Manjishta for Beauty and Brains.
Manjishta is a well-known blood purifier and is used for a clear skin. This property is because it improves microcirculation in the skin. Of late, it is found that the microcirculation plays a great role in our physical well-being. It is the largest and functionally most important component of circulation in the human organism. It is active in the fine, extensive network of the smallest blood vessels which is more complex than that of the vast network of roots of a tree. Although the human network is considerably more detailed than that of a tree, for example, it is nonetheless a good example for illustrating how important the small vessels are for “on site” supply.
Microcirculation, essentially, is the system by which the oxygenated blood is made available to each and every tissue and organ of the body. Arteries branch down to small arterioles (10-100 µm in diameter) which in turn branch to capillaries (5-8 µm in diameter) where substance and gas exchange between blood and interstitial fluid takes place . Blood then oozes out to interstitial fluid, cells and tissues. The deoxygenated blood is then collected by venules which in turn pass the impure blood to veins (10-200 µm in diameter). In addition to these blood vessels, the microcirculation also includes lymphatic capillaries and collecting ducts. The main functions of the microcirculation are the delivery of oxygen and nutrients and the removal of CO2. It also serves to regulate blood flow and tissue perfusion thereby affecting blood pressure and responses to inflammation which can include edema (swelling).
Approximately, seven percent of the body’s blood is in the capillaries which continuously exchange substances with the liquid outside these blood vessels, called interstitial fluid. This dynamic displacement of materials between the interstitial fluid and the blood is named capillary exchange. Due to the large number (10-14 million ) of capillaries, there is an incredible amount of surface area for exchange. The substances pass through capillaries through three different systems or mechanisms: diffusion, bulk flow, and transcytosis or vesicular transport. The liquid and solid exchanges that take place in the microvasculature particularly involve capillaries and post-capillary venules and collecting venules.
The main functions of the microcirculation include the regulation of:
1. blood flow and tissue perfusion,
2. blood pressure,
3. tissue fluid (swelling or edema),
4. delivery of oxygen and other nutrients and removal of CO2 and other metabolic waste products, and
5. body temperature.
In addition, microcirculation interacts extensively with the immune system and the body’s defense mechanisms. A restricted or defective microcirculation results in a faster aging of cells and is the cause of a number of health complaints and illnesses. The pivotal role of microcirculation in many disease conditions is well established. Indeed, microcirculation abnormalities often occur in subjects with high blood pressure. Also, metabolic diseases such as dislipidemia and type-2 diabetes induce destructive changes in the microvascular system that feeds the heart, the retina and the kidneys. As a consequence, early symptoms affecting patients, often the first signs of an underlying and more serious disease, can be due to a disturbance of microcirculation. Thus, microcirculation is an essential factor, albeit often poorly recognized, in the pathogenesis of many disease conditions.
Skin microcirculation
Skin microcirculation. The anastomotic network of capillaries connecting arteries to veins is essential for human thermoregulation, inflammation and wound healing, and in resistance to pathogens. The clear unhindered blood supply to all parts of skin helps to keep skin young, without any type of infections
Brain: Recent ultrastructural studies demonstrate characteristic and extensive angio-architectural distortions of cerebral capillaries in Alzheimer’s brains. Patients having Alzheimer’s disease show reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF), glucose metabolism and oxygen utilization which appear inversely proportional to the disease severity. During ageing, brain capillaries (site of the blood-brain barrier) may undergo progressive degeneration caused by amyloid deposits, thickened basement membrane, cerebral atrophy, reduced vessel elasticity, or genetic predisposition. The net effect is chronic ‘disturbed’ blood flow to the brain that impairs the delivery of essential nutrients, particularly oxygen and glucose, to cerebral neurons. Cardiovascular disease has long been associated with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and represents a potential contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease development . The patients suffering from brain tumours are found to have abnormal and disturbed microcirculation.
Rubia cordifolia is a well-known blood purifier which is popular as an effective medicine in all problems of skin because of it’s role in microcirculation. Recent researches establish that this plant possess a number of positive pharmacological traits such as thinning the blood and strengthening capillary walls, two key factors in maintaining a good microcirculation.
Manjishta/Indian madder (Rubia cordifolia Linn.- Rubiaceae)
- Rubia cordifolia is a scabrid hispid perennial climbing herb with 4-angled rough stem, very long cylindric red roots, numerous scandent divaricate or deflexed branchlets, ovate acute scabrid leaves in whorls of four (one pair of each whorl larger, as also the lower leaves are large, margins with minute white prickles, petioles also with sharp recurved prickles ), greenish small flowers in axillary or terminal cymes and small globose purple fruits containing two seeds. Common in hills throughout India, Africa, Malaysia and Japan.The roots contain a number of antitumour bicyclic hexapeptides RAs (RA-1—RAXIV, RAI-RA3, RA-XV and RA-XVI) occurring free as well as in the glycosidic form, many pentacyclic triterpenes like rubiacoumaric acid, rubiafolic acid, rubiprasins A-C and rubiarbonols A-F, anthraquinones such as purpurin (trihydroxy anthraquinone), munjishtin (xanthopurpurin-2-carboxylic acid), xanthopurpurin etc., naphthaquinones such as dehydro-α-lepachone, napthohydroquinones such as mollugin and furo mollugin and an iridoid glycoside (6-methoxy geniposide).Manjishta can be the best anti-aging drug nature produces. It facilitates supply of pure blood enriched with nutrients and oxygen to all organs of body especially to brain and skin. It is one of the acclaimed blood purifiers which improves the microcirculation within the body and used as an alterative, tonic and for diseases of blood, skin and urino-genital system. It has affinity with the capillary system and its slow action over time helps to detoxify and repair the fine structures that interface with the lymph system. It is also found to exert antiplatelet aggregation effect (thinning blood and prevent blood clotting in vessels).The recent investigations prove that pentacyclic triterpenes possessed potent advantage on the aspects of antitumor, antiinflammatory, protecting liver, anti-HIV effects while the most significant advantage of plant cyclopeptides was their underlying mechanisms of antitumor effects. The cyclopeptides are found to exert antiangiogenic effect by reducing formulation of blood vessels necessary for replication in cancer cell lines. Quinones and cyclopeptides are found to be excellent antioxidants. Other uses include antiobesity , antidiabetic , anti-HIV and antimicrobial effects. Because Manjishta improves blood circulation on the entire skin, it improves complexion and rejuvenates the skin, and cures jaundice, paralysis, freckles etc. It’s commonly used for varicose veins, bruising, eczema, psoriasis and bleeding disorders, etc. Its bright color seen in oils such as Pinda Thailam and Mahanarayan Oil reflects the bright red color of healthy blood.
The main benefits of Manjishta are summarized below
- This is one of the best anti-aging drug nature produces.
- It improves microcirculation in brain and skin.
- Thins blood and strengthens billions of capillaries in all the organs of body.
- Useful to sharpen brain functions like memory and alertness in children and executives.
- Prevents stroke as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
- Cleans the skin and makes skin fair and young.
- Removes and prevents pimples.
- Useful in varicose veins.
