Herba Ecliptae (Mohanlian)

Naming
Mo Han Lian (Herba Ecliptae)-Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica)

Origin
The part above the ground of the annual herbaceous Eclipat prostrate L. of family Compositae.

Location
Most areas in China.

Harvest
Plucked in summer.

The actual smell and taste
Sweet smell, light flavor, slightly salty and astringent.

Best quality
Blackish green with plenty leaves.

Processing
Unprocessed.

Property
Sweet, sour, cold; liver and kidney meridians entered.

Actions
Nourish liver and kidney, cool blood to stop bleeding.

Indications
A. Liver and  syndromes

It is indicated for dizziness, blurred vision, dim sight, early white of beard and hair, soreness and limpness of lumbar and knees due to yin deficiency of liver and kidney, or yin deficiency with effulgent fire, because it can nourish yin of liver and kidney. It is applied singly, such as in Han Lian Gao from Yi Deng Xu Yan (Continue Lightening of Medicine Light); or it is combined with other liver and kidney tonics, for instance, it is used with Nv Zhen Zi in Er Zhi Wan from Yi Fang Ji Jie.

B. Bleeding syndromes

It is indicated for bleeding due to blood heat, especially for bleeding due to yin deficiency with blood heat, because it can nourish yin, clear heat, and cool blood to stop bleeding. It can be applied singly, both twisted for juice with fresh herb and decocted with dry herb are effective, or it is combined with yin-nourishing, blood cooling to Stop bleeding herbs, such as Radix Rehmanniae (Shengdihuang), Colla Corii Asini (Ejiao), Rhizoma Imperatae (Baimaogen), Pollen Typhae (Puhuang)">Pollen Typhae (Puhuang).

Dosage and Administrations
Decoct 10~30 g. Appropriate dosage for external use.