Practical
Plants

Eclipta prostrata

Han Lian Cao

an annual member of the Eclipta genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Eclipta
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Tender leaves and young shoots - cooked and used as a vegetable[1][5][7][11][12].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This species is widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and in Ayurveda[8]. It is considered to be the best remedy for the hair and is also used as a rejuvenative and liver tonic[8][11]. The whole plant is astringent, deobstruent, depurative, emetic, febrifuge, ophthalmic, purgative, styptic and tonic[2][4][6]. It is used internally in the treatment of dropsy and liver complaints[3], anaemia, diphtheria etc[8], tinnitus, tooth loss and premature greying of the hair[4]. Externally, it is used as an oil to treat hair loss and is also applied to athlete's foot, eczema, dermatitis, wounds etc[8][11]. The plant juice, mixed with an aromatic (essential oil?), is used in the treatment of catarrhal problems and jaundice[10]. The leaves are used in the treatment of scorpion stings[10]. They are used as an antidote for snake bites in Korea[13]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use[8]. The roots are emetic and purgative[9]. They are applied externally as an antiseptic to ulcers and wounds, especially in cattle[9].

Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Styptic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A black dye is obtained from the plant[8]. It is used as a hair dye and for tattooing[8].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan and Korea to Australia.
Habitat
Wet places in the lowlands of Japan, especially by paddy fields[14].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a damp to wet soil and a position in some shade[8]. 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].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩

  3. Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants.

    ↩

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  9. 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. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  13. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩

  14. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page