A voice for
herbal medicine

We share traditional, scientific and practical insights written by experienced herbalists and health experts from the world of herbal medicine and natural health

Manjistha affects the circulatory system where it will cool, cleanse and purify the blood flow

Back to herbs

Manjistha

Rubia cordifolia Rubiaceae

Manjistha is a perennial climber and like a vine it ‘spreads’ throughout the whole system, especially working on the arterial, circulatory system and skin. Its red roots point to its affinity for the blood and the red pigment can be seen in the urine.

  • How does it feel?

    Manjistha is a perennial climber, native to India, which can be found growing most predominantly in the lower regions of the Himalayas and the Western Ghats in Southern India. It can also be found growing in Japan, Indonesia and Sri Lanka in moist, tropical forests up to altitudes of 3500 metres. The plant itself is prickly and will often grow over other plants. The roots have a characteristically red colouring and the leaves are an ovate shape with distinctive veins running along their length. The flowers are small and a white-green colouring. The manjistha fruits are globular and a deep purple-black.

  • What can I use it for?

    Manjistha acts primarily as a blood cleanser and purifier. It contains a class of constituents known as quinones; the quinone rubiadin demonstrates antioxidant activity that protects against damaging free radicals. Manjistha has also demonstrated the ability to increase the number of inflammatory mediators, reducing heat and congestion within the blood flow, impacting upon a wide range of chronic inflammatory disorders.

  • Into the heart of Manjistha

    The medicinal activity of manjistha is concentrated within the heart and the circulatory system where it will cool, cleanse and purify the blood flow. It is this action that has indicated the use of manjistha in all blood based disorders and deficiencies. Manjistha will clear any congested heat and toxicity from the blood, relieving characteristically irritated, itching and inflamed skin conditions. The profound effect of manjistha on the blood supply also indicates it in menstrual disorders and chronic inflammatory conditions. Manjistha will also effectively break down accumulations that may be obstructing the blood flow, such as tumours and lumps. The cooling nature of manjistha on the blood has made it effective in reducing irritation and agitation of the nervous system on both an emotional and physical level.

    Manjistha’s affinity for cleaning, cooling and clearing the blood of all excess heat, inflammation and toxicity, indicates it in itching, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, vitiligo, acne, acne rosacea and herpes. It is excellent for relieving pruritus influenced by liver heat and aggravation. It is also indicated in scabies and Tinea pedis.

    Manjishta clears congested blood and stops bleeding by cooling the ‘heat’ that causes bleeding. It is therefore indicated in Crohn’s disease, dysentery, bleeding ulcers. It acts as a vulnerary and hastens the healing time of skin trauma.

    It is indicated where there are signs of a congested uterus, dysmenorrhoea fixed pain, clots, amenorrhoea and endometriosis. Manjistha is excellent for all menstrual imbalances.

    Manjishta breaks accumulations that may be obstructing the blood flow, particularly those found in the bladder, liver and kidneys.

    Manjistha is specific for gradually dissolving kidney and bladder stones. Anthraquinones act as chelating agents helping to draw excess calcium from the system.

    Manjistha is naturally cooling and has a balancing effect on the emotions, indicating it in cases of epilepsy and agitation.

  • Traditional actions

    Alteratives

    Alteratives are herbs that ‘alter’ the condition in a tissue by eliminating metabolic waste via the liver, large intestine, lungs, lymphatic system, skin and kidneys. Examples include Burdock root (Arctium lappa), Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinalis), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Poke (Phytolacca decandra) and Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica).

    Astringents

    Astringents contain tannins that act to precipitate proteins and draw tissues together, tightening and toning them to reduce secretions and discharge. Astringents also tend to stop bleeding and can act on tissues with which there is no direct contact. Examples include Raspberry leaf (Rubus ideaus), Lady’s Mantle leaf (Alchemilla vulgaris), Agrimony leaf (Agrimonia eupatoria), Shepherd’s Purse leaf (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Witch Hazel leaf (Hamamelis virginiana) and Yarrow leaf (Achillea millefolium).

    Diuretics

    Diuretics are herbs that stimulate the flow of urine, and help remove fluids from the body. Common examples are Dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinalis), Burdock root (Arctium lappa) and Corn silk (Zea mays).

