Manjistha — Indian Madder

Ayurvedic herb Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia) — Indian Madder. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Tikta, Kashaya, Virya Sheeta, Vipaka Madhura. Balances Pitta, Kapha.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read
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Powerful blood purifier for skin and liver.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaTikta, KashayaTikta (Bitter) — detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic; Kashaya (Astringent) — drying, absorbent, wound-healing
GunaLaghuLaghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness
ViryaSheetaSheeta (Cold) — cooling, decreases Pitta and inflammation
VipakaMadhuraMadhura (Sweet) — post-digestive sweet, nourishing
PrabhavaRaktashodhana, KushtaghnaRaktashodhana; Kushtaghna — treats skin diseases

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Manjistha is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Vikasa, Yojanavalli, Tamramuli, Raktanga

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Manjistha are: moola, kanda.

Main Indications

Manjistha is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Kushta, Visarpa, Vrana, Raktavikara, Prameha.

Dosha Effects

Manjistha pacifies Pitta, Kapha.

It may aggravate Vata when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Manjistha is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Kaṣ¡ya, Tikta, Madhura
Guna (Quality)Guru
Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa
Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu
Karma (Action)Kaphapitta¿¡maka, Varḍya, Svarya, Viṣa, śothaghna, Kuṣuhaghna, Pramehaghna, Vrṣya, Krmighna, Stambhana, ārtavajanana, Ras¡yana, śoḍitasth¡pana
Dose2-4 g of the drug.
Therapeutic Uses: Yoni Roga, Akṣi Roga, śleṣmaja śotha, Karḍa Roga, Maṃjiṣuh¡
Important Formulations: Aravind¡sava, A¿vagandh¡riṣua, U¿ir¡sava, Candan¡sava,
Botanical Name: Rubia cordifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae)
Part Used: St.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
fruitLiver diseasesMESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0ZISBN:9788172361792
rootAbortifacient agentsMESH:D000019,UMLS:C0000782, ICD-11:JA00.1The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part-1 Volume-9
rootAmenorrheaMESH:D000568,UMLS:C0002453, DOID:13938, ICD-11:GA20.0ISBN:9788171360536
rootAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9788172363093
rootAnti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9780387706375
rootAntineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9788172363093
rootAntipruriticsMESH:D000982,UMLS:C0003417, ICD-11:EC90ISBN:9788171360536
rootArthralgiaMESH:D018771,UMLS:C0003862, ICD-11:ME82ISBN:9788171360536
rootAscitesMESH:D001201,UMLS:C0003962, ICD-11:ME04ISBN:9788172363093
rootAstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792
rootCarcinoma, ehrlich tumorMESH:D002286,UMLS:C0007125, DOID:5050ISBN:9788172363093
rootCarcinoma, lewis lungMESH:D018827,UMLS:C0243038ISBN:9788172363093
rootCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788171360536
rootDeodorantsMESH:D003836,UMLS:C0011468, ICD-11:XE1B1ISBN:9788172363093
rootDiabetes mellitusMESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14ISBN:9788171360536
rootDiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part-1 Volume-9
rootDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361792
rootDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9780387706375
rootDysmenorrheaMESH:D004412,UMLS:C0013390, ICD-11:GA34.3ISBN:9788171360536
rootDyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9788171360536
rootEaracheMESH:D004433,UMLS:C0013456, ICD-11:AB70.2ISBN:9788171360536
rootFractures, boneMESH:D050723,UMLS:C0016658, ICD-11:ND56.2ISBN:9788171360536, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part-1 Volume-9
rootHeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9788171360536
rootHemorrhageMESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27ISBN:9788171360536
rootInflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:81-204-0828-4
rootJaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:9788171360536
rootKidney calculiMESH:D007669,UMLS:C0022650, ICD-11:GB70.0ISBN:9788171360536
rootLeukemiaMESH:D007938,UMLS:C0023418, DOID:1240, ICD-11:2B33.4ISBN:9788172363093
rootLeukorrheaMESH:D007973,UMLS:C0023533, DOID:3766, ICD-11:MF3AISBN:9788171360536
rootLiver diseasesMESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0ZISBN:9788171360536
rootMenstruation-inducing agentsMESH:D008600,UMLS:C0025346ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788172361792
rootNeuralgiaMESH:D009437,UMLS:C0027796, ICD-11:MG30.5ZISBN:9788171360536
rootParalysisMESH:D010243,UMLS:C0522224ISBN:9788171360536
rootPectoralis musclesMESH:D010369ISBN:9788171360536
rootPharyngitisMESH:D010612,UMLS:C0031350, DOID:2275, ICD-11:CA02.ZISBN:9788171360536
rootGeneral tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172361792
rootRicketsMESH:D012279,UMLS:C0035579, DOID:10609ISBN:9788171360536
rootSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZThe Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part-1 Volume-9
rootSkin pigmentationMESH:D012880,UMLS:C0037290ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788171360536
rootSplenic diseasesMESH:D013158,UMLS:C0037997, DOID:2529, ICD-11:3B8ZISBN:9788171360536
rootStress, physiologicalMESH:D013312,UMLS:C0449430, ICD-11:6E40.4The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part-1 Volume-9
rootUlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:81-204-0828-4
rootUrinary bladder calculiMESH:D001744,UMLS:C0005683, ICD-11:GB71.0ISBN:9788171360536
rootWounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India Part-1 Volume-9
