Eclipta prostrata is an annual herb from the family Asteraceae. It is distributed throughout Central, South, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. The expressed leaf juice, applied with honey, is a popular remedy for catarrh in children. A preparation obtained from the leaf juice and boiled with sesame or coconut oil is used for anointing the head to render the hair black and luxuriant. An oil prepared with other plant oils is well known for blackening hair in India. This plant is sometimes called a “tattoo plant” because the juice can be used to make blue tattoos.

Traditionally, E. prostrata has been used to treat cough, asthma, parasites, edema, wounds, pruritis, and headache. According to the scientific studies conducted on E. prostrata, it contains triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, coumestans, and alkaloids. It has been reported that E. prostrata exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial activities.