    Emmenagogues

    Emmenagogues are herbs that stimulate and promote menstruation. Examples include Marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis) and Chaste Tree fruits (Vitex agnus-castus), Turmeric root (Curcuma longa).

  • Did you know?

    The characteristic bright red colour of this plants root was traditionally seen as an indicator of this plant’s affinity for treating blood based disorders and deficiencies.

Additional information

  • Dosage

    0.5–10g/day dried or 3–12ml/day of a 1:3 in 25% tincture

  • Traditional energetics

    • Rasa (taste) Bitter, sweet, astringent.
    • Virya (action) Cooling.
    • Vipaka (post-digestive effect) Pungent.
    • Guna (quality) Heavy, dry.
    • Dosha effect: PK-, V+.
    • Dhatu (tissue) Plasma, blood, muscles.
    • Srotas (channels) Circulatory, female reproductive.
manjistha illustration

Related herbs

Asafoetida

rubus

Rubus

Related conditions

Menstrual health: An Ayurvedic perspective

Endometriosis

Related articles

Ayurveda and Immunity: Thriving the Ayurvedic Way

Skin inflammations in Ayurveda

Aromatic
An ‘aromatic’ remedy, high in volatile essential oils, was most often associated with calming and sometimes ‘warming’ the digestion. Most kitchen spices and herbs have this quality: they were used both as flavouring and to ease the digestion of sometimes challenging pre-industrial foods. Many aromatics are classed as ‘carminatives’ and are used to reduce colic, bloating and agitated digestion. They also often feature in respiratory remedies for colds, chest and other airway infections. They are also classic calming inhalants and massage oils, and are the basis of aromatherapy for their mental benefits.
Astringent taste
The puckering taste you get with many plants (the most familiar is black tea after being stewed too long, or some red wines) is produced by complex polyphenols such as tannins. Tannins are used in concentrated form (eg from oak bark) to make leather from animal skins. The process of ‘tanning’ involves the coagulation of relatively fluid proteins in living tissues into tight clotted fibres (similar to the process of boiling an egg). Tannins in effect turn exposed surfaces on the body into leather. In the case of the lining of mouth and upper digestive tract this is only temporary as new mucosa are replenished, but in the meantime can calm inflamed or irritated surfaces. In the case of open wounds tannins can be a life-saver – when strong (as in the bark of broadleaved trees) they can seal a damaged surface. One group of tannins, the reddish-brown ‘condensed tannins’ are procyanidins, which can reduce inflammation and oxidative damage.
Bitter
Bitters are a very complex group of phytochemicals that stimulate the bitter receptors in the mouth. They were some of the most valuable remedies in ancient medicine. They were experienced as stimulating appetite and switching on a wide range of key digestive functions, including increasing bile clearance from the liver (as bile is a key factor in bowel health this can be translated into improving bowel functions and the microbiome). Many of these reputations are being supported by new research on the role of bitter receptors in the mouth and elsewhere round the body. Bitters were also seen as ‘cooling’ reducing the intensity of some fevers and inflammatory diseases.
Blue-purple colouring
Any fruits with a blue-purple colouring contain high levels of the polyphenols known as anthocyanins. These work 1) on the walls of small blood vessels, helping to maintain capillary structure to reduce a key stage in inflammation, and improving the microcirculation to the tissues; 2) to improve retinal function and vision; 3) to support connective tissue repair around the body.
Cooling
Traditional ‘cold’ or cooling’ remedies often contain bitter phytonutrients such a iridoids (gentian), sesiquterpenes (chamomile), anthraquinones (rhubarb root), mucilages (marshmallow), some alkaloids and flavonoids. They tend to influence the digestive system, liver and kidneys. Cooling herbs do just that; they diffuse, drain and clear heat from areas of inflammation, redness and irritation. Sweet, bitter and astringent herbs tend to be cooling.
Hot
Traditional ‘hot’ or ‘heating’ remedies, often containing spice ingredients like capsaicin, the gingerols (ginger), piperine (black or long pepper), curcumin (turmeric) or the sulfurous isothiocyanates from mustard, horseradich or wasabi, generate warmth when taken. In modern times this might translate as thermogenic and circulatory stimulant effects. There is evidence of improved tissue blood flow with such remedies: this would lead to a reduction in build-up of metabolites and tissue damage. Heating remedies were used to counter the impact of cold, reducing any symptoms made worse in the cold. .
