Herba Ecliptae
Yerbadetajo Herb

Source:
The whole herb of Eclipta prostrata L. (Fam. Compositae).

Distribution:
Mainly in Chinese provinces such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Hubei; also in Hong Kong.

Harvest & Processing:
Harvest whole herbs in summer and autumn during efflorescence; remove foreign matter; dry in shaded areas or under the sun. Can be used immediately after picking.

Description:
Whole herb covered with thick white hairs. Stem cylindrical, ramose (with many branches); outer surface greyish-green or purplish, marked with longitudinal ridges; brittle, breaks easily; broken surface yellowish-white, with white porous pith or sometimes a cavity in the centre. Leaves opposite (borne in pairs at each node); mostly shrivelled or in fragments; dark green; when smoothed out, intact blades lanceolate (lance-head shaped); margin entire (continuous, even), or slightly serrulate (finely notched); petioles almost undetectable. Capitate inflorescences solitary (occurring singly) at shoot tips; common peduncle slender; phyllaries 5-6, yellowish-green or reddish-brown; corolla mostly fallen off. Achenes flattened and ellipsoid (elliptical in longsection and circular in cross-section); brown; outer surface strumulose (with small cushion-like protuberances). Odour: slightly fragrant; taste: mild and slightly salty-astringent.

Indications:
1. Bleeding
2. Diarrhoea, infant malnutrition
3. Tinnitus, neurasthenia
4. Premature greying of hair 5. Tinea pedis, eczema, ulcers, rice-field dermatitis.

Chemical Composition:
Contains alkaloids such as nicotine, flavonoids such as apigenin, and coumarin such as wedelolactone.