Mo Han Lian (墨旱莲) — Eclipta Herb: TCM Uses, Er Zhi Wan & Bleeding

At a Glance

• Herb: Mo Han Lian
• Chinese name: 墨旱莲 (Mò Hàn Lián)
• Latin name: Eclipta prostrata herb
• Nature: Cold
• Taste: Sweet / Sour
• Meridian: Liver / Kidney
• Category: Herbs that Tonify Yin
• Introduction: Mo Han Lian (墨旱莲), the whole herb of Eclipta prostrata L. (false daisy), takes its name — ‘ink drought-lotus’ — from the jet-black juice that flows when the fresh plant is crushed, resembling ink. Recorded since the Tang dynasty, it is primarily used as a liver-kidney yin tonic that simultaneously cools the blood and stops bleeding — a combination that makes it ideal for yin deficiency patterns with concurrent bleeding from heat. It is almost universally paired with Nu Zhen Zi (Ligustrum lucidum) to form Er Zhi Wan (二至丸), the classic two-herb formula for liver-kidney yin deficiency. Modern pharmacology has confirmed wedelolactone, ecliptine, and triterpenoids with hepatoprotective, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activities.

Action

• Nourishes liver-kidney yin — treats yin deficiency with soreness, tinnitus, and premature greying
• Cools blood and stops bleeding — treats blood-heat bleeding: hemoptysis, hematuria, epistaxis
• Darkens the hair — historical use for premature greying from liver-kidney deficiency
• Hepatoprotective (modern) — wedelolactone protects against liver cell injury

Clinical Application

• Liver-kidney yin deficiency: dizziness, tinnitus, lumbar soreness, premature greying
• Blood-heat bleeding: hemoptysis, hematuria, epistaxis, uterine bleeding
• Premature greying of hair and beard from liver-kidney deficiency
• Hepatitis and liver injury — combined with Nu Zhen Zi, Yin Chen
• Yin deficiency with night sweats and low-grade fever

Precautions

• Standard dose: 6–12 g
• Contraindicated in spleen deficiency with loose stools — cold, moist nature worsens diarrhea
• Use with caution in kidney yang deficiency
• Generally very safe; suitable for long-term use in appropriate patients
• Fresh juice (鲜汁) is most effective for topical hemostasis and hair treatment

Formula

• Er Zhi Wan (二至丸): Mo Han Lian + Nu Zhen Zi in equal parts — the classic two-herb formula for liver-kidney yin deficiency; name comes from the harvest times: Mo Han Lian harvested at summer solstice (夏至), Nu Zhen Zi at winter solstice (冬至)
• Combined with Sheng Di, Ce Bai Ye, Bai Mao Gen for blood-heat hemoptysis and epistaxis
• Combined with He Shou Wu, Gou Qi Zi for premature greying and hair loss
• Combined with Yin Chen, Chai Hu, Dan Shen for chronic hepatitis with liver-kidney deficiency

Combinations

• 女贞子 (Nǚ Zhēn Zǐ) — classic pair (二至丸): liver-kidney yin deficiency causing dizziness, tinnitus, premature greying, and lumbar soreness (二至丸为滋补肝肾要方). 2. 生地 (Shēng Dì) + 阿胶 (Ē Jiāo) — yin deficiency with heat causing bleeding: hemoptysis, epistaxis, hematuria. 3. 旱莲草 + 侧柏叶 (Cè Bǎi Yè) — heat in the blood causing various hemorrhages. 4. 黄精 (Huáng Jīng) + 枸杞子 (Gǒu Qǐ Zǐ) — liver-kidney yin deficiency with premature ageing and grey hair. 5. 白茅根 (Bái Máo Gēn) — blood heat causing hematuria. Source: 医方集解 (二至丸), 本草纲目.

Pharmacological Effects

• wedelolactone
  • Hepatoprotective: inhibits IκB kinase
  • Hepatoprotective: reduces NF-κB-driven hepatic inflammation
  • Hepatoprotective: protects against CCl₄ and alcohol-induced liver injury
  • Estrogenic: binds ERβ
  • Estrogenic: supports menopausal bone loss prevention
  • Antivenom: inhibits phospholipase A₂ in snake venom
  • Antitumor: inhibits androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer
  • Antitumor: α-terthienyl is photoactivated cytotoxic agent
• shortens bleeding and clotting time
  • Hemostatic: promotes platelet aggregation
• Antiosteoporotic
  • inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis
  • increases bone mineral density

Classic Description

• Tang Ben Cao (《唐本草》): ‘Governs bloody dysentery; for acupuncture and moxibustion sores bleeding profusely and unable to be stopped — applying this herb stops it immediately; juice applied to hair and eyebrows makes them grow quickly and abundantly.’
• Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Blackens mustache and hair, benefits Kidney yin; treats hematuria, bloody dysentery, frostbite sores, and genital erosion.’
• Ben Cao Bei Yao (《本草备要》): ‘Sweet, sour, and cold; benefits the Kidney and supplements yin, cools blood and stops bleeding, blackens mustache and hair; treats hematemesis, nosebleed, hematuria, bloody stool, uterine flooding, and red and white vaginal discharge.’