Mucilaginous
Mucilages are complex carbohydrate based plant constituents with a slimy or ‘unctuous’ feel especially when chewed or macerated in water. Their effect is due simply to their physical coating exposed surfaces. From prehistory they were most often used as wound remedies for their soothing and healing effects on damaged tissues. Nowadays they are used more for these effects on the digestive lining, from the throat to the stomach, where they can relieve irritation and inflammation such as pharyngitis and gastritis. Some of the prominent mucilaginous remedies like slippery elm, aloe vera and the seaweeds can be used as physical buffers to reduce the harm and pain caused by reflux of excess stomach acid. Mucilages are also widely used to reduce dry coughing. Here the effect seems to be by reflex through embryonic nerve connections: reduced signals from the upper digestive wall appear to translate as reduced activity of airway muscles and increased activity of airway mucus cells. Some seed mucilages, such as in psyllium seed, flaxseed (linseed) or guar bean survive digestion to provide bulking laxative effects in the bowel. These can also reduce rate of absorption of sugar and cholesterol. .
New-mown hay aroma
The familiar country odour of haymaking, of drying grass and other plants, is largely produced by coumarins (originally isolated from tonka beans – in French coumarou) and widely used in perfumery. They are chemically categorised as benzopyrone lactones and are important phytochemicals, with strong antioxidant activity in the laboratory and likely effects in modulating inflammation. They were most often associated with the calming effect linked to their use in stuffing mattresses and pillows and plants, high In coumarins were commonly used for these properties.
Resinous
Resins are most familiar as tacky discharges from pine trees (and as the substance in amber, and rosin for violin bows). They were most valued however as the basis of ancient commodities like frankincense and myrrh (two of the three gifts of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus) and getting access to their source was one benefit to Solomon for marrying the Queen of Sheba (now Ethiopia). Resins were the original antiseptic remedies, ground and applied as powders or pastes to wounds or inflamed tissues, and were also used for mummification. With alcohol distillation it was found that they could be dissolved in 90% alcohol and in this form they remain a most powerful mouthwash and gargle, for infected sore throats and gum disease. They never attracted much early research interest because they permanently coat expensive glassware! For use in the mouth, gums and throat hey are best combined with concentrated licorice extracts to keep the resins in suspension and add extra soothing properties. It appears that they work both as local antiseptics and by stimulating white blood cell activity under the mucosal surface. They feel extremely effective!
Salty
The salty flavour is immediately distinctive. A grain dropped onto the tongue is instantly moistening and a sprinkle on food enkindles digestion. This easily recognisable flavour has its receptors right at the front of the tongue. The salty flavor creates moisture and heat, a sinking and heavy effect which is very grounding for the nervous system and encourages stability. People who are solid and reliable become known as ‘the salt of the earth'.
Sharpness
The sharp taste of some fruits, and almost all unripe fruits, as well as vinegar and fermented foods, is produced by weak acids (the taste is generated by H+ ions from acids stimulating the sour taste buds). Sour taste buds are hard-wired to generate immediate reflex responses elsewhere in the body. Anyone who likes the refreshing taste of lemon or other citrus in the morning will know that one reflex effect is increased saliva production. Other effects are subjective rather than confirmed by research but there is a consistent view that they include increased digestive activity and contraction of the gallbladder.
Sweet
In the days when most people never tasted sugar, ‘sweetness’ was associated with the taste of basic foods: that of cooked vegetables, cereals and meat. In other words sweet was the quality of nourishment, and ‘tonic’ remedies. Describing a remedy as sweet generally led to that remedy being used in convalescence or recovery from illness. Interestingly, the plant constituents most often found in classic tonics like licorice, ginseng are plant steroids including saponins, which also have a sweet taste.

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the very latest in herbal insights.

Sign up to our newsletter