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Also known as Ecliptae Herba (Hanliancao) or Jinling Cao. It grows everywhere in low-lying and damp areas. Its seedlings resemble Inulae Flos (Xuanfu), but the variety with small white flowers is Ecliptae Herba. Another variety that produces fruit resembling a lotus pod is Xiao Lianqiao. When the stems of these two varieties are broken, juice exudes and turns black after a short while.

[Properties and Actions]
The flavor is sweet, sour, and neutral. It is a purely Yin herb. It enters the Kidney and Liver meridians, and also the Stomach, Large Intestine, and Small Intestine meridians. It benefits Kidney Yin, darkens beard and hair, treats bloody dysentery, unblocks the Small Intestine, treats hematuria, and addresses Lao Lin (chronic strangury due to Kidney deficiency). Applied externally, it stops bleeding and discharges pus. It precisely inherits the Qi of Kan Water from the North; therefore, its juice is originally black. Among herbs used historically and currently to turn white hair black, this one is considered superior. (Commentary by Zhongchun)

The Kidney governs urination and defecation, and the Liver also regulates urination. This herb enters the Kidney and Liver to benefit Yin, thus treating [hair turning white].

[Usage and Formulas]
Wash the Ecliptae Herba, dry it, and grind it into powder with Green Salt. Spread the herb in a porcelain mortar, layering salt and herb, marinate for seven days, drain the juice, and dry the herb. If there is excess juice, it can be stored [text unclear: "bu zhu"]. Rub frequently daily for verified efficacy.

For Hematuria: Mix with Plantaginis Herba (Cheqiancao) in equal proportions, crush to extract juice, and take three cups on an empty stomach each time.

For Changfeng Zangdu (intestinal wind and visceral toxin causing persistent lower GI bleeding): Crush to extract juice, mix with extremely hot wine, and drink. It usually cures within three doses.

Formula for Nourishing Kidney and Darkening Beard — Hanlian Wan (Eclipta Pill): Take half a jin of dried juice from Ecliptae Herba, half a jin of dried juice from three jin of fresh Ginger Rhizome (Shengjiang), three liang of Asari Radix (Xixin), one jin of Psoraleae Fructus (Poguzhi), half a jin of Eucommiae Cortex (Duzhong) stir-fried with flour, half a jin of Acanthopanacis Senticosi Cortex (Wujiaopi) prepared with wine, four liang of Lycii Fructus (Gouqizi), four liang of Chuanxiong Rhizoma (Chuanxiong), two liang of Myrrha (Moyao). Grind into fine powder. Add half a jin of peeled Walnut Kernel (Hetaoren) [pounded and mixed]. Take fifty pills per dose, delivered with yellow wine.

[Dissertation]
Eclipta grows mostly in damp places. Breaking the stem yields black juice. It inherits pure and dense Yin Qi, which transforms into juice, corresponding to the abundance of water essence in the human body. When Blood Heat occurs, beard and hair turn white. Those past their prime whose hair has turned white entirely should use this herb to cool Blood and clear heat. [Text fragmentary]. During the sixth month, decoct five times in the sun, adding Ginger Juice. For herbs not processed by fire, fire cannot overcome their Yin-cold nature to make them ascend; they require moistening to become black. After age forty-eight (six times eight), ascending Qi decreases and descending Qi increases; one should prevent decline with Essence and Blood tonics. Dyeing or grooming hair is not the best strategy. Furthermore, darkening hair must be based on syndrome differentiation; otherwise, it is like opening the belly to hide pearls.

Eclipta is Yin-cold in nature. Although good at cooling Blood, it does not benefit the Spleen and Stomach. Patients with deficient and failing Spleen-Stomach or those prone to loose stools should not take it lightly. Do not use without Ginger Juice and Pepper... [Text cuts off].

[Processing]
When extracting juice, mix with Ginger Juice and decoct in the sun. This is the method from Qianjin Fang.