Manjistha Powder

*Manjista translates as bright red, and it gets the meaning from its red roots, which has cleansing properties to purify the lymph, blood, and liver. The lymphatic system is the main drain in your body, and any stagnation will lead to skin issues. It possesses strong antioxidant qualities and helps to promote healthy skin and blood tissues. Skin is the largest organ in the body and to keep it healthy, the lymph nodes have to be in optimal functioning order, and Manjista serves that purpose in boosting the immune system.

*Benefits include detoxifying the blood, promoting healthy vision, increasing the blood flow to the vital organs, provides skincare, improves the health of the urinary system, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, promotes a robust nervous system, maintains healthy function of liver, kidney, and spleen.

Suggested Use: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in powdered form, once or twice daily, or use as directed by your health practitioner.

Botanical name: Rubia cordifolia
Family: Rubiaceae
English name: Indian Madder

Morphology:
Manjista is a deciduous climber. Stems are weak but flexible. Stems grow to a height of 10 feet. The basal part of the stem is soft but woody. Branches of Manjista – Rubia cordifolia is quadrangular with clear margins. Leaves appear in a bunch of four, two are smaller and two larger. Petioles are 1.5 – 4 inches long. Leaves are ovate, acute at base. flowers are less than an inch in diameter, dark red or pinkish-brown in colour. Fruits are 2 inches in diameter, globose, dark purple to black in colour.
Fruits are succulent, with red juice. Roots are thin, slender with 1-2 cm diameter.

Physico-chemical properties of Manjista:
Taste: Bitter, Astringent, Sweet
Qualities: Heavy, Dry
Vipaka – taste conversion after digestion – pungent
Potency – hot
Effect on Dosha – Balances Kapha and Pitta

Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Haritakyadi Varga
मञ्जिष्ठा मधुरा तिक्ता कषाया स्वरवर्णकृत् |
गुरुरुष्णा विषश्लेष्मशोथयोन्यक्षिकर्णरुक् |
रक्तातीसारकुष्ठास्रवीसर्पव्रणमेहनुत् ||१६७||