Indian Madder (Manjistha)

Indian madder is a perennial climbing herb of the coffee family with rough, four-angled stems, whorls of heart-shaped leaves, small greenish-white flowers and dark berries. Its long, reddish roots hold a natural red pigment. It grows in hill forests across India, including the Western Ghats.

The root and stem are used. Ayurveda knows it as Manjishtha and values it as one of the classical herbs for skin care and complexion, featured in face packs, herbal oils and traditional blood-purifying formulations. The roots were also a traditional source of red dye.