Manjistha- Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) is a plant native to India. It has been used traditionally for its medicinal benefits and as a natural hair dye and food colourant.

Manjistha consists of dried roots which are long and cylindrical with red coloured bark. Its flowers are small, white, or greenish, whereas fruits are globose, dark purple or black.

Health benefits of Manjistha include its ability to detoxify the blood, improve liver function, stimulate weight loss, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system. It is also effective in treating skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

About Manjistha:

The roots of Rubia cordifolia L. are used to make manjistha (family Rubiaceae). It is also called Indian Madder in English and Manjitha or Manjit in Hindi. Manjistha grows all over the country. The root of the plant is long and round, and the bark is red. It has small white or greenish-white flowers, and its fruits are round, dark purple or black. The base of stems is long, woody, and rough.

Rubia cordifolia has been used to treat illnesses for a long time. In addition to being good for your health, it can also be used as a natural hair dye and food colouring.

Why should you use Manjistha?

Manjistha, also called Indian Madder, is thought to be one of the best herbs to clean the blood. It is mostly used to break up blood flow blocks and get rid of blood that has stopped moving.

The herb manjistha can be taken by mouth or put on the skin to help whiten the skin. By stopping the growth of bacteria that causes acne, Manjistha powder mixed with honey or rose water and applied at least twice or three times a week can help with acne and pimples. When applied to the skin, Manjistha oil and coconut oil, which have anti-inflammatory properties, reduce swelling and skin rashes caused by acne. It also helps to keep the hair healthy and shiny. Due to its astringent property, rinsing your eyes with Manjistha decoction might help stop too much watery discharge.

Ayurveda says that taking Manjistha powder after lunch and dinner helps stop diarrhoea because it has properties that make it an "appetiser" and "digestive." Regularly eating Manjistha could be good for diabetics because it lowers the amount of sugar in the blood.

Composition of Manjistha:

This amazing herb has bioactive compounds like purpurin, munjistin, xanthopurpurin, pseudopurpurin, and glycosides like rubiadin, rubiprasin A,B,C, runerebels, aborane triterpenoids, mangistin, 1-hydroxy 2-methoxy anthraquinone, 3-dimethoxy 2-carboxy anthraquinone, alizarin, garancin,

Manjistha has powerful hepatoprotective, anti-splenomegaly, anti-hepatomegaly, cholagogue, antipyretic, spleno-protective, detoxifying, febrifuge, digestive, anti-inflammatory, broncho-dilatory, pain-relieving, and anti-microbial properties because it contains these phytochemicals. And eventually, these properties help a lot to treat and relieve jaundice, liver infections, skin conditions like pimples, eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo, indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea, fever, allergy, asthma, blood infections, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Health benefits of Manjistha:

Helps with diarrhoea

Manjistha is widely used to get rid of bacteria in the intestines that cause diarrhoea and other intestinal infections. It does this by killing bacteria and stopping diarrhoea. When taken in the right amounts, it can be used to treat AMA ATISARA, a type of severe diarrhoea in which the bowel is slimy, sticky, full of mucus, and smells bad. This mixture not only gets rid of toxins in the body, but it also makes stools less frequent and can even treat dysentery.

Helps with breathing problems

Manjistha is a well-known traditional cure for all kinds of respiratory problems. It has strong anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-asthmatic properties. It is an important part of treating cold, cough, sore throat, and flu symptoms. It also actively thins and loosens phlegm in the chest and nose, making it easier to breathe and helping the body get rid of mucus. It can also help treat asthma and other problems with the lungs.

Remedies Liver Anomalies

Manjistha is a magical cure for most liver problems, especially jaundice, which mostly affects the liver. It has powerful hepatoprotective and hepatostimulative properties. The herb not only helps the liver work better by making it make more bile, but it also helps the liver enzymes get back to normal levels. It also cleans and detoxes the liver, which makes it work better.

Helps you lose weight

Manjistha root has a lot of flavonoids and bioactive parts that help the body lose weight faster. When taken regularly, formulas with manjistha, which are full of fibre and essential nutrients, help stop sudden hunger pangs and prevent overeating, so they can be a key part of a plan to lose weight. The herb also stops LDL, or "bad cholesterol," from building up in the body. This speeds up the metabolism and makes it easier for the body to stay at a healthy weight. 

Stops ulcers.

The bright red Manjistha root has anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer properties that help treat different types of ulcers, such as ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, canker sores, mouth ulcers, etc. Bioactive parts in the herb help heal ulcers in the mouth and stomach. It also speeds up the healing process by making it easier for wounds to close, for tissues to grow back, and for wounds to stop bleeding.

Remedies PCOD Symptoms

Manjistha is a miracle cure for all kinds of hormonal issues. It is a key part of regulating periods, treating problems after giving birth, and even helping to treat too much abdominal pain or bleeding. It also helps ease the pain of dysmenorrhea and helps the flow of blood during the menstrual cycle. For women with PCOD, taking manjistha formulations cleans the blood and improves the health of the uterus, which leads to regular, healthy periods.

Promotes Digestion

Manjistha has great carminative and digestive properties. It also helps treat a wide range of digestive problems. The anti-flatulent property makes it so that less gas is made in the digestive tract. This makes flatulence, bloating, constipation, and abdominal distension less likely to happen. The herb's antacid property stops the stomach from making too much acid. This helps treat indigestion, ulcers, and gastritis and makes it easier for the body to absorb nutrients.

Manages Urolithiasis

Manjistha is very helpful for treating urolithiasis, or kidney stones, and other kidney problems because it has ruberythric acid. This bio-active part stops calcium and magnesium from building up and sticking together, which is what causes kidney and ureter stones. As a strong antispasmodic, it also makes it easier for kidney stones that have already formed to pass through the urinary system with less pain.

Helps the heart work better

Manjistha's powerful cardiotonic effects are a key part of treating a wide range of heart problems. By blocking calcium channels, it keeps the heart's rhythm steady. It stops lipids from getting oxidised and building up in the blood vessels. This lowers the risk of atherosclerosis, heart blocks, heart attacks, blood clots, and other health problems. It also stops platelets from sticking together, which makes it easier for blood to move through the body. The herb can also help control high blood pressure because it has a powerful effect on the blood vessels.

Lessens the chance of cancer

Even though it's not the best cure, research and studies have shown that Manjistha powder can help with both benign and malignant cancers and tumours, especially ovarian and uterine cancers. Manjistha has a lot of quinones and cyclic hexapeptides, which help fight cancer cells in the colon, breast, and liver. It can also help treat histiocytic lymphoma, myeloid leukaemia, and other types of cancer.

Helps the lymphatic system

The lymphatic system is mainly responsible for moving fluids around the body, feeding the different tissues and organs, and getting rid of waste and toxins. Manjistha is a powerful herb for cleaning the blood. It improves the way the lymphatic system works, which in turn boosts the body's immune system and protects it from infections.

Helps keep skin healthy

Ayurveda recognises manjistha as a well-known one-step treatment for many skin problems because it has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps treat a lot of skin infections because it has properties that clean the blood and get rid of toxins in the blood. It not only protects the skin from oxidative radical damage caused by UVA and UVB rays, but it also makes wrinkles, spots, fine lines, dark circles, and other signs of ageing less likely to show up. It can also help treat allergic conditions like acne, pimples, zits, psoriasis, scabies, eczema, and many others. It can even help heal heels that are dry and cracked.