Eclipta Herb — Classic Formulas
Mo Han Lian · Herba Ecliptae
Primary Actions
- Nourishes Liver and Kidney Yin — dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, premature graying of hair, and sore lower back from Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency
- Cools Blood and stops bleeding — hemoptysis, hematuria, epistaxis, hematochezia, and uterine bleeding from Blood Heat or Yin deficiency with Heat
- Promotes hair growth and prevents premature graying — applied fresh or as a topical preparation for hair loss, alopecia, and early graying
Classic Formulas
- Er Zhi Wan (二至丸) — the quintessential formula for Liver-Kidney Yin deficiency; Mo Han Lian combined with Nü Zhen Zi (女贞子, Ligustrum lucidum fruit); the formula name means 'Two-Solstice Pill' because Mo Han Lian is harvested at the summer solstice and Nü Zhen Zi at the winter solstice; simple, elegant, effective; widely used for age-related dizziness, tinnitus, hair greying, and menopausal syndrome
- Commonly combined with Sheng Di Huang (生地黄), E Jiao (阿胶), and Bai Ji (白及) in formulas for Blood-Heat bleeding with Yin deficiency
Classical Text References
- Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen): 'Mo Han Lian (ink-dry lotus, named because the fresh plant juice oxidises black when exposed to air) benefits the kidney and liver, makes the teeth firm, cools blood, stops bleeding, and blackens hair and beard — a superior herb for those who are prematurely grey or suffer from lower-back weakness'
- ENGLISH NAME NOTE: 'Yerbadetajo' is the Spanish folk name (from Latin American traditional medicine) for Eclipta prostrata — meaning 'herb of the cut' for its haemostatic use; the slug reflects this international common name; the official TCM name is Mo Han Lian (墨旱莲) and the Ayurvedic name is Bhringraj