Herb
Madder Root
A root long prized as a natural dye and once suggested for kidney stones, now withdrawn from supplements over genotoxic and cancer-risk concerns.
📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 41/100Tap to see the breakdown
👶 Safe for children?
This remedy carries age-related cautions. Please read them before giving it to a child, and check with your pediatrician or pharmacist first.
- Avoid entirely in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and in children; for kidney stones, generous plain water, a lower-salt plant-based diet, and a doctor's care for severe pain are the safe, proven route.
🌱 What it is
Madder is the root of Rubia tinctorum, historically used as a source of red dye and, in old folk herbalism, suggested as an internal remedy for kidney stones.
📜 Where it comes from
Madder root has been used for thousands of years primarily as a natural red dye across Europe and the Middle East, and folk herbalists later suggested it internally for kidney stones. Modern research into its pigment compounds led to its withdrawal from the supplement market.
✨ Why it's good for you
- Historically valued purely as a natural dye plant, not for internal health benefit
🥄 How to use it
Madder root should not be taken internally in any form; it is not recommended as a home remedy.
How much: None recommended; madder root is not to be taken internally in any preparation.
Why it works: Folk tradition credited madder's pigments with helping dissolve or pass kidney stones, but those same pigment compounds, including lucidin, were later found to damage DNA in laboratory studies, prompting its removal from the supplement market.
⚠️ Cautions
- Madder root has been pulled from the supplement market over concerns that its pigments are genotoxic, meaning they can damage DNA, and possibly cancer-causing.
- Do not take it.
- It can also turn urine and bones reddish.
📚 Learn more
🌿 Deeper natural detail
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🩺 The conventional view
💬 Ask Remy about Madder Root
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
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