The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s12.t5.8

c5.s12.t5.8

Indian madder, well known as a red dye, is used in medicine chiefly as a colouring agent. All medicated oils are first prepared for use by being boiled with madder. It is regarded as astringent and useful in external inflammations, ulcers and skin diseases. Madder and liquorice root, rubbed into a paste with kánjika, is applied over fractures, to reduce inflammation and swelling. Madder rubbed with honey, is recommended by several writers to be applied to brown spots on the face (pityriasis versicolor).¹