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Eclipta prostrata - L.                
                 
Common Name Han Lian Cao
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
Synonyms E. alba. (L.)Hassk.
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Wet places in the lowlands of Japan, especially by paddy fields[58].
Range E. Asia - China, Japan and Korea to Australia.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Half Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of flower
Eclipta prostrata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in).
It is hardy to zone 9. It is in flower in August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist or wet soil.
Eclipta prostrata Han Lian Cao


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dalgial
Eclipta prostrata Han Lian Cao
   
Habitats       
 Bog Garden; Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Leaves.
Edible Uses:

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.
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
L.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
5058
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

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

[58]Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation)
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
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.
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
[152]Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.
A very good and readable guide to the subject.
[176]Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.
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.
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.
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
[179]Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao.
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.
[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
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).
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
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
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
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
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
An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.

Readers comment                                         
 
Elizabeth H.
kamalkumar Sat Jun 7 2008
where could i get the seeds or plants of eclipta prosrata blue

gmail.com

Elizabeth H.
Simanta Kumar Kalita Mon Nov 17 2008
What is the present market price per kilo of dried Eclipta ealba?
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