Classical categorization :- Latin Name:- Eclipta alba Hassk. Family Name:- Compositae Sanskrit Name:- bhringraj, maarkwa,

keshranjan, keshraaj. Nepali Name:- Bhringraaj English Name:- Trailing eclipta

Eclipta albaके� शरा�ज

A prostrate herb, 30-60cm tall, much branched annual herb with rooted nodes. Leaves simple, opposite, sessile, 2.5-7.5 cm long & variable in breath, lanceolate narrowed at both ends, oppressed hairs on both sides. Flower white in axillary or terminal heads; heads radiate, 0.5-1 cm in diameter. Fruit achene, cuneate, compressed & with a narrow wing.

Flowering in rainy & Fruiting till winter.

Botanical description:-

In Raaj Nighantu three varieties are mentioned on the basis of colour of flower. They are:

(i) Sweta Bhringraj (Eclipta alba) (ii) Pitt Bhringraj (Wedelia calendulacea Less) (iii) Nill Bhringraj (Eclipta alba ?)

Varieties:-

200-1200mt east to west

Major chemical constituents:- Ecliptal, wedelolactone, stigmasterol. Etc.

Distribution in Nepal

Guna: ruksh, laghu Rasa: katu & tikta Vipak: katu Virya: ushna.

Ayurvedic Pharmacology of Bhringraj(Guna):-

Effect on Doshas : - kaph-vatt samak Systemic: External- sothhara, bednasthapan, vran-sodhan,

vran-ropan, savarnikaran, chakshusya, keshvardhan & ranjan.

Internal: NS: Bednasthapan DS: dipan, pachan, yakrit-utejak, sulprasaman. CS: rakrprasadan, raktvardhan, raktavarsamak

sothhara.

contd….

Actions (Karma)

RS: kaphaghna US: mutral Rep.S: seeds are vajikaran. Skin: Swedjanan,kusthghna Tem. Aampachan,Jwarghna Eye: Dristi sakti vardhak

It is used in pandu, kamla, swas, kash, netrarog, hridrog, krimi, kustha, shirhasul, khalitya, palitya, yakritrog, kamla, plihabridhi. Etc.

Indication/Uses:-

Plit rog – bhringaraj juice 2 prastha, yastimadhu 1 pal, ghrit 1 prastha, & tail 16 tola-sidh tail(C.D)

Naktandhya- fish’s egg cooked in bhringaraj juice(C.D)

Suryavrat- bhringraj juice mixed with goat milk then heated in sun light is applied as a nasya(VM)

Kaphaj kash - bhringraj juice with honey. (c.ci-22)

Some classical therapeutic uses:-

Dosage:- juice 5-10ml

Important preparation:- bhringaraj tail, sadbindu tail, bhringrajadi churna, bhringrajghrit.

Parts used:- panchang & seeds