Han Lian Cao - Eclipta prostrata

Professional Data
 Pin Yin
Han Lian Cao
 
 Latin
Herba Ecliptae
 Introduction Back to Top
Herba Ecliptae is the dried aerial part of Eclipta prostrate L. (Fam. Compositae). The drug is collected at flowering, and dried in the sun.
 Western medical Back to Top
han lian cao is indicated in the treatment of coronary heart disease, dysentery, infantile urinary tract infections, hemorrhage of the digestive tract, acute nephritis and shingles, etc..
 Eastern medical Back to Top
  • Pattern: Nourishes yin, invigorates the Kidney, cools Blood and stops bleeding.
  • Properties: Sweet, sour, cold.
  • Channels entered: Liver and Kidney.
 Chemical constituents Back to Top
han lian cao contains wedololactone, demethyl-wedelolactone, a-terthienyl, a-terthienylmethanol, a-formyl-a-terthienyl, isoflavones, ediptine, tannin and volatile oil, etc..
 Pharmacological actions Back to Top
Hemostatic effect

han lian cao had good hemostatic effect. Tannin contained in the herb could promote blood coagulation.

Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects

han lian cao had inhibitory effect on staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri, bacilius diphtheriae and bacillus enteritidis, etc.. It also had anti-amebic effect. Tannin contained in the herb could astringe and protect mucous membrane, and reduce local inflammation.

Anti-cancer effect

han lian cao could improve lymphocyte transformation rate and promote the body onload="highlight();" immunity, which was beneficial to the inhibition of tumor growth. in vitro screen showed that this herb had inhibitory effect on tumor cells.

Anti-mutagenesis effect

Gastrogavage or intraperitoneal injection of han lian cao had obvious inhibitory effect on PCE microkernel induced by cyclophosphane in mice.

Others

han lian cao could promote hair growth, blacken the hair and elevate WBC.
 Clinical Studies Back to Top
Coronary heart disease

Extracturm of han lian cao, 15g (containing 30g crude drug), bid, 1 month as a course of treatment. 30 cases of coronary heart disease were treated, 15 were markedly effective, 14 improved and 1 ineffective. It could also improve symptoms such as dizziness, headache, backache, palpitation and shortness of breath.

Pulmonary tuberculosis

Haemoptysis: han lian cao and bai mao gen were made into injection (0.5g han lian cao and 0.5g bai mao gen each ml), 4ml, intramuscular injection, bid or tid. For severe haemoptysis, add 4ml into 20ml 50% glucose for intravenous injection, 2~3 times every day. 4~5 days totally. The method was effective.

Malaria

Fresh han lian cao was kneaded till juice flowed out and plugged into the nostrils 2 hours before the attack of malaria, and taken out in 4 hours. 500 cases of malaria were treated and all were cured.

Dysentery

han lian cao 15g, ma chi xian 15g, di jin cao 15g, 1 dose daily. More than 500 cases of malaria were treated and the therapeutic effect was over 95%.

Infantile urinary system infections

han lian cao, feng wei cao, che qian cao were used to treat infantile urinary system infections of downward flowing of Damp Heat type, after 3~5 doses, all treated 60 cases were cured.

Hemorrhage of the digestive tract

Fu Fang Han Lian Tang (fresh lan lian cao 50g, gang nin gen, ci xian cai gen, jia ju, 25g (all fresh), gan cao 15g), water decoction, 1 dose daily, for severe cases, 2~3 doses daily could be used. 210 cases of hemorrhage of the digestive tract were treated, and 194 cured, 16 ineffective.

Acute nephritis

han lian cao, xiao qing cao, che qian cao (with seeds), yu shu shu, 15g each, water decoction. Modify the formula according to accompanied symptoms. Among 50 treated cases, 46 were cured, 4 improved.

Shingles

Fresh han lian cao 91~120g, washed clean and smashed to get juice which was applied to the affected area, several times daily. 12 cases were treated, and after 2~5 days treatment, all were cured.

 
 References Back to Top

Except those noted, all references come from Weng Weiliang, et al., Clinical Chinese materia medica, Henan Science & Technology Press, 1998