Murva for Bleeding Disorders: Does It Work?
Does Murva help with bleeding disorders? Classical Ayurveda says it does. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu describes Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima), a woody climber known in English as Bowstring Hemp, as useful in bleeding disorders, burning sensations, fevers and thirst.
In Ayurveda, much bleeding falls under Raktapitta, literally "blood-fire," where excess heat (Pitta) drives blood out of its channels. Murva is bitter and astringent in taste and cold in potency, and it is recorded as balancing Pitta and as styptic (Stambhana). Bitter and cold clear heat; astringent holds the vessels.
It is a strong medicinal plant, not a kitchen herb. It can cause vomiting and contains cardiac glycosides, so it belongs in a practitioner's hands.
How Murva Helps with Bleeding Disorders
The classical treatment of bleeding rests on cooling the heat and astringent toning of the vessels. Murva's profile hits both, and its other actions sit in the same heat-clearing family.
Clearing the Heat
Its bitter taste (Tikta Rasa) and cold potency (Sheeta Virya) work directly against aggravated Pitta. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu lists it as reducing burning (Dahahara), fever (Jvaraghna) and thirst (Trishnahara), all classic signs of excess heat.
Stopping the Flow
Its astringent taste (Kashaya Rasa) underlies its styptic action (Stambhana), and the same text names it as treating bleeding disorders (Raktapittahara). It is heavy (Guru) and dry (Ruksha), with a pungent post-digestive effect (Katu Vipaka).
Recorded constituents include sterols, terpenes and cardiac glycosides (asclepiadin, vincetoxin). Our sources hold no clinical research on Murva for bleeding.
How to Use Murva for Bleeding Disorders
The root and bark are the parts used. The Bhavaprakash Nighantu gives a small dose of 3 to 5 rattis of powder, roughly 375 to 625 mg.
| Form | Dose | Best For | When to Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root or bark powder (churna) | 3 to 5 rattis (about 375 to 625 mg) | Heat-type bleeding with burning or thirst | Under practitioner guidance |
| In classical formulas | As part of the formula | Broader heat and digestive patterns | As prescribed |
In practice, Murva is almost always taken as part of a formula rather than alone. Our sources give no bleeding-specific vehicle (anupana) or course length.
Keep to the Classical Dose
Murva has emetic properties, so a larger amount can cause vomiting. Get a medical diagnosis for the bleeding first, and let a practitioner decide whether Murva belongs in your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of bleeding suits Murva?
Classically, the hot Pitta type, especially when it comes with burning, fever or thirst. Its listed actions all clear heat.
Is Murva safe with heart medication?
Avoid it unless your doctor approves. Its recorded constituents include cardiac glycosides, and our sources list no specific drug interaction data.
Who should avoid Murva?
People prone to cold, dryness or constipation, since its cold, dry profile can aggravate Vata. Anyone with a heart condition should avoid it without medical approval.
What are gentler alternatives for bleeding?
Lotus and Mudgaparni are mild, cooling options for heat-type bleeding.
Recommended: Start Murva for Bleeding Disorders
If you want to start using Murva for bleeding disorders, the simplest starting point is a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner, after a doctor has diagnosed the cause of the bleeding.
Best form: root or bark powder at the classical dose of 3 to 5 rattis, usually inside a formula. The small dose matters because the herb can cause vomiting.
If you search for products, check the label names Marsdenia tenacissima.
Find Murva on Amazon ↗ Bhavaprakasha Nighantu ↗
Safety: avoid Murva if you have a heart condition or take heart medicine, unless your doctor approves.
Safety & Precautions
Murva is a strong medicinal plant, not a kitchen herb, and the classical record flags a few points worth knowing.
- Emetic action: the Bhavaprakash Nighantu notes that it has emetic properties, meaning it can cause vomiting. Keep to the small classical dose.
- Potent constituents: recorded constituents include cardiac glycosides (Asclepiadin, Vincetoxin). Anyone with a heart condition or on heart medicine should avoid it unless a doctor approves.
- Cold and dry: its profile can aggravate Vata, so it is a poor fit for people prone to cold, dryness or constipation.
Our sources do not list specific drug interactions. Use it only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Other Herbs for Bleeding Disorders
See all herbs for bleeding disorders on the Bleeding Disorders page.
