Bhringaraja - Karisalankanni

Bhringaraja - Karisalankanni

Botanical name: Eclipta alba

Tamil: Karisalankanni

Telugu: Guntagalijaeru

Malayalam: Kayyoonni / kayooni / Kayyooni 

Kanada: Kadige garage

Sanskrit: Bhringaraja / Kesaranja

Hindi: Balari, Bhangra, Bungrah, Bhringraj, Bhengra, Mochkand.

Gujarati: Bhangro, Dadhal, Kalobhangro

Marathi: Bhangra, Maka

Sanskrit: Bhringraj, Markara, Pitripriya, Sunilaka, Keshrangana

Eclipta prostrata commonly known as false daisy, yerba de tago, and bhringraj, is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae.

This plant has cylindrical, grayish roots. The solitary flower heads are 6–8 mm in diameter, with white florets. The achenes are compressed and narrowly winged.

It grows commonly in moist places as a weed all over the world. It is widely distributed throughout India, China, Thailand, and Brazil. In ayurvedic medicine, the leaf extract is considered a powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative, and especially good for the hair. A black dye obtained from Eclipta alba is used for dyeing hair and tattooing. Eclipta alba also has traditional external uses, like athlete foot, eczema and dermatitis, on the scalp to address hair loss. Bhringraj helps to improve hair growth and colour. In india, it is grown along side of rice fields and its leaves are used in preparing food. Infact eclipta alba extracts are known to grow hair faster than minoxidil. Oil made with mixture of bhringraj’s juice helps hair growth and prevents premature greying.

Indications :

HEAD: Premature greying of hair, alopecia and early baldness are often classified as a pitta imbalance caused by pitta literally ‘burning’ the hair follicle. Eclipta clears pitta and especially from the head. It also benefits loose teeth, hearing problems, dizziness. Bhringaraja prepared oil also dissolves obstructions in the sinuses, nose, ears and head; use as nose and ear drops.

LIVER: It increases bile flow and helps with the appetite. Combined with a capillary strengthening action this can prevent high blood pressure caused by pitta and vata. It also benefits the eyes and treats conjunctivitis, styes and redness.

NERVES: Insomnia and mental agitation from high pitta and vata. It calms stress and reduces tension by tonifying majja dhatu. Bhringaraja increases blood and nourishes the brain.

SKIN : Bhringaraja treats skin conditions via the nervous system and the liver helping to allay itching and inflammation. It also helps to re-colour the skin after depigmentation.

LUNGS: Its pungency can help alleviate mucus and treat asthma and bronchitis.

Dosage :

1g – 5g per day (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) before breakfast mixed with warm water or honey.

Note: Siddha treatment is based on complete physical examination of the patient, Naadi diagnosis, and other diagnostic criteria of the disease. The content given in this article is purely meant for information and education purpose only. Kindly consult a Siddha physician before any sort of self medication.