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Writer's pictureSukrah Carena

Cupid's Shaving Brush/Emilia sonchifolia/叶下红

Updated: May 21, 2021


Medicinal properties: A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of dysentery. The juice of the leaves is used in treating eye inflammations, night blindness, cuts and wounds and sore ears. The plant is astringent, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge and sudorific. It is used in the treatment of infantile tympanites and bowel complaints. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of diarrhoea. The flower heads are chewed and kept in the mouth for about 10 minutes to protect teeth from decay.

Parts used: Whole plant (fresh or sun-dried)

Leaves (air-dried)

Indications and directions for use:

Carbuncles and furuncles are types of skin abscess. Pound fresh plant. Apply poultice over the wound.


This common weed is Cupid's Shaving Brush, a member of the sunflower family. It has purple disc florets which will mature into a ball of white downy hairs, aka our version of a mini dandelion!


The whole plant, including the flowers, can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are usually harvested and used before the plant flowers. A nutritional analysis of the leaves is available. The powdered plant is used to prepare a cake fermented with yeast (called marcha in Nepal) from which liquor is distilled.


THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

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