Jatamansi, Spikenard (Nardostachys Jatamansi)

Jatamansi, Nardostachys Jatamansi

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT

Jatamansi (Nardostachys Jatamansi) is a perennial herb about 10-60cm in height having long stout, rhizomes root. The leaves are elongated and spatulated while few leaves are sessile, oblong or sub ovate. The flowers are pink bell shaped. Its roots are thick and have too many hairs.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Due to its thick roots and too many hairs (jata in Sanskrit) it has the name Jatamansi. It consists of two words: Jata means dreadlocks and manasi indicates human. It is a wonderful medicinal herb used since ancient times for many medicinal purposes. Its dried rhizomes and roots are the main medicinal parts used in preparation. Its Spikenard rhizomes (underground stems) can be crushed and distilled into an intensely aromatic amber color essential oil which is very thick in consistency. This oil is used as a perfume, incense, a sedative and an herbal medicine said to fight insomnia, birth difficulties and other minor ailments.

It has various therapeutic actions on the body. It is a natural nervine tonic and a memory enhancer, which has calming, peaceful and relaxation features. It is used for natural support for mental disorders like schizophrenia and epilepsy, stress, anxiety and depression and induces healthy sleep. Healthy sleep means- without any addiction and depression effect.

It is available in the market in different forms like oil, powder. It contains various chemical constituents –ursolic acid, acacetin, kanshone A, octacosanol, nardosinone, nardosinonediol, aristolen-9β-ol, oleanolic acid, and β-sitosterol. It also includes nardal, jatamansic acid, jatamol A & B, spirojatamol, terpenoids, neolignans, taraxerone, valeranone, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, syringic acid, and protocatechuic acid.

CLASSIFICATION

  • Botanical name – Nardostachys jatamansi
  • Kingdom – Plantae
  • Sub kingdom – Viridiplantae
  • Infra- kingdom – Streptophyta (Land plants)
  • Super division – Embryophyta
  • Division – Tracheophyta
  • Sub- division – Spermatophyta
  • Class – Magnoliopsida
  • Super order – Asteranae
  • Order – Dipsacales
  • Family – Valerianaceae
  • Genus – Nardostachys
  • Species – Jatamansi

HABITAT

It is found in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, China, and India at elevations of 11,000 to 15,000 feet, extending from Kumaon to Sikkim at altitudes up to 17,000 feet, and also in Bhutan.

NAMES

  • Botanical name – Nardostachys jatamansi
  • Common Name – Jatamansi, Muskroot, Jatamashi, Balchar
  • Hindi Name – Jatamasi
  • Sanskrit Name – Tapasvini, Vilomasa, Bhutajata, Jatamansi-(hairy entangled roots/ rhizome), Nalanda (aromatic)
  • Telugu Name – Jatamansi
  • English Name – Spikenard
  • Marathi Name – Jatamansi
  • Gujarati Name – Jatamansi
  • Tamil & Malayalam Name – Jatamamsi

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Hindi / Sanskrit English
Rasa Tikta, Kashaya, Madhura Taste Bitter, Astringent, Sweet
Guna Laghu, Snigdha Physical Property Light, Oily, Unctuous
Virya Sheeta Potency Cold
Vipaka Katu Metabolic Property (After Digestion) Pungent

EFFECTS ON DOSHAS

It is tridosha shamak i.e. balances all the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha), but has special effects on Pitta and Kapha.

CLASSICAL CATEGORIZATION

Charaka Samhita Sushrut Samhita Vagbhata Kaiyadeva Nighantu
  • Sajna Sthapana – Group of herbs used in restoring consciousness
  • Kandughna – Group of herbs used to relieve itching
  • Tikta Skandha – Bitter tasting group of herbs
  • Elajanadi Gana,
  • Eladi gana
  • Njanadi Gana,
  • Eladi gana
  • Oshadhi Vargha
  • Sarvaushadhika Varga,
  • Sugandhamalaka Varga

ANCIENT VERSE ABOUT NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI

Ancient Verse about Nardostachys Jatamansi

The Bhavprakash nighantu, edition of 2010: verse 89, page no-240-242.

It states that there are various synonyms of Jatamansi – Jatamansi, bhootjata, jatila, tapasvini, and mansi.

Jatamansi is tikta (bitter) and kashaya (pungent) in taste and cold (sheeta) in potency. It helps in management of brain functions (medhajanak), improves skin complexion (kantikarak) and enhances strength and immunity (balprad). It balances tri doshas in the body. It is used in Erysipelas, blood disorders, reduces heat and skin diseases.

REFERENCE

The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K. C. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G. S. Pandey: edition of 1998: verse 89, page no-240-242.

PRACTICAL USES OF NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI

  • Hair growth: Jatamansi oil is helpful in the growth of hair. It is beneficial for smooth, silky and healthy hair too. It is used to treat hair related problems like poor growth, premature greying of hairs.
  • Cardiac health: It has a hypotensive effect and is used in treatment of high B.P. It is also useful in the management of palpitation of the heart and is a good cardiac tonic.
  • Memory and learning: The medicinal plant is helpful in enhancing the abilities of the brain and combats the mental problems thus imparts calmness and peace to mind. It improves memory and reduces forgetfulness.
  • Strengthens the nervous system: It helps to provide vitality, vigor and strength to the body thus is good for the nervous system.
  • Stress buster: The plant has the power to reduce stress, anxiety, depression and tension by balancing biochemical reactions in the body. It is good to have the mind cool and healthy and acts as one of the finest mind rejuvenator tonic. It also possesses tranquilliser and sedative effects on the brain.
  • Hyperpigmentation: It is used to improve complexion and ensures glowing and shining looks to the body. The powder of root mixed in water when applied promotes skin texture.
  • Liver problems: It also shows hepato-protective It is useful in hepatitis, jaundice and prevents enlargement of liver.
  • Antifungal: Its oil also possesses anti-fungal activity. It acts against fungus like Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger.
  • It also acts as an immunity enhancer and protects the body from various infections.
  • It is also used to treat insomnia, headache and memory loss.
  • It also has antispasmodic and carminative action and is useful in abdominal pain and intestinal gas.
  • It is useful in dysmenorrhea (painful periods) and menopause.

AYURVEDIC PRODUCT FROM NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI

1. Sleep naturals

These are herbal capsules which support the healthy nervous system and treat psychiatric disorders.

2. Naari kalayan Churna

It is used in the preparation of Nari kalyan Churna along with other herbs which support a healthy nervous system and body in females.

3. Go rich hair oil

It is herbal oil which maintains healthy hair and scalp.

PART USED

Roots

DOSAGE

Powder: 1-3 g

SIDE EFFECTS

  • It is avoided in hypersensitivity conditions.
  • Excess dose of jatamansi leads to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and may also cause urinary problems.