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Eclipta prostrata - L.

Han Lian Cao

Author	L.	Botanical references	50, 58
Family	Compositae	Genus	Eclipta
Synonyms	Eclipta alba - (L.)Hassk.
Known Hazards	None known
Range	E. Asia - China, Japan and Korea to Australia.
Habitat	Wet places in the lowlands of Japan, especially by paddy fields[58].
Edibility Rating	1 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	3 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 0.6m by 0.6m.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist or wet soil.

Habitats

Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves.

Tender leaves and young shoots - cooked and used as a vegetable[105, 177, 179, 254, 272].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antiseptic; Astringent; Depurative; Emetic; Febrifuge; Ophthalmic; Purgative; Styptic; Tonic.

This species is widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and in Ayurveda[238]. It is considered to be the best remedy for the hair and is also used as a rejuvenative and liver tonic[238, 254]. The whole plant contains the alkaloids nicotine and ecliptine as well as coumarin[283]. It is astringent, deobstruent, depurative, emetic, febrifuge, ophthalmic, purgative, styptic and tonic[147, 176, 178]. It is used internally in the treatment of dropsy and liver complaints[152], anaemia, diphtheria etc[238], tinnitus, tooth loss and premature greying of the hair[176]. Externally, it is used as an oil to treat hair loss and is also applied to athlete's foot, eczema, dermatitis, wounds etc[238, 254]. The plant juice, mixed with an aromatic (essential oil?), is used in the treatment of catarrhal problems and jaundice[243]. The leaves are used in the treatment of scorpion stings[243]. They are used as an antidote for snake bites in Korea[279]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use[238]. The roots are emetic and purgative[240]. They are applied externally as an antiseptic to ulcers and wounds, especially in cattle[240].

Other Uses

Dye.

A black dye is obtained from the plant[238]. It is used as a hair dye and for tattooing[238].

Cultivation details

Requires a damp to wet soil and a position in some shade[238]. This is a tropical species and it might need more summer heat and a longer growing season than is normally available in British summers[K].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer, after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some extra protection, such as a cloche, until they are established and growing away well.

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press 0 ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[152] Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants. 0
A very good and readable guide to the subject.

[176] Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985
An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.

[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 0
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

[243] Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993
Terse details of the medicinal properties of Nepalese plants, including cultivated species and a few imported herbs.

[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.

[272] Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002 ISBN 0-88192-527-6
Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.

[279] Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998 ISBN 92 9061 120 0
An excellent book with terse details about the medicinal uses of the plants with references to scientific trials. All plants are described, illustrated and brief details of habitats given.

[283] Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu Medicinal Plants in Vietnam World Health Organisation 1989 ISBN 92 9061 101 4
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Eclipta prostrata

kamalkumar Sat Jun 7 2008

where could i get the seeds or plants of eclipta prosrata blue

gmail.com

Eclipta prostrata

Simanta Kumar Kalita Mon Nov 17 2008

What is the present market price per kilo of dried Eclipta ealba?

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