What are the Uses and Health Benefits of American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)? Introduction For hundreds of years, American Spikenard has been used in Indian medicine to treat numerous conditions both physical and aesthetic. It has been regarded as a valuable commodity since ancient times and also mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran. Aralia, which has the Latin name Aralia racemosa and is endemic to the eastern United States, China, Bhutan, Japan, northern India, and Nepal. It belongs to