Manjakani is one of the popular ingredients in various products used for a wide range of laboratory pharmaceutical applications to chemical industries and traditional medicine. Over the last few years, the world has been shifting back to the reliance on herbs and natural plants for health and diet, and more supplements, drugs, and nutrients now feature direct extracts from known plants, shrubs, and herbs.
More studies are emerging to explain how century long uses of herbal plants work and what ingredients are responsible for specific results. Manjakani primarily comes from Malaysia, although the species occurs in various regions, including Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
What Is Manjakani?
When gall wasps bite the leaves of an oak tree or deposit their larvae, the oak plant produces a chemical reaction that forms round corrugated balls to protect itself from the wasps.
These round balls (manjakani) that look like an abnormality contain a lot of tannins and other chemicals. Also known as Quercus infectoria, manjakani contain constituents such as tannins (50-70%), gallic and ellagic acid (2-4%), syringic acid, hexamethyl ether, amentoflavone, β-sitosterol, isocryptomerin, hexagalloyl glucose, and methyl betulate. Applications of manjakani range from leather tanning, astringent, antiviral, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, and local anesthetic.
Extracts from manjakani have also been used in Malaysia to sooth inflammations, treat amoeba skin infections, and help with gastrointestinal disorders, among other things.
Manjakani Benefits
Although manjakani is known for various uses in Malaysia, it has gained more popularity in the global market due to its use in vaginal and uterine therapy. The extracts from this plant are mixed with other herbs to form a powerful drinking remedy for women who have just performed childbirth to help restore the uterine wall elasticity.
Manjakani has been used traditionally in many cultures (Chinese, Araban, Persian, and Indian) for its benefits to postpartum women. It treats postpartum vaginal discharge and infections. Alongside witch hazel, manjakani is featured in several vaginal tightening products available today. Its general benefits to women include:
Tightening Loose Vagina
It tightens/firms the mucus muscles of the vaginal walls, restoring elasticity, especially for postpartum women. It essentially reshapes the vaginal walls.
Vaginal Treatment
Manjakani can cure/treat smelly vaginal discharge. It has also been used to treat leucorrhea symptoms and prevent uterine prolapsed. By sanitizing the female reproductive system, manjakani prevents bacterial and fungal infections. It is popularly used to clean the vaginal area following childbirth and menses.
Sensitivity
Manjakani is known to increase vaginal sensitivity, thus contributing towards better sexual experiences and pleasure. It also firms loose breast muscles.
Aside from its benefits for women, manjakani has been used to treat various skin infections, bacterial and fungal infections, and also to prevent inflammation. It is suggested for diabetes management and has various properties of known astringents, anti-virals, and anesthetics.
It comes in two main forms: as a tincture taken orally and also as a pill that can be placed directly inside the vaginal walls to treat infections and attacks. Manjakani is traditionally believed to prevent various diseases, including breast and cervical cancer.
It has also been associated with anti-aging and increased sexual pleasure. Users can prepare tea made from the galls or crush and make them into a paste that can be applied locally on the vaginal areas. In some areas like India, women boil manjakani galls and use the lukewarm water to wash their reproductive area.
It has also been noted that some men spray manjakani on intercourse condoms to stimulate involuntary contraction of the vaginal walls. Indians have also used manjakani powder as dental cure for toothache and gingivitis.
Possible Side Effects
Although no side effects have been noted regarding the use of manjakani, there are various concerns raised with regard to the local creams advertised for vaginal tightening that base their foundation on manjakani. It is important to note that the vagina is made of three layers; mucosa (outermost slippery folds), vaginal muscle, and connective tissues (innermost that connect the vagina to the rest of the body).
Vaginal tightening can only be achieved through contracting vaginal walls, which means local creams cannot do the work. Manjakani as an astringent provides temporary contraction of the mucosa layer, as an unripe fruit (also containing astringents) will contract the lips and mouth muscles temporarily.
This is why they are used before intercourse. They should not be assumed to lead to long-term benefits. Rather, they should be use less frequently to prevent the potential dangers of thinning the mucosa layer, which is the layer responsible for keeping the vagina safe and healthy due to its natural antibacterial properties.
Final Words On Manjakani
Manjakani has been used for centuries and that is a good sign. Its benefits, while not yet proven by any science, have been confirmed from isolated case studies and testimonials from users. Nevertheless, pills and products containing manjakani extracts should be taken with caution to prevent intoxication, especially since high doses of tannins can have drastic implications on one’s health. Most experts do not advise using manjakani before every sexual intercourse and its use should be limited to postpartum or following monthly menses.
