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Bhringraj

Eclipta prostrata · 旱莲草

Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.

Also called False daisy, Eclipta, Trailing eclipta

Pinyin: Hàn Lián Cǎo

Sanskrit: भृंगराज (Bhringraj)

Hair claims are unproven

Bhringraj, or false daisy, is an herb used in Ayurveda for hair and liver health, mostly based on tradition and lab studies.

Did you know? Bhringraj's Sanskrit name is often translated as 'king of bees.'

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Liver. Animal and lab studies suggest liver-protective effects. Human trials are lacking.
Traditional proof
Hair & nails. Sold in hair oils for growth. No good human trial shows that it regrows hair.
Not supported

Parts of the body

Liver, Skin & hair

Traditional use

In Ayurveda, bhringraj is called a top herb for hair and is used for the liver. Chinese medicine uses the same plant, han lian cao, to nourish the liver and kidney.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Hepatic, Tonic, Antioxidant. Energy: cooling.
Ayurveda: Calms Vata and Pitta. Taste (rasa): bitter, pungent. Energy (virya): cooling. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Rasayana (rejuvenative), Keshya (hair tonic).
Chinese medicine: 旱莲草 Tonify yin. Nature: cold. Flavour: sweet, sour. Enters the Liver and Kidney channels.

How people take it

Traditional doses are about 1 to 3 grams of dried herb powder a day. Hair oils are massaged into the scalp, and modern doses are not established.

Powder, oil and topical.

Where to get it

Grows in wet ground across India, Southeast Asia and other tropical regions. Sold as dried herb, powder, capsules and hair oil, and many hair products list it in small amounts.

Be careful

There is little safety research. Some people get stomach upset when taking it by mouth, and hair oils can irritate the scalp. Avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Classic partners in Ayurvedic hair oils and scalp blends.
Works well together
Often combined in Ayurvedic scalp and hair products.
Works well together
Nu zhen zi and han lian cao (eclipta, bhringraj) are the two herbs in Er Zi Wan (Two Ripe Pills), a classic formula for Liver and Kidney yin.

The honest take

Bhringraj's hair and liver claims come mostly from tradition and lab work. There are no good human trials showing hair growth, and liver results come from animal studies. Do not expect it to regrow hair.