• Certified Organic by Organic Food Federation

• Also Known as Rubia Cordifolia

• Traditionally Used in Ayerveda

About Manjistha

The manjistha plant (Rubia cordifolia) is a scrambling flowering plant that is native to North Africa, India, China, and Afghanistan. It is categorised in the Rubiaceae family, also popularly known as the coffee family. Alongside human consumption, the plant is grown for the red pigment its roots possess. The term manjistha is a Sanskrit term which means “bright red”. This was borrowed from the superlative term for manjistha, Manju, which means “lovely”. The widely known English names for Manjistha are common madder and Indian madder. Other local Indian names for manjistha are marathi kannada, manditti, and majith. The plant is fairly short rarely growing over 1.5 meters. It has a slightly slender stem with nodes at selected intervals. Four to five ovate leaves emerge from each node. The leaves are bright green and each contains 5-7 nerves. Small, greenish-white flowers are firmly placed on flowering stalks which are clustered on the main branch. The roots of the Manjistha can extend more than 80 cm in length and grow 1.2 cm thick. These roots are bright red. Manjistha powder is produced from finely ground dried roots of the Manjistha plant. 

Manjistha has a rich history that spans over a couple of centuries. Andean tribes from the past, consisting of the Nasca and Paracas adopted the use of the madder plant as a colouring agent before the discovery of cochineal. Ancient Chinese tribes utilised the roots of this plant to make red dyes. This made manjistha an important cash crop and was often traded with other commodities. Traditional Chinese healers also recognised its power and often prescribed it to most of their patients. Ancient Persian cultures used the root of the wild madder as a red dye which they used to colour their carpets. Several grinding stones with red dust on their surfaces have been found in Iran, previously known as Persia. This provided irrefutable evidence of the use of madder. Silk robes that had been dyed red were also recovered in past Egyptian Pharaohs' tombs. It is believed that warriors wore these robes after being victorious in a battle. The robes were approximately 3,500 years old. The red dye from the madder plant was also used by ancient Egyptian women to colour their hair and redden their cheeks and lips. This made them more attractive to their male counterparts. 

Manjistha was also held in high esteem in ancient Indian and Chinese medicine, which is more than 5000 years old. Several references for manjistha are present in ancient Indian texts, the Sushruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya. Practitioners from the past claimed that manjistha would spread in the body through the blood the same way the roots of the manjistha plant penetrated and extended into the soil. Charaka, one of the principal practitioners in Ancient India classified this plant as an asvarnya. The natives applied the coloured extract on their skin with the belief that it would improve the complexion. As trading increased, Manjistha was gradually transported to other parts of the world e.g America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

• Please note it is against MHRA guidelines for us to talk about any potential health benefits for this supplement however a quick google search on the potential benefits and you may be surprised.

How To Use Manjistha

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon  once or twice a day. Can be mixed with hot or cold water, in juices or added to smoothies. Can also be mixed with water making into a paste and apply to scalp, hair or face.