Abstract

PROSPECTIVE USES OF BHRINGARAJA (ECLIPTA ALBA)–AN

*Dr. Prabhat Kumar Srivastava

Abstract

Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba) is one of the oldest known drugs in the Indian system of medicine. In Ayurvedic Samhitas, it is not classified under any mahakashaya or gana but it is mentioned in various formulations which prove its usefulness. According to Ayurvedic texts, its action includes kaphavatashamana (pacifies kapha and vata dosha), keshya (beneficial for hairs), vedanasthapana (analgesic action or restores normal sensation), shothaghna (anti-inflammatory action), vatanulomana (carmination), kusthaghna (cures skin disorders), jwaraghna (antipyretic), rasayana (rejuvenator), balya (general tonic), chakshushya (beneficial for eye disorders), yakrita uttejana (stimulates liver), dipana (stomachics), pachana (digestant), vrana ropana (wound healing action), pandughna (anti-anaemic), shvasakasahara (cure dyspnoea and cough), krimighna (wormicidal action) etc. In classics, it has been used in skin disorders, bleeding tendency, productive cough, intestinal worms, eye diseases (like night blindness, optic atrophy, itching of eyes), all types of diseases of head, graying and falling of hairs, wrinkles on face, sinuses due to vata and kapha, scrofula, wounds, dyspnoea, cough, vitilago, vomiting caused by hyperacidity in acid gastritis, wound of soft chancre, dysentery with mucus and blood etc. It is claimed to have deobstruent, antihepatotoxic, anticatarrhal, febrifuge and hair growth promoting action as well as said to be hepatoprotective in almost all the modern texts. This article explores comprehensively the useful medicinal properties of bhringaraja especially in Ayurvedic texts.

Keywords: Bhringaraja, Eclipta alba, Ayurveda, Trailing Eclipta.