BT-068 · Rubiaceae

Madder

Rubia tinctorum

Evidence: TraditionalCaution

Animals fed madder grow pink bones; in the 18th century, bone growth was studied this way.

Other names: Dyer’s madder, rubia, kök boya (Turkish)
Part used: Root
Region: Anatolia and the Mediterranean
Use: Ritual and shamanic, Healing

Photo: Carstor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In short

What is Madder?

Madder (Rubia tinctorum) is a plant of the Rubiaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: root.

What is Madder used for?

Traditional use: The red of carpets and kilims comes from its root; the dye spread worldwide as “Turkey red”. Scientific evidence: traditional. Contains alizarin and lucidin.

Is Madder safe?

Safety label: caution. Not recommended to drink; some of its compounds caused cancer in animal studies. It turns urine and milk red.

Traditional use

Anatolia

The red of carpets and kilims comes from its root; the dye spread worldwide as “Turkey red”. In folk use it is sometimes boiled for kidney stones.

Europe

In the 18th century, Turkey red dyeing was an industrial secret Europe tried hard to crack.

In nature

Where it grows: Once widely grown in İzmir, Manisa and Uşak; now found wild along hedges.
Harvest season: Roots are dug in the autumn of the second or third year.
Local names: kök boya, kızılkök, boya kökü, sıçan otu

Mix-up risk

Its wild relative Rubia peregrina is similar and gives less dye.

Preparation

The root is dried, ground and used in a dye bath.

What science says

Contains alizarin and lucidin. Lucidin is genotoxic, so madder is not used as a medicine.

Safety

Caution

Not recommended to drink; some of its compounds caused cancer in animal studies. It turns urine and milk red.

Drug interactions

Medicine or substance	Why it matters
Internal use is not recommended	Interaction data are limited; the main risk is the carcinogenic effect of its compounds.

This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Madder.

Culture bridge

Two sources of red. The red of Anatolian carpets comes from madder, the face paint of Amazonian peoples from achiote. This shared red is also this site’s main colour. Read the comparison →