Eclipta, also known as Eclipta, is a common Chinese herbal medicine that has the effects of cooling blood and stopping bleeding, nourishing the liver and kidneys, clearing away heat and detoxifying. It is cool in nature, sweet and sour in taste, and belongs to the liver and kidney meridian. It is often used to treat bleeding symptoms such as vomiting blood, epistaxis, hematuria, blood in the stool, metrorrhagia, etc., as well as dizziness, premature graying of hair and hair caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency. Modern research shows that Eclipta is rich in active ingredients such as flavonoids and triterpenes, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects.

Eclipta has a long history of clinical application in traditional Chinese medicine, and its hemostatic effect is particularly outstanding. For various bleeding symptoms caused by blood heat, Eclipta can quickly relieve bleeding by cooling the blood and stopping bleeding. In addition, it can nourish the liver and kidneys and improve problems such as soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, tinnitus and forgetfulness caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency. Modern pharmacological research has confirmed that the flavonoids in Eclipta can significantly enhance capillary resistance and reduce bleeding tendencies.

In addition to traditional uses, Eclipta grass also shows unique value in the field of health care. Its antioxidant components can scavenge free radicals in the body and delay aging; its anti-inflammatory properties help relieve chronic inflammation; its hepatoprotective properties can assist in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver and other diseases. It is worth noting that Eclipta is often used in conjunction with Ligustrum lucidum, and the synergy between the two can enhance the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys. This is clearly recorded in Erzhi Wan in "Jie Fang Ji Jie".

Pay attention when using Eclipta herb. Because of its cool nature, people with spleen and stomach deficiency should use it with caution. If necessary, it can be combined with warming and tonic herbs to neutralize its properties. Typical therapeutic prescriptions include Eclipta porridge: Take 10 grams of Eclipta and 50 grams of japonica rice, cook it as porridge and eat it. It is suitable for people with a constitution of yin deficiency and fire exuberance. Modern preparations include Eclipta capsules, Eclipta oral liquid, etc. You should follow the doctor's advice when using them. Research data shows that Eclipta extract can shorten bleeding time by more than 30% under experimental conditions (see table below).

To sum up, Eclipta is a multi-functional traditional Chinese medicinal material that has inherited thousands of years of traditional Chinese medicine wisdom and its pharmacological activity has been verified by modern science. Reasonable use can bring out its comprehensive benefits of hemostasis, nourishment, antioxidant, etc., but it needs to be treated based on syndrome differentiation and pay attention to contraindications. With the deepening of research, the application prospects of Eclipta grass in the fields of preventive health care and auxiliary treatment will be broader.

Source of citation: "Chinese Materia Medica" and "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" 2020 edition; data reference: Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica" Eclipta entry; clinical data are quoted from "Chinese Materia Medica Pharmacology and Clinical Practice" 2019 Issue 3