An annual or biennial prostrate weed. Stems procumbent, 15-60 cm long, with a line of hairs running on alternate sides in each succeeding internode, much-branched; lower leaves petioled, upper sessile; flowers white, small, star-shaped, in leafy cymes; capsules ovoid; seeds brown, acutely tubercled.

Antiinflammatory, astringent, carminative, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, laxative, refrigerant, vulnerary (plant)

Plants for a Future
Australian Naturopathic Network
Excerpt from Boericke's Materia Medica: The Tinctures

Alkaloids (plant); carotene and vitamin C (leaf); vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, an unidentified hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, luteolin, apigenin, genistein and vicenin-2 (dried herb)

As a plaster in swolen areas and broken bones, to relieve constipation, useful in rheumatism, inflammations of the digestive, renal, respiratory and reproductive tracts, asthma, congestion, and bronchitis, obesity, high cholesterol, in severe inflammations of skin, such as erysipelas, scalds and burns, crural ulcers, haemorrhoids, eczema, to soothe severe itchiness and inflammations of eyes (plant); as a poultice or ointment for skin irritation and inflammation as well as for skin ulcers. Boils, carbuncles, and abscesses

In large doses, the plant may temporarily cause a mild form of paralysis in human beings. Should not be used medicinally by pregnant women.

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.