My Vedic Life

What is Manjistha:

• "Manjistha", also known as Indian Madder, is an ayurvedic herb used for blood-purifying, promoting skin whitening, reduces inflammation and skin rashes associated with acne, wound healing, manage diarrhea, promotes digestion, and lowers blood glucose levels.
• Manjistha is a type of flowering plant native to North Africa, Siberia, Greece, Manchuria, China, Japan, India, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sikkim, Tibet, and Nepal. Manjistha is an herbaceous branched climber or creeper of evergreen origin that grows up to 10 m. It has thick, long, cylindrical, bark which is red in color, and long, slender, quadrangular stems that are sometimes prickly or glabrous. The leaves are ovate or heart-shaped, pointed, and arranged in a whorl on the stems. The flowers are very small, greenish-white, and arranged in a branched cluster.

Availability:

• Its roots and stems are used for medication.
• Manjistha Powder - ½ - 1 teaspoon or as per your requirement.
• Manjistha Capsule - Take 1-2 capsules of Manjistha.
• Manjistha Tablets - Take 1-2 tablets of Manjistha.
• Manjistha Oil - 2-5 drops or as per your requirement.
• This incredible herb shows the presence of bioactive constituents like purpurin, munjistin, xanthopurpurin, pseudopurpurin, and glycosides like rubiadin, rubiprasin A, B, C, ruiearbonls, aborane triterpenoids, mangistin, 1-hydroxy 2-methoxy anthraquinone, 3-dimethoxy 2 carboxy anthraquinone, alizarin, garancin, mollugin, and furomollugin.

What are its benefits:

• Blood Purify: "Manjistha" used to break down blockages in the blood flow and remove stagnant blood.
• Skin disease: "Manjistha" can be used both internally and externally on skin for promoting skin whitening. Applying Manjistha powder along with honey or rose water (at least 2-3 times a week) helps manage acne and pimples by inhibiting the growth of acne-causing bacteria due to its antioxidant property. Topical application of Manjistha oil and coconut oil reduces inflammation and skin rashes associated with acne due to its anti-inflammatory property. It is also helpful in keeping the hair shiny and healthy. Rinsing your eyes with Manjistha decoction might help control excessive watery discharge due to its astringent property.
• Wound healing: Manjistha helps in quick healing of the wound, decreases swelling, and brings back the normal texture of the skin. A paste of Manjistha powder with coconut oil helps in quick healing and reduces inflammation.
• Diarrhea: Manjistha is very useful to manage diarrhea. Diarrhea t is due to improper food, impure water, toxins, and mental stress.  Taking Manjistha helps to control diarrhea. This is because it improves digestive fire due to its appetizer, digestive properties. This makes the stool thick and reduces the frequency of motion. Manjistha also controls bleeding because of its astringent nature.
• Diabetics: Manjistha is safe for diabetics as it lowers blood glucose levels. This is due to its bitter taste.
• Promotes Digestion: Manjistha even helps in treating a host of digestive woes. The anti-flatulent property reduces the formation of gas in the alimentary canal, thus reducing flatulence, bloating, constipation, and abdominal distension. The antacid property of the herb prevents the formation of excessive acids in the stomach thereby treating indigestion, ulcer, gastritis and promoting better absorption of nutrients in the body.

Ayurvedic Properties of Manjistha:

• "Jvarahara": Helps in fever.
• "Varnya": Good for skin.
• "Vishaghna": Anti-poisonous and anti-toxic.
• It is "Kapha Pitta Shamak" that helps to pacify vitiated "Kapha" and "Pitta". The herb helps to cut through the thick rheum matter caused due to increased "Kapha" doshas, and it also reduces pitta and "Kapha" doshas in the head and chest, thus helping to uphold a normal body temperature. Additionally, being a "Pitta" pacifier, it detoxifies the kidney, liver, and blood, while simultaneously fortifying the vital organ and enhancing cellular growth and tissue regeneration.
• In Ayurveda, Manjistha is known as "Atreya Aranyaka” has been mentioned by the ancient Indian sage and physician, "Charaka", as a "rejuvenating herb" that confers potent detoxifying effects.
• It works as an antidote, treats Kapha disorders (congestion, cough, and cold), and all types of swelling or vaginal disorders. It is also helpful in treating ears and eyes disorders. 
• In Ayurveda, the formulation"Raktsodhakarishta" consists of 3 words where "Rakta" means "blood", "shodhaka" signifies purification and "arishta" denotes decoction. Hence just as the name suggests, this formulation of Manjistha confers brilliant blood detoxifying properties that not only abolish the toxins from the blood but also readily increase the excretion of the toxic or unwanted substances from the blood through the kidneys.