Dried Euphorbia Hirta in a wooden bowl

Euphorbia Hirta: Botanical Identity, History & Traditional Knowledge

Dried Euphorbia Hirta in a wooden bowl

Euphorbia hirta is a small, unassuming plant that most people would walk past without a second glance. Throughout the tropics it grows along roadsides, paths and in grasslands, and it has collected a long list of local names.

Euphorbia Hirta plant in natureEuphorbia Hirta, close-up

Who is Euphorbia hirta?

Euphorbia hirta is an annual herb that grows upright or sprawling, reaching about 60 cm. The solid stem is covered in coarse yellow-to-reddish hairs and releases a milky white latex. The leaves are simple, opposite, oval to slightly diamond-shaped with finely toothed edges, and the small unisexual flowers form dense clusters at the leaf nodes. The fruit is a three-sided hairy capsule with tiny orange-to-red seeds. The species originated in the tropical Americas and is now pantropical, usually growing as a weed.

A small weed with a very long list of names.

Names from around the world

English names include asthma plant, asthma weed, Queensland asthma weed, garden spurge, pillpod spurge, hairy spurge, red milkweed and snakeweed. In the Philippines it is known as tawa-tawa.

Botanical illustration of Euphorbia Hirta

A genus with a Roman story

The genus name Euphorbia honours Euphorbos, a Greek physician to King Juba II of Numidia and Mauretania. Pliny the Elder recorded in his Natural History (79 AD) that Juba named a plant after his physician. That plant was probably the cactus-like Euphorbia resinifera from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Linnaeus applied the name to the whole genus in 1753 in Species Plantarum. The genus has around 2,000 species, making it one of the largest groups of flowering plants. The English word "spurge" comes from the Old French word for "purge".

Traditional knowledge

Euphorbia hirta appears in traditional herbal practice in several regions. In the Philippines, for example, it is brewed as a tea known as tawa-tawa. Reference sources also record folk uses in several regions. We mention these as cultural and historical context only.

Dried Euphorbia Hirta, close-upDried Euphorbia Hirta, close-upDried Euphorbia Hirta, close-up

Important safety notes

All euphorbias have a caustic, milky latex whose irritant effects come mainly from diterpenes, so fresh sap should be kept away from the eyes, nose and mouth and washed off the skin at once. This matters mainly for fresh plants in the wild. Because the genus is so large and varied, it is also a good reason to rely on correctly identified, properly dried material rather than picking spurges yourself.

How to use

Euphorbia hirta is used in small amounts only, and traditionally for short periods of about one week. High doses may upset the stomach.

Not for use during pregnancy or by those trying to conceive.

Euphorbia Hirta Herb

Available in our shop

Euphorbia Hirta Herb

From €9.99 · worldwide shipping

Shop Euphorbia Hirta Herb

Did you know?

The genus Euphorbia has around 2,000 species and is named after Euphorbus, physician to King Juba II of Mauretania.

Sources

The information in this article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Herbal products are not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, please consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any herbal product.

Back to blog