“13 Proven Health Benefits of Madder Root”

Madder root or Rubia tinctorum is a herb that has been around for thousands of years and even Hippocrates used it for gynecological disease and Pliny who opened the first medical school sometime around 50 AD used it for treating jaundice. And madder root was discovered in the ruins of Pompeii and the tomb of Tutankhamun. It works great for inflammation, stops internal bleeding, heals diarrhea, and prevents kidney and bladder stones and more.

Where it Grows - Madder root comes from India, China, Sri Lanka, the US, Indonesia, North Africa, and other places in the world. And it’s also known as common madder, garanca, rubia de tintas, munjeet, Indian madder, and dyers’s madder. And in Chinese Medicine it is called Qian Cao Gen. It’s related to the coffee family and grows to be 3 or 4 feet talk with small yellowish flowers.

Parts Used - Most of the time just the roots are used but some people also use the leaves.

Contains - Madder root contains rubian, alizarin, rubiadin, purpurian, ruberythric acid, purpurin carboxylic acid, xanthopurpurin, pseudopurpurin, lucidin, and quinizarin plus tannins and lots of healing glucosides.

TCM - Madder root is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for cold deficiency of spleen and stomach. And in China madder root has been used as a dye for over 2000 years.

Powerful Anti-inflammatory - Madder root is a good anti-inflammatory agent that helps with arthritis, joint pain, redness, swelling, and pain in general. Inflammation is the first step towards disease and thus it’s important to stop inflammation before we really get sick.

Can Raise White Blood Cell Count - New studies also show that madder root can raise white blood cell counts and treat leukopenia.

Creates Red Urine - Because of the red pigments in madder root it will cause your urine to turn red but there is no reason for alarm… that is normal.

Powerful Anti-Diarrhea Agent - New studies show that with animals given madder root it heals diarrhea quickly and effectively.

Heals Kidney and Bladder Stones - Madder root contains ruberythric acid which helps to lower calcium and magnesium and thus helps to prevent the formation of bladder stones. And madder root is a good antispasmodic agent thus allowing kidney stones to pass with less pain.

Helps with Coughs - Madder root is also a good expectorant and cough remedy that works very quickly.

Great for Skin Conditions - Madder root is well known for healing skin rashes, irritations, acne, boils, and other irritations of the skin. It can be used topically when made into a paste and applied to the area.

Heals Acne - Taking 100 grams of madder root powder and adding 50 grams each of dried ground orange peel, turmeric, and sandalwood and making a paste and using that on the skin and letting it dry and then washing it off heals acne.

Stops Internal Bleeding - Madder root also stops internal bleeding and nosebleeds and has been used for centuries for this challenge.

Helps with Varicose Veins - Madder root also helps with varicose veins and works great to make them smaller and less irritated.

Heals Chronic Wounds - In India madder root is well known for healing chronic skin wounds and dry them up so they can heal. The powder can be used directly on wounds to speed up healing.

Makes a Great Natural Red Dye - Madder root has been used for centuries for dying cloth and makes a wonderful natural red dye.

Side Effects - Madder root does not have much in the way of human research and some say it may cause cancer and others say it may prevent cancer, but in Chinese Medicine, madder root is used quite often. I feel that if used in moderation madder root can be very beneficial especially for skin challenges and other problems. But as always those who are pregnant, nursing, or young children should not use madder root. And I recommend that madder root is used under the supervision of a good Master Herbalist or TCM practitioner.

Dose - Most people use 1000 mg to 2000 mg of the cut root or powder in a cup of boiling water and let steep for 15 minutes and then drink 3 or 4 times a day. Madder root should only be used for 7 days… and then switch to anther herb.

Finding - If you google “Buy Madder Root Powder” lots of places will come up that sell madder root and it can also be found on Amazon and eBay.

Forms - Madder root is commonly found as a powder or as a cut dried root.Enjoy Madder Root!

Many Blessings to Everyone

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist