Rubia cordifolia: The Herb of Medicinal Value!

Rubia cordifolia: The Herb of Medicinal Value

Manjistha or the Rubia cordifolia, of family Rubiaceae is a herbaceous perennial climber, found throughout Asiatic & African regions of the world. It is considered to be one of the most valuable herbs in Ayurveda and has been largely used by physicians since ancient times for the maintenance of general health. This is also commonly known as Indian Madder.

In regions of Asia, Africa & Europe, Rubia was an economically important source of a red pigment called Alizarin, that gives its red color to a textile dye known as Rose Madder. It was also used as a colourant, especially for paint, called as Madder lake.

Rubia is bitter, astringent and sweet in taste, pungent in the post digestive effect and has hot potency. It has been used in tuberculosis and intestinal ulcer and is recommended by Ayurvedic physicians as a blood purifier for skin diseases and to improve the complexion. The herb is useful in treating skin related problems. The roots of Rubia are widely used in treating pimples, reducing wrinkles, improving complexion, treating burns, healing injuries and lessening inflammations.

The Herb: Rubia cordifolia

The roots of Rubia are said to be alternative, anodyne, antiphlogistic, antitussive, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, styptic, tonic, and vulnerary. They are used to lower blood pressure, as well as internally in the treatment of abnormally uterine bleeding; internal and external hemorrhage; bronchitis; rheumatism, stones in the kidney and bladder, and gall, dysentery, and so on. The roots and fruit are used in treating paralysis and conditions of ulcer. The stem is used in treating cobra bite and scorpion sting. It is used in the treatment of liver fluke, dysentery, maggots & intestinal worms in animals.

Roots of Rubia cordifolia

The roots contain resinous and extractive matter, gum, sugar, coloring matter, the salt of the pigment being a red crystalline principle purpurine. The yellow glucoside manjistin and a xanthine are also present, besides garancin and orange red alizarin. Anthroquinones pentacyclic triterpenes, quinines, cyclic hexapeptides and diethylesters are also reported. Other compounds isolated are xantho-purpurin, glucose, sucrose and ruberythric acid. Alizarin, purpurin, purpurin carbohydrate, quinizarine and christofin isolated from roots. Antitumor cyclic hexapeptides – RA-V and RA-VII – isolated from roots. HerbHealtH: Rubia cordifolia: The Herb of Medicinal Value!

Read More........→August 12, 2025

Traditional Herbal Remedies to Quit Smoking!

Quit Smoking!

Smoking is one of the toughest addictions affecting the overall health of a smoker & is known to cause cancer, heart and other respiratory diseases. Though quitting smoking requires more than just will power for most smokers, but once done, has immediate & long-term benefits.

Traditional home remedies are natural & non-addictive as these to help give up smoking by soothing stressed nervous system & to adjust with the life without nicotine. Try some of such time tested home remedies that would prove beneficial in quitting smoking and give you a healthy physical, mental and social being.

Quit Smoking for Health & Well being!

• Take 25g of aniseed and caraway seeds each & soak in lemon juice. Mix black salt to taste & let the mixture dry in shade. Now, roast the mixture and let it cool. Take about ½ tsp of the formulation to overcome the desire to consume tobacco.
• Take betel leaf and wrap in it a tsp of fennel seeds & a clove bud. Chew it after meals to prevent you from wanting to light up another cigarette. This remedy would also help improve digestion.
• Cut ginger rhizome in small thin pieces & to it, add lemon juice, common salt, black salt, a pinch of asafetida, roasted cumin seeds & black pepper. Mix all the ingredients well and put it to dry in shade. This preparation can be taken to curb the urge to smoke.
• Drinking a glass of sugarcane juice with lemon juice & black salt is helpful in withdrawing from nicotine addiction.
• Boil and cut ½ kg of Indian gooseberry fruits into small pieces. Add rock salt, common salt, powdered black pepper, and about 200g of sugar. Mix well & dry the preparation in shade. To overcome the desire to smoke, have a piece or two of the same.
• Sucking a piece of lemon with rock salt creates a sour taste in the mouth and helps in killing the urge to smoke.
• Consuming pineapple fruit slices with black salt also effectively helps in curbing the strong urge.
• Chewing mulethi roots not only reduce the smoking urge, but also help clear the throat & comfort food passage.
• Chewing ½ tsp of fried aniseed is also useful in controlling the smoking urge, especially after meals.

Include Fresh Fruits & Vegetables in Your Diet!

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables such as oranges, grapes, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, avocados and wheat germ are good sources of Vitamins C and E. These are powerful antioxidants that help combat free radicals and fight the carcinogens found in smoke. Include in diet, foods rich in beta carotene & B vitamins (found in yellow fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meat & fish). Avoid intake of alcohol, coffee and tea. Indulge in regular physical activities that would keep a check on the weight as well as help reduce craving to smoke. Yogic exercises such as Pranayam (regulated breathing), ustrasana (camel pose), dhanurasana (bow pose) & Savasana (corpse pose) can effectively check thought patterns connected to smoking cessation. Learn the technique of mental relaxation in stressful situations. Spend time with family and friends and seek their support. This may support your decision to give up the deadly habit of smoking successfully. HerbHealtH: Traditional Herbal Remedies to Quit Smoking!

Read More........→August 11, 2025