda)
Bhangra (Unani)
Karisalai (Siddha)
Moninckx, Moninckx atlas, vol. 8; (1682-1709)

Eclipta alba
Blanco, Flora de Filipinas. (1875)

Botanical name:

Eclipta alba (syn. E. prostrata, E. punctata, E. erecta, Verbesina alba)

Parts used:

Herb

Temperature & Taste:

Cool (TCM), Warm (Unani), dry. Sweet, Sour

Classifications:

N. Tonics

Uses:

1. Nourish the Blood, Benefits the Hair:
-special herb to nourish the Hair
-dull, thin, weak or patchy Hair; especially for Premature Greying of the Hair (a specific in both TCM and Ayurveda)
-India, the oil in which the herb is decocted is used, topically; in TCM, the herb is administered internally.
-Alopecia.
    
2. Strengthens the Liver and Kidney Yin:
-weakness of the Eyes with blurred Vision
-Diabetes, Neurosis and Senility
-strengthens the Teeth and Gums
-Rheumatoid Arthritis
-considered specific in Ayurveda for chronic Liver disease, especially Cirrhosis; it is Hepato-protective
-Jaundice

3. Nourishes the Liver Yin and Blood, Settles Wind:
-Anemia, Blood deficiency (TCM, Siddha)
-Tinnitus, Dizziness and Vertigo from Liver deficiency.
-Menstrual disorders with both Blood Deficiency and Heat.
-Tetanus, Elephantiasis and Syphilis in India.

4. Cools the Blood, Stops Bleeding:
-Blood in the Sputum, Urine or Feces;
-Diarrhea or Dysentery with Blood;
-Internal Hemorrhage or Bleeding from Skin Lesions etc.
-chronic skin diseases including Leucoderma, Vitiligo, Urticaria and Leprosy (Unani)

5. Externally:
-Greying of the Hair, Alopecia, and as a hair tonic (juice, or herb or juice boiled in sesame or coconut oil is applied)
-topically for Dermatitis and Skin Infections.
-applied to Glandular Swellings
-paste is applied to Spleen or Liver hardness. (Unani)
-juice or decocted oil is dropped into in the ears for Earache.
-in Gargles to strengthen the Teeth and Gums.
-distilled water is used for Opthalmia.
-topically applied to Insect and Snake Bite (Ayurveda)

Dose:

Herb in Decoction: 6–12 grams;
Herb in Powder: 3–5 grams;
Seed in Powder: 1–3 grams
Tincture of the Herb (1:4 in 50% alcohol): 3–5 mls.

Comment:

1. It can reduce excess of all 3 Dosas (Humors) of Ayurveda, according to some sources. It is also regarded as Rasayana to Pitta (Bile) constitutions.
2. Eclipta has been used for a variety of other conditions in classical texts too. This includes for Cough and Asthma, Parasites,

Correctives:

Peppers, Ginger, Honey (Unani)

Preparation:

1. Sometimes charred to stop Bleeding. (TCM)

Substitutes:

1. Cotton seed (Unani)
2. Dandelion (Unani, Waring)
3. Achyranthes aspera (Unani)

Main Combinations:

