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| Latin Name |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
| Nardostachys jatamansi
DC. (Valerianaceae ) |
Musk Root,
Indian Spikenard,
Indian Nard |
Jatamansi,
Bhutajata,
Tapasvini |
Jatamansi,
Bal-chad |
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| History |
 It
has been in use among the Indians as a perfume and medicine
from ancient times. It is mentioned by Susruta in a prescription
for epilepsy and is prescribed by Indian physicians as a nervine
tonic, carminative and aromatic adjunct in the preparation of
medicinal oils and ghees. N.jatamansi is the Nardin of
Dioscorides, which the writer tells us, was also called Gangitis
because the Ganges flowed from the foot of the mountains where
the plant grew.
Arabic and Persian physicians call this plant Sumbul-i-Hindi,
"Indian Spike", to distinguish it from their Sumbul-i-Rumi
or Ikliti (Valeriana celtica), the root of which is used in
Turkey and Egypt as a perfume.
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| Habitat |
It grows in the alpine Himalayas from
Punjab to Sikkim and Bhutan, at altitudes of between 3,000 and
5,000 m.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
N.jatamansi
is an erect perennial herb, with a long, stout and woody rootstock.
Its radical leaves are elongate and spathulate, its cauline leaves
are sessile and oblong or sub-ovate; the flowers are rosy, pale pink
or blue, in dense cymes. The drug consists of short, thick, dark grey
rhizomes crowned with reddish brown tufted fibrous remains of the
petioles of the radical leaves.
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| Principal
Constituents |
Jatamansone, Jatamanshic
acid, Virolin and its diastereomer.
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| Indications |
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Traditionally the drug has been
used as a herbal CNS drug in epilepsy, hysteria, and convulsions.
The oil possesses antiarrhythmic activity with possible therapeutic
usefulness in cases of auricular flutter.
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| Product
Range |
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Abana (HeartCare),
Mentat (MindCare), Mentat syrup, Rumalaya, Muscle &
Joint Rub, Anxocare.
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