Spermacoce hispida is an annual to perennial, variable, creeping to erect, branched, short hairy herb, growing up to 15 cm tall.

The plant is used in traditional medicine in southeast Asia, the plant being harvested from the wild. It is also used as a vegetable in Sri Lanka, where it is sold in local markets

The plant is considered to be emetic. It has been also reported that Spermacoce hispida is an effective natural drug for the treatment of hypertension and it has hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Recently, pharmacological studies have shown that Spermacoce hispida seeds exhibit antidiabetic properties and Antihyperlipidaemic activity in rats.