1. Tonic for old age:
i. to prevent Senility and to promote longevity, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Sesame seed, Emblic Myrobalan (Ayurveda)
ii. strengthen the teeth and darken the hair in old age, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Chebula (He Zi), Gleditsia Zao Jiao, Silkworm Feces (Can Sha), Cimifuga Sheng Ma (as in Lao Ya Wu Zi Fang from Shou Qin Yang Lao [Health Preservation for Old People]).
2. To nourish Kidney and Liver Yin and consolidate Jing (Essence), Eclipta Han Lian Cao is combined with Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi. This is called Er Zhi Wan (‘Two Ultimate Pill’). Used for pain and weakness in the lower back, dry mouth and throat, dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia and premature greying of hair. It is also used for Menopause.
3. Premature Greying of Hair:
i. prepare a syrup with Eclipta Han Lian Cao, fresh Ginger and Honey (as in Jin Ling Jian from Qian Jin Yue Ling [Monthly Rites Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces]),
ii. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Polygonum He Shou Wu
iii. from Heat / Bile, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with with Emblic Myrobalan, Hemidesmus indica
iv. to strengthen the hair and cure premature greying, decoct Eclipta Han Lian Cao with and Licorice in sesame oil and use topically.
v. Premature Greying, Alopecia, prepare an oil from Eclipta juice, Hemidesmus, Monochoria, Iron oxide in Sesame oil. (Ayurveda)
vi. Premature Greying, Alopecia, Eclipta, Emblic Myrobalan, Sesame seed (Chakradatta)
4. To promote hair growth:
i. As a hair tonic, boil Eclipta (Bhringaraja) in Sesame oil and apply daily
ii. Eclipta with Dodder herb, used topically
iii. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Ginseng, Astragalus Huang Qi, Dang Gui, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang, Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi.
5. Mental disorders from Wind-Heat, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Indian Spikenard, Centella, Convolvulus Shankhapushpi.
6. Bleeding:
i. Blood in the Urine, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Plantain seed (TCM)
ii. Blood in the Stool, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Burnet root
iii. Uterine Bleeding, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Mugwort
iv. Uterine Bleeding, excessive Menstruation, charred Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Agrimony (Xian He Cao), Drypoteris crassirhizoma Mian Ma Guan Zhong
v. Bleeding due to Heat and Yin deficiency, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang.
vi. Bleeding from Heat (Pitta-Bile), Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Madder, Lotus node, Saraca indica (Ayurveda)
7. Skin diseases:
i. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Turmeric, Neem, Licorice
ii. from Wind-Heat, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Neem, Barberry
iii. from Liver heat, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Barberry, Madder, Neem, Psoralea (Ayurveda)
8. Syphilis, combine Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Black Pepper (Ayurveda)
9. Jaundice, Eclipta (15 grams), Black Pepper (1 grams), form a Bolus. (Siddha)
10. Liver heat, Hepatitis:
i. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Madder, Phyllanthus amarus, Picrorhiza, Swertia (Ayurveda)
ii. chronic Liver heat conditions, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Phyllanthus amarus, Agrimony (Ayurveda)
iii. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Neem, Madder, Picrorhiza, Long Pepper (Ayurveda)
11. Chronic Liver disease:
i. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Agrimony (Xian He Cao), Peony (Bai Shao) and Licorice (TCM)
ii. Hepatitis, chronic Liver disease, Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Madder, Picrorhiza, Neem, Long Pepper (Ayurveda)
12. Anemia:
i. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Dang Gui
ii. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Black Pepper (Ayurveda)
iii. Eclipta Han Lian Cao with Black Pepper, Garlic, prepared Iron (equal parts) (Siddha)

Major Formulas:

Er Zhi Wan

Cautions:

1. Use cautiously in Cold Stomach and Spleen

Main Preparations used:

Er Zhi Wan (TCM), Eclipta Oil (Bhringaraja Taila) (Ayurveda)

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GENERAL / REVIEW –A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. ANTI-BACTERIAL: –Mode of antibacterial activity of Eclalbasaponin isolated from Eclipta alba. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: –Antiinflammatory constituents from Eclipta prostrata using RAW264.7 macrophage cells. –Evaluation of Anti -Inflammatory Activity of Eclipta alba in rats. ANALGESIC: –Experimental evaluation of the analgesic property of eclipta alba (L) hassk. ANTI-OXIDANT: –Alcoholic Extract of Eclipta alba Shows In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity without Exhibiting Toxicological Effects. –Potent antioxidative and UVB protective effect of water extract of Eclipta prostrata L. –Antioxidant activity of combined ethanolic extract of Eclipta alba and Piper longum Linn. PROMOTE HAIR GROWTH: (in compound) –Hair growth is promoted by BeauTop via expression of EGF and FGF‑7. –Comparative hair restorer efficacy of medicinal herb on nude (Foxn1nu) mice. –Eclipta alba extract with potential for hair growth promoting activity. –Hair growth promoting activity of Eclipta alba in male albino rats. HEMOSTATIC: –Haemostatic effect of ecliptaalba on albino rabbits. HYPOLIPIDEMIC: –Hypolipidemic activity of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. leaf extract in atherogenic diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. HYPOTENSIVE: –Diuretic, hypotensive, and hypocholesterolemic effects of Eclipta alba in mild hypertensive subjects: a pilot study. IMMUNOSTIMULATORY: –Oral administration of Eclipta alba leaf aqueous extract enhances the non-specific immune responses and disease resistance of Oreochromis mossambicus. –Preliminary immunomodulatory activities of methanol extracts of Eclipta alba and Centella asiatica. ANTI-HEPATITIS C: –Identification and evaluation of anti hepatitis C virus phytochemicals from Eclipta alba. HEPATO-PROTECTIVE: –Hepatoprotective Effect of Wedelolactone against Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury in Mice. –Pharmacological Evaluation of Hepatoprotective Activity of AHPL/AYTAB/0613 Tablet in Carbon Tetrachloride-, Ethanol-, and Paracetamol-Induced Hepatotoxicity Models in Wistar Albino Rats. –Protective effect of wedelolactone against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice. –Hepatoprotective activity of hepatoplus on isonaizid and rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity in rats. –Development and characterization of phyto-vesicles of wedelolactone for hepatoprotective activity. –In vivo hepatoprotective activity of active fraction from ethanolic extract of Eclipta alba leaves. –Hepatoprotective effects of Eclipta alba on subcellular levels in rats. RENO-PROTECTIVE: –Protective effect of the methanolic leaf extract of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. (Asteraceae) against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in Sprague Dawley rats.

