Family:- Rubiaceae
Common Name:- Indian madder, Common madder
Vernacular name:- Taming/Taking Taming(Nyishi)
General_information
Rubia cordifolia, often known as common madder or Indian madder, is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It has been cultivated for a red pigment derived from roots.
Rubia cordifolia is a climbing or creeping herbaceous perennial plant, supporting itself upon other plants by means of its recurved prickles. The stems become woody at their base. The plant is mainly gathered from the wild for use as a dye plant, food and medicine. Prior to the discovery of synthetic dyes, Indian madder was widely used as a dye plant in Arunachal Pradesh, and was exported in quantity to other neighboring states. It is used much less nowadays, but is still employed for high-quality traditional textiles. The plant can be used as an ornamental climber in Himalayan part of the country. A red dye is obtained from the stems and the root. It is used for dyeing wool, silk, linen and cotton fabrics, as well as basket-making material.
Edible_Uses
Leaves are cooked. Used as a side dish with rice. It is much esteemed as a lalab (a vegetable salad served with sambal), by the Japanese. Fruit can be eaten raw. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter. The ash of burnt stems and leaves is used as vegetable salt to soften vegetables when cooking.
medicinal_value
Indian madder is widely used in traditional medicine. The roots are alterative, anodyne, antiphlogistic, antitussive, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, hypotensive, styptic, tonic and vulnerary. They have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pneumococci etc. The roots are used internally in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, internal and external haemorrhage, bronchitis, rheumatism, stones in the kidney, bladder and gall, dysentery etc.
The roots are harvested in the autumn from plants that are at least 3 years old. They are peeled and then dried. The stems are used in Tibetan medicine, where they are considered to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency. Febrifuge, they are used in the treatment of blood disorders and spreading fever of kidneys and intestines. The leaves are antiseptic, astringent and vulnerary. They are used as a poison antidote and to treat mouth sores and intestinal problems such as diarrhoea.
A wound dressing is made by rubbing the leaves between the hand palms into a ball, which is then applied to a wound or cut to stop bleeding. The leaves are burnt and the ashes are applied externally to treat mastitis and itchy skin.
Note:- Using plant as medicine by without knowledge or taking advice from the expert is not advisable.
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