Manjistha
Rubia cordifolia · 茜草
Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.
Also called Indian madder, Manjishtha, Qian cao, Common madder
Pinyin: Qiàn Cǎo
Sanskrit: मञ्जिष्ठा (Manjishtha)
Few human safety studiesA climbing plant with red roots, used in Ayurveda for skin and blood, and in Chinese medicine to stop bleeding.
Did you know? Its roots make a deep red dye, and madder root was used for centuries to color cloth.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Skin. Used in Ayurveda for skin problems. Human trials are missing.Traditional proof
- Anemia & blood building. Used to clean the blood and stop bleeding in traditional systems. There are no good human trials.Traditional proof
- Inflammation. Lab and animal studies show some anti-inflammatory effects.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Ayurveda uses manjistha to clear the blood and treat skin problems. Chinese medicine uses the root (qian cao) to stop bleeding and move blood.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Alterative, Hemostatic, Anti-inflammatory. Energy: cooling.
- Ayurveda
- Calms Kapha. Taste (rasa): bitter, sweet, astringent. Energy (virya): heating. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Raktashodhaka (blood purifier), Varnya (complexion), Kushthaghna (skin).
- Chinese medicine
- 茜草 Stop bleeding. Nature: cold. Flavour: bitter. Enters the Liver channel.
How people take it
Root decoction or powder, used in traditional practice. There is no tested human dose.
Decoction, powder and capsule.
Where to get it
Grows in India and parts of Asia and Africa. The roots are dug, dried and ground. Buy root powder or capsules. Few products are tested for purity.
Be careful
May cause stomach upset. It is not studied in pregnancy, so avoid it then. People with bleeding problems should not use it without a clinician's advice, because it may affect clotting.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; bleeding disorders; before surgery; children under 12.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are bitter Ayurvedic skin and blood herbs.
- Works well together
Both are used in Ayurvedic skin care and are sometimes combined in folk preparations.
- Use cautionBlood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
The root may affect clotting, so use caution with blood thinners.
Adds up with others that may slow blood clotting: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 40 more.
The honest take
Manjistha is known mostly from tradition and lab work. There are very few human studies on its skin or blood claims. Its traditional role in stopping bleeding needs medical care, not self-treatment.