OSTEO-PROTECTIVE: –Osteoprotective Effect of Echinocystic Acid, a Triterpone Component from Eclipta prostrata, in Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporotic Rats. CEREBRO-PROTECTIVE: –Cerebroprotective effect of Eclipta alba against global model of cerebral ischemia induced oxidative stress in rats. PREVENT CELLULAR DAMAGE FROM SMOKING: –Regulation of Eclipta prostrata L. components on cigarette smoking-induced autophagy of bronchial epithelial cells via keap1-Nrf2 pathway. –Autophagy Flux Contributes to Regulation of Components of Eclipta prostrata L. on Cigarette Smoking-Induced Injury of Bronchial Epithelial Cells. –Wedelolactone protects human bronchial epithelial cell injury against cigarette smoke extract-induced oxidant stress and inflammation responses through Nrf2 pathway. –[Protective effect and mechanism of Ecliptae Herba on cigarette smoke extract-induced cytotoxicity of NHBE cells]. PREVENTS PULMONARY FIBROSIS: –Preventive effects of Ecliptae Herba extract and its component, ecliptasaponin A, on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. ANTI-TUMOR: –Eclipta prostrata L. phytochemicals: isolation, structure elucidation, and their antitumor activity. ANTI-CANCER: –Alcoholic Extract of Eclipta alba Shows In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity without Exhibiting Toxicological Effects. –In vivo evaluation of Eclipta alba extract as anticancer and multidrug resistance reversal agent. –Evaluation of hydro-alcoholic extract of Eclipta alba for its anticancer potential: an in vitro study. COLON: –In vitro anticancer activity of Eclipta alba whole plant extract on colon cancer cell HCT-116 BREAST: –Anti-breast tumor activity of Eclipta extract in-vitro and in-vivo: novel evidence of endoplasmic reticulum specific localization of Hsp60 during apoptosis. OVARIAN: –clalbasaponin II induces autophagic and apoptotic cell death in human ovarian cancer cells. –Constituents of the aerial parts of Eclipta prostrata and their cytotoxicity on human ovarian cancer cells in vitro. ANTI-METASTATIC EFFECT: –Antimetastatic effects of Eclipta prostrata extract on oral cancer cells. ANTI-DIABETIC: –Antidiabetic effect of Eclipta alba associated with the inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and aldose reductase. –Antihyperglycemic activity of Eclipta alba leaf on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. AMELIORATES METABOLIC SYNDROME: –Ecliptal, a promising natural lead isolated from Eclipta alba modulates adipocyte function and ameliorates metabolic syndrome. ANTI-AGGRESSIVE EFFECT: –Evaluation of antiaggressive activity of Eclipta alba in experimental animals. IMPROVES MEMORY: –Investigation on the effect of eclipta alba on animal models of learning and memory. AMELIORATES COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: –Eclalbasaponin II Ameliorates the Cognitive Impairment Induced by Cholinergic Blockade in Mice. –The ethanolic extract of the Eclipta prostrata L. ameliorates the cognitive impairment in mice induced by scopolamine.