Health Benefits of Manjistha, Medicinal Uses, Dosage, and Side effects

Manjistha or Indian Madder or Madderwort has been used in Ayurveda for many ages for blood detoxification. In ancient times, it was also used for coloring clothes because of the artificial coloring agent in it. It is also the best-known herb for treating skin diseases, maintaining urinary system functioning, and preventing kidney diseases.

This herb can be used as externally as well as internally for promoting skin whitening. It also keeps the hair naturally healthy as well as shiny and shows other benefits for hair like it keeps the hair strong. Rinsing the eyes with its decoction may help to control excessive watery discharge because of the astringent property.

Latin name: Rubia cordifolia

Family: Rubiaceae

———-shloka———-

shloka

In this shloka, it means that synonyms of manjistha are manjistha, viksa, jinghi, samanga, kalmeshia, mandukparni, bhandiri, bhandi, yojanvali, rasayani, aruna, kala, raktangi, raktyashtika, bhandditaki, gandiri, manjusha, and vastraranjini.

It is of sweet, bitter, and astringent taste, improves voice and skin color, heavy and hot in potency. It treats poisoning, Kapha, inflammation, gynecological disorders, eye and ear disorders, bloody diarrhea, skin and blood disorders, wound, and diabetes.

(Bhavaprakasha nighantu: Haritkyadi varga- page no. 107 and shloka no. 189-191)

Manjistha Names in different languages

  • Hindi name: Manjeeth
  • Sanskrit name: Jingi, Vikasa, Lata, Raktanga, Vastrabhushana, Yojanavalli, Lohitalata, Samanga, Bhandiri
  • Tamil name: Manjitti
  • Farsi name: Runas
  • Bengali name: Manjistha
  • Kannada name: Raktamanjisthe
  • Telugu name: Tamravalli
  • Arabian name: Phuvva
  • Malayalam name: Maanjetti
  • Gujarati name: Manjeeth

Synonyms in the Sanskrit language

Samanga, Kalameshi, Vikasa, Vastrabhushana, Raktanga, Lata, Yojanavalli, Bhandiri, Jingi, and Lohitalata

Vastraranjini: It gives the red color to clothes

Morphological characteristics

Manjistha is a scrambling or climbing herb that has red rhizomatous roots. It grows up to the height of 1.5m (150 cm) and the stem is slender and has four angles. Leaves are evergreen, rough, and whorls around the stem in groups of 4 to 7. Flowers are greenish-white, small, and arranged in clusters. Its flowers bloom from June to August have five petals measuring 3 to 5 mm and have a pale yellow color. Berries are red to black shades and roots are 12mm thick and 1 meter in length. These are brownish-red or bright red and give red dye. Its fruit is around and fleshy drupe. But when it is ripe, it changes to dark purple.

Habitat: Manjistha is found in hilly areas of India and is also native to Southeast Asia and Africa.

Main chemical constituents of Manjistha

Chemical constituents present in it are munjistin, purpurin, pseudopurpurin, xanthopurpurin, and also contains glycosides like rubiprasin A, B, & C, rubiadin, mangistin, ruiearbonls, 3-dimethoxy 2 carboxy anthraquinone, 1-hydroxy 2-methoxy anthraquinone, furomollugin, garancin, mollugin, and alizarin.

Categorization according to classical books:

According to Acharya Charaka:

Varnya: Group of herbs that are good for skin and improve complexion

Jvarahara: Herbs that treat fever

Vishaghna: Herbs that show an anti-poisonous and anti-toxic property.

Acharya Sushruta: Pittasamshamana (a group that calms pitta dosha) and Priyangvadi

Acharya Vagbhata:

Priyangvadi group

Medicinal properties of Manjistha

  • Rasa (Taste): Madhura (Sweet), Tikta (Bitter), and Kashaya (Astringent)
  • Guna (Quality): Guru (Heavy) and Rooksha (Dry)
  • Veerya (Potency): Ushna (Hot)
  • Vipaka (Undergoes taste conversion after digestion): Katu (Pungent)
  • Karma (Effect on tridosha); Kahapittashamaka (Balances Kapha and pitta dosha)