rootDeobstruentISBN:9780387706375
rootRheumatoid arthritisMESH:D001172,UMLS:C0003873, DOID:7148, ICD-11:FA20ISBN:9788171360536
stemAnti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9780387706375
stemAstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9780387706375
stemBites and stingsMESH:D001733,UMLS:C0005659ISBN:9788172361266
stemDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9780387706375
stemDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9780387706375
stemMenstruation-inducing agentsMESH:D008600,UMLS:C0025346ISBN:9780387706375
stemScorpion stingsMESH:D065008,UMLS:C0238417, ICD-11:NE61ISBN:9788172361266
stemDeobstruentISBN:9780387706375
whole plantAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9789327275590
whole plantAnti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9789327275590
whole plantAstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9789327275590
whole plantDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9789327275590
whole plantInflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:9789327275590
whole plantGeneral tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9789327275590
whole plantSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9789327275590
whole plantUlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:9789327275590
AmenorrheaMESH:D000568,UMLS:C0002453, DOID:13938, ICD-11:GA20.0ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
AnalgesicsMESH:D000700,UMLS:C0002771, ICD-11:XM49F7ISBN:9788173717062
AnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9788173717062
Anti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
Anti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9788173717062
AntipruriticsMESH:D000982,UMLS:C0003417, ICD-11:EC90ISBN:9788173717062
AntipyreticsMESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7ISBN:9788173717062
ArthralgiaMESH:D018771,UMLS:C0003862, ICD-11:ME82ISBN:9788173717062
AstheniaMESH:D001247,UMLS:C0004093, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9788173717062
AstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:81-204-0828-4
ColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9788173717062
CoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788173717062
Diabetes mellitusMESH:D003920,UMLS:C0011849, DOID:9351, ICD-11:5A14ISBN:9788173717062
DiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
DiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788173717062
DysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
DysmenorrheaMESH:D004412,UMLS:C0013390, ICD-11:GA34.3ISBN:9788173717062
DyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
Ear diseasesMESH:D004427,UMLS:C0013447, ICD-11:AC0ZISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
EdemaMESH:D004487,UMLS:C0013604, ICD-11:MG29.1ISBN:9788172361792
Eye diseasesMESH:D005128,UMLS:C0015397, DOID:5614, ICD-11:9E1ZISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
FeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9788173717062
FlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788173717062
Fractures, boneMESH:D050723,UMLS:C0016658, ICD-11:ND56.2ISBN:9788173717062
GalactogoguesMESH:D056669,UMLS:C2717873ISBN:9788173717062
Graves ophthalmopathyMESH:D049970,UMLS:C0339143, ICD-11:5A02.0ISBN:9788173717062
HeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9788173717062
HelminthiasisMESH:D006373,UMLS:C0018889, ICD-11:1F90.ZISBN:9788173717062
Hematologic diseasesMESH:D006402,UMLS:C0018939, DOID:74, ICD-11:3C0ZISBN:81-204-0828-4
HemorrhageMESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27ISBN:9788173717062
HoarsenessMESH:D006685,UMLS:C0019825, ICD-11:MA82.10ISBN:81-204-0828-4
InflammationMESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368ISBN:9788172361792
Intestinal diseasesMESH:D007410,UMLS:C0021831, DOID:5295, ICD-11:DE2ZISBN:9788172361792
JaundiceMESH:D007565,UMLS:C0022346, ICD-11:ME10.1ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
LeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788173717062
Liver diseasesMESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0ZISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717062
FrecklesMESH:D008548,UMLS:C0025209, ICD-11:ED61.0ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361792
Menstruation-inducing agentsMESH:D008600,UMLS:C0025346ISBN:9788173717062
NeuralgiaMESH:D009437,UMLS:C0027796, ICD-11:MG30.5ZISBN:9788173717062
ParalysisMESH:D010243,UMLS:C0522224ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361792
Pectoralis musclesMESH:D010369ISBN:9788173717062
PharyngitisMESH:D010612,UMLS:C0031350, DOID:2275, ICD-11:CA02.ZISBN:9788173717062
General tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:81-204-0828-4
Skin careMESH:D017592,UMLS:C0150773ISBN:81-204-0828-4
Skin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
Skin pigmentationMESH:D012880,UMLS:C0037290ISBN:9788173717062
Splenic diseasesMESH:D013158,UMLS:C0037997, DOID:2529, ICD-11:3B8ZISBN:9788173717062
UlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:9788173717062
Urinary bladder calculiMESH:D001744,UMLS:C0005683, ICD-11:GB71.0ISBN:9788172361792
Urinary tract infectionsMESH:D014552,UMLS:C0042029, DOID:0080784, ICD-11:GC08ISBN:81-204-0828-4
Urination disordersMESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0YISBN:9788172361792, ISBN:9788173717062
Urologic diseasesMESH:D014570,UMLS:C0042075ISBN:81-204-0828-4
VitiligoMESH:D014820,UMLS:C0042900, DOID:12306, ICD-11:ED63.0ISBN:9788173717062
Wound healingMESH:D014945,UMLS:C0043240ISBN:9788173717062
Wounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9788173717062
Urethral dischargeUMLS:C0152447ISBN:9788173717062
Rheumatoid arthritisMESH:D001172,UMLS:C0003873, DOID:7148, ICD-11:FA20ISBN:9788173717062