Bidens Pilosa, considered a weed in most parts of the world, it is only appreciated in traditional healing within ethnic tribal communities today. It belongs to the daisy family Asteraceae.Black-jact, Beggars ticks,Spanish needle are some of its common names. 

Studies on pilosa plant extracts have shown it has anti-hyperglycemic, antihypertensive,  hepatoprotective, antipyretic, immunosuppressive, antiulcerogenic and anti-inflammatory, anti-leukemic, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial, antioxidant and antitumor effects. Proven biological activities such as these have led countries like Brazil to include Bidens Pilosa in the official list of medicinal plants with potential for development of herbal use by the public health system.

Having supposedly originated in South America, it is now found in all tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. It is used very often for its anti – inflammatory and hypoglycemic effects.