Eclipta alba: Brungaraj

Brungaraj: The Hair Promoter

A seemingly simple plant; nothing stunning about its looks. Plain white flowers, really small. 
But with its role in hair growth, it is a wonder plant.

Commonly known as Brungaraj, it can be used as fresh green leaf paste, dried powdered paste with water, or mixed with oil while making hair oil with supplements. 

The plant may grow to a maximum height of 4-5 inches, and then begins to spread at ground level. Deep rooted and strong, its a hardy plant that can withstand small periods of lack of water and nutrition. It can be easily propagated through seeds or cuttings.

(All images used are from my Terrace Garden, organically grown)

Though plant can be propagated through cuttings, best plants come from seeds. 
When the petals of the flower shed and the seed pod dries, it can be identified by the visible black seeds. Seeds can be gently pulled to collect seeds in hand. 

For recipe on how to make fortified oil, see (Blog Id)

Growing: Seeds can be sown in pots or ground in soil mix with compost ratio as low as 4:1, and grows well with minimum care. Of course big healthy leaves will appear with good soil, but is not mandatory. Saplings appear, and can be transplanted at 4-6 leaf stage. Leaves of juvenile plants resemble that of adult plants. 

Care: Brungaraj is a very simple plant to grow, its fuss-free, does well in full Sun as well as semi-shade. It spreads well and can do well with watering once a day. 
Leaves can be harvested by cutting off the mature stems and the leaves plucked out. The more you prune, the stronger and longer the plant will grow. 

Making of hair oil  in another blog. Fortified hair oil needs other ingredients also.

Hair care with Brunharaj: Brungaraj is excellent for healthy hair. Prolonged use with oil and as hair mask delays greying of hair. It also arrests hairfall and promotes hair growth. 

Hair Mask: One cup brungaraj leaves, one fourth cup of aloe vera gel (Peel open aloe vera leaves with the tip of a knife, scrape out the gel with a spoon. You may need gel from three to four leaves to make it one-fourth cup), curry leaves and hibiscus leaves each, can be ground well together in a mixer with little water and applied on hair as hair mask. Leave until dried. 
Wash off well with water. No need to apply shampoo. If shampoo really needed, apply after a day or two. 

Happy growing... 

Make sure you grow on compost from wet waste produced at home, so there's something to look forward to each time...