Ayurvedic properties of Manjistha

  • Yoniruka: Treats gynecological disorders and have benefits for periods
  • Akshiruka: Helps to treat eye pain
  • Meha: Treats urinary tract disorders and diabetes
  • Kushta: Treats skin disorders and shows benefits for skin whitening
  • Raktatisara: Relieves diarrhea with bleeding
  • Svarakrut: It improves voice
  • Visha: Acts as anti-toxic and treats conditions related to poisoning
  • Shotha: Treats inflammatory conditions
  • Karnaruka: Treats ear pain
  • Netramaya: Treats eye diseases

Therapeutic uses:

Diarrhea: Being an anti-bacterial and anti-diarrhoeal Manjistha is extensively used to kill bacteria in the intestines that cause diarrhea and various intestinal infections. This herb also removes the toxins from the body and effectively reduces the frequency of stools.

Fights Respiratory Issues: Manjistha has anti-inflammatory and anti-asthmatic properties and hence it is considered to be a well-known remedy for treating all kinds of respiratory troubles. This herb helps in treating symptoms related to respiratory issues like the common cold, sore throat, cough, and flu. It also loosens the rheum particles accumulated within the chest as well as nasal cavities hence easing breathing. Therefore, it is very helpful in treating asthma and other bronchial conditions.

Liver disorders: Manjistha is a magical herb for treating most liver anomalies, especially jaundice, in which the liver gets most affected because of the hepatoprotective and hepatostimulative properties. This herb not only supports the liver’s functioning by secreting bile but also helps the liver enzymes to keep them to normal levels. It also detoxifies and cleanses the liver and also improves liver functioning naturally.

Prevents Ulcers: Due to the anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer properties of the Manjistha root, it shows great significance in treating various types of ulcers like peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, canker sores or mouth ulcers, etc. The bioactive compounds present in the herb helps to heal the mouth as well as gastric ulcers. It also increases the healing process and improves wound healing, tissue regeneration, and wound closure that facilitates faster healing.

Promotes Digestion: In combination with great carminative and digestive properties, manjistha helps to treat various digestive issues. Its anti-flatulent property reduces the gas formation in the alimentary canal, thus reducing bloating, flatulence, constipation, and abdominal distension. Due to antacid properties, it also prevents the formation of excessive acids in the stomach and hence helps to treat indigestion, gastritis and promotes natural absorption of nutrients in the body.

Skin Health: Manjistha has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and is also a well-known natural remedy for treating various skin conditions. Being a blood purifier, it also helps in removing toxins from the blood and treats a host of skin infections as well. This herb also reduces the signs of aging like spots, fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, and dark circles. It treats various allergic conditions like acne, psoriasis, scabies, pimples, zits, eczema, etc. It also shows good results in healing cracked heels.

Part used: Root and Stem

Dosage: 1 to 3 grams (Powder)

20 to 50 ml (Decoction)

Side effect of manjistha:

There are no known side effects of Manjistha. It can be used in lactating mothers and small children. But use it with care in pregnant women as advised by the doctor.

Conclusion:

From this article, it is concluded that there are numerous benefits of Manjistha which is related to skin, digestion, hair, etc. It can be used for weight loss and also in lactating mothers as well as small children.

How to use Manjistha for acne?

Being a blood purifier, it also helps in removing toxins from the blood and treats a host of skin infections like acne.

How long does it take for manjistha to work?

Manjistha will take up to 4 to 5 days to work properly.

Can men use manjistha?

Yes, men can use Manjistha.

Does manjistha reduce weight?

Yes, Manjistha helps to reduce weight because it contains various nutrients and fiber which helps to reduce hunger and stops overeating.

Buy Manjishtha Capsules

Manjistha Capsules is a natural blood purifying herb that can treat skin allergies and infections. It’s a natural muscle relaxant to relieve pain, swelling and heal bruises. It helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression

Note: Our purpose is to serve useful information related to manjistha’s benefits, dosage, and other properties. It is advised to the patients not to consume Manjistha on the basis of this information. Before taking Manjistha as a medicine it is better to have an expert opinion because dosage and treatment vary from patient to patient depending on their symptoms and medical history.

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