▶ Classical Text References (4 sources)
Tikta Gana – group of bitters :त तः पदोल ाय ती वालकोशीर च दनम ् भू न ब न ब कटुका तगरा गु व सकम ् न तमाला वरजनी मु त मूवाट पकम पाठापामागकां यायोगुडू चध वयासकम ् प चमल ू ं महा या यौ वशाल अ त वषावचा Patoli, Trayanti – Gentiana kurroa, Valaka, Usira – Vetiveria zizanioides, Chandana – Sandalwood, Bhunimba – The creat (whole plant) – Andrographis paniculata, Nimba – Neem – Azadirachta indica, Katuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, Tagara – Indian Valerian (root) – Valeriana wallichi, Aguru, Vatsaka – Hol
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
One pala of each of tvak-kshiri, shravani (munditika), draksha, murva, rushabhaka, jivaka, vira (vidarikanda), riddhi, kshirakakoli, brihati, kapikacchu, fruit of kharjura and meda should be made into paste by triturating with milk.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा)
Take two pala (96 gm) each of chandana, padmaka, usheera, patha, murva, kuthannatha (kaivarta musta), shadhgrantha (vacha), sariva, asphota (aspurmallika), saptaparna, aṭarushakana (vasa), patola, udumbara, ashvattha, vata, plaksa, kapeetana (gandha musta), kathuki, musta and nimba and prepare decoction by adding one drona (12.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Mix powder of kiratatikta, shadgrantha, trayamana, trikatu, chandana, padmaka, usheera, bark of darvi, katurohini, bark and fruit of kutaja, mushta, yavani, devadaru, patola, leaves of nimba, ela, saurashtra, ativisha, tvak, seeds of madhushigru, murva and parpataka and prescribe it as linctus prepared with honey or may be taken with water or alcoholic preparation.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Duralabha, two types of karanja (karanja, lata karanja), saptaparna, vatsaka, sadgrantha (vacha), madanaphala, murva, patha and aragvadha should be mixed with equal quantity of gomutra and boiled and prepared as per kshara kalpana.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Triphala, kaṭabhi, chavya, pulp of bilva, powder of ayoraja (mandura), katutki, musta, kushtha, patha, hingu, madhuka, kshara of muskaka and yavakshara, trikatu, vacha, vidanga, pippalimoola, svarjikakshara, nimba, chitraka, murva, ajamoda, indrayava, guḍuchi and devadaru are taken in one karsha (12 gm) quantity and one pala each of five salts are taken.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 11: Chest Injury and Emaciation Treatment (Kshatakshina Chikitsa / क्षतक्षीणचिकित्सा); Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)
— Katuka (Picrorhiza kurroa), Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum), Bharangi (Clerodendrum serratum), Vacha (Acorus calamus), and Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima) — each one Shana.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations)
Also: Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima), Madhurasa/Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra — licorice), Danti (Baliospermum montanum), Pushkara Moola (Inula racemosa), Bala (Sida cordifolia), Atibala (Abutilon indicum), Kapikacchu (Mucuna pruriens), and Trikantaka/Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations)
Then add Rajika (mustard), Lasuna (garlic), and Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima) with fresh acidic liquids.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)
A paste of Mansi (Nardostachys jatamansi, spikenard), Sarja Rasa (Vateria indica resin), Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), Madhuka (licorice), Renuka (Vitex agnus-castus), Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima), Nilotpala (blue lotus), Padma (lotus), and Shirisha flowers (Albizia lebbeck), mixed with Shata Dhauta Ghrita (ghee washed one hundred times) -- this paste is for Pitta-Vata-Rakta (gouty/inflammatory conditions with blood vitiation).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
For Pitta-type wound swelling: a paste of Madhuka (licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra), Chandana (sandalwood), Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima), Nala Mula (Arundo donax root), Padmaka (Prunus cerasoides), Ushira (vetiver), Balaka (Pavonia odorata), and Padma (lotus) is applied.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 4: Gutikakalpana (Tablet/Pill Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations); Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations); Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Nalaveta and Murva with Devadaru decoction.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha
PARISARPA-JVARA GHRITA: Prepared with Triphala, Ushira, Shampaka, Katuka, Ativisha, Ghana, Shatavari, Saptaparni, Guduchi, Neem, Chitraka, Trivrit, Murva, Patola, Arishta, Balaka, Kirata-tikta, Vacha, Vishala, Padmaka, Utpala, Sariva, Yashtya-hvva, Vikara, Raktachandana, Duralabha, Parpataka, Trayamana, Aturushaka, Rasna, Kudu, Kumanjishtha, Pippali, Nagara, and Dhatri-phala juice -- this ghee eliminates spreading fever, dyspnea, tumors, and skin diseases.
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha
The Aragvadhadi Gana consists of: aragvadha (purging cassia), madana, gopaghna, ghorataki, kutaja, patha, patala, murva, indrayava, saptaparna, nimba (neem), kurutaka, dasikurutaka, guduchi, chitraka, sharngesthi, karanja (two types), patola, kirata-tikta (chirayita), and sushavi (verse 6).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
The Patoladi Gana consists of: patola, chandana (sandalwood), kuchandan, murva, guduchi, patha, and katurohi (verse 33).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs
The roots of trivrit and others from the first group, the great Panchamula, murva, and sharngesthi (verse 35), plus Himalayan sudha, triphala, ativisha, and vacha — collecting these, two parts of one group and one part of another should be prepared (verse 36).
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 44: Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 38: Dravyasangrahaniya Adhyaya - On the Collection of Drugs; Sutra Sthana, Chapter 44: Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.