Bhringarάja.

Kesarάja.

Vem. Kesarάja, Beng. Bhάnrά, Hind.

There is some confusion between the Sanskrit and vernacular names of Wedelia calendulacea, and Eclipta prostrata. Both these plants are called kesarάj or kesuria in Bengali, and the two Sanskrit names of bhringaraja and kesaraja are used as synonyms. The Hindustani term bhangra, derived from the Sanskrit bhrin-gardja is however generally applied to Wedelia calendulacea, and this is the plant used in medicine at present. The leaves, which have a slight camphoraceous taste, are considered tonic, alterative, and useful in cough, cephalalgia, skin diseases and alopecia. The juice of the leaves is much used as a snuff in cephalalgia, and in soaking various sorts of powders for the preparation of pills.1 "In tattooing the natives after puncturing the skin, rub the juicy green leaves of Eclipta prostrata over the part; which gives the desired indelible colour, namely a deep bluish black." The leaves of both these plants are used in various ways for the purpose of dyeing grey hair and for promoting the growth of hair.

Jatiplialάdya churna.2 Take of nutmeg, baberang seeds, plumbago root, flowers of Tabernoemiontana coronaria (tagara), sesamum seeds, leaves of Pinus Webbiana (tάlisa), red sandal wood, ginger, cloves, cumin seeds, camphor, chebulic and emblic myrobalans, black pepper, long pepper, bamboo-manna, cinnamon, cardamom, tejapatra, and the flowers of Mesua ferrea (nάgakesara), each two tolas, powdered leaves of Wedelia calendulacea, fifty six tolas, sugar, in quantity equal to all the above ingredients. Powder and mix. Dose, about a drachm. This preparation is said to be useful in phthisis, cough and catarrh.

Shadbindu taila.3 Take of sesamum oil, four seers, goat's, milk four seers, juice of bhringaraja leaves, sixteen seers and prepare an oil with a paste composed of the following substances, namely, root of castor oil plant, and of Tabernoemontana coronaria (tagara), dill seeds, Coelogyne ovalis (jivanti), Vanda Roxburghii (rάsnά), rock salt, Wedelia calendulacea (bhringarάja), baberang seeds liquorice root, and ginger, in all one seer. Six drops of this oil, drawn in through the nostrils, are said to relieve headache and other affections of the head.

Bhringarάja taila.1 Take of sesamum oil four seers, juice of bhringaraja leaves, sixteen seers, iron rust, tho three myrobalans and tho root of Ichnocarpus frutescens (syamalatά), reduced to a paste, in all one seer, and prepare an oil in the usual way. This oil is said to remove scurf from the head, turn grey hairs black and cure alopecia.

The fresh juice of the leaves of Eclipta prostrata is rubbed on the shaven scalp for the purpose of promoting the growth of hair.