Bhangra

Eclipta alba, Eclipta erecta Other Names: Bhringaraj, Bhangra Babri, Galagara, Gunta-kalagara, Kaikeshi, Karisha-langanni, Karisirang-kanni, Kesharaji, Kesuri, Kesuria, Kesutti, Maka, Mochkand Synonym: eclipta prostata L. Common name: eclipta, bhringaraj, false daisy, bringraj, han lian cao, takasaburou, yerba de tago, congo lanna. Common (Indian) Names: Hindi: Balari, Bhangra, Bhringraj, Bhengra, Mochkand. Gujerati: Bhangro, Dadhal, Kalobhangro Canarase: Ajagara, Garagadasoppu, Kadigga-garaga Marathi: Bhangra, Maka Sanskrit: Bhringraj, Markara, Pitripriya, Sunilaka, Keshrangana Family: asteraceae (sunflower family). Parts Used: Herb, roots, leaves Ayurvedic Energetics: Rasa: pungent, bitter Veerya: heating Vipaka: pungent Guna: light, dry Pharmacological Action: hepatic deobstruent and tonic, alterative, emetic, purgative, antiseptic, antiviral Medicinal Uses Action Herb: alterative, antipyretic, hemostatic, laxative, nervine, rejuvenative, tonic, vulnerary. Roots and leaves are cholagogues. Root-tonic, alterative, emetic, purgative. Leaf juice-hepatic tonic and deobstruent Applications aging. The herb maintains and rejuvenates hair, teeth, bones, memory, sight, and hearing. cirrhosis ear aches hair tonic - oil removes graying, balding, makes the hair darker. Make a hair oil by boiling leaf juice in coconut oil. This is useful to remove gray hair and balding. hepatitis headache rejuvenative: for kidneys, and liver. It improves complexion. skin disorders sleep - oil promotes deep sleep. spleen, enlarged uterine hemorrhaging - Use two to four ounces of leaf decoction twice daily Roots and leaves are largely used alone or in combination with ajowan seeds in derangements of the liver and gall bladder. They have also been used as substitutes for Taraxacum, a liver tonic. Medicinal Properties and Uses: The herb is an Ayurveda and Yunani medicine. According to Ayurveda philosophy Eclipta is bitter, hot fattening, alterative, anthelminticum, and alexipharmic. It is useful in inflammations, hernia, eye diseases, bronchitis, asthama, leucoderma, anaemia, heart and skin diseases, right blindness, syphilis etc. It is reported as beneficial for complexion, hair, eyes, and teeth. Actions and Uses : Eclipta alba protected guinea pigs against the mortality induced by Carbon Tetrachloride - liver damage. In the control group 77.7% animals died wheras in E. alba-treated group only 22.3% died within 24 hours. Serum transaminases were also significantly lower in the treated group. Histopathology of liver also showed a reduction in parenchymal damage. There were similar findings in rabbits too. Only with fairly large doses in vitro the extract of E. alba showed negative inotropic and chronotropic effects. The alcoholic extract of the plant has shown antiviral activity against Ranikhet disease virus. Tranquilising action has been shown. For healthy black and long hair the plant is commonly used in hair oil all over India. The fresh juice of leaves is used for increasing appetite, improving digestion and as a mild bowel regulator. It is commonly used in viral hepatitis to promote bile flow and protect the parenchyma. It is popularly used to enhance memory and learning. The plant has a reputation as an antiaging agent in ayurveda. It is also used as a general tonic for debility. Externally it is used for inflammation, minor cuts and burns and the fresh leaf-juice is considered very effective in stopping bleeding. Leaf juice mixed with honey is also used for children with upper respiratory infection. It is used in eye and ear infections. In the doses and formulations commonly used no adverse reactions have been reported. Only with large doses of the aqueous extract in animals a cardiodepressant effect was observed.