Nardostachys jatamansi – Properties, benefits, doses

Jatamansi spikenard is indian medicinal plant grows in high altitude of Himalaya. Jatamansi Benifits are: Jatamamsi plant uses as herbal formulation  in neurological disorder like convulsions, epilepsy, mental weakness. Jatamansi oil uses as hair tonic and also used in purfums for its  aromatic properties. 

Botanical Name:

• Nardostachys jatamansi.

Family:

Valerianaceae.

Botanical synonym :

• Nardostachys grandiflora.

Classical Categorization :

• Charaka Samhita: संज्ञास्थापन , कण्डूघ्न महाकषाय।
• Sushruta Samhita: एलादि गण , अंजनादि गण।
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu : कर्पूरादि वर्ग।

Synonyms :

• 1. Bhutakeshi
• 2. Keshiti
• 3. Bhutjata
• 4. Shikha
• 5. Jatila
• 6. Tapsavini
• 7. Hinsra
• 8. Mansi
• 9. Nalada
• 10. Mishi
• 11. Kravyaadi
• 12. Krishana jata
• 13. Peshi
• 14. Peshiti
• 15. Meshi
• 16. Tamsi
• 17. Mrigabhekshaya
• 18. Janani
• 19. Chakravartini
• 20. Sulomsha
• 21. Kiratini
• 22. Gandhamansi

Common names of Jatamansi

• Latin name – नार्डोस्टैकिस जटामांसी ( Nardostachys jatamansi DC);
• Sanskrit name – जटामांसी (जटायुक्त मांसलकन्द वाली, भूत जटा (भूतों के समान जटा वाली), तपस्विनी (जटायुक्त होने से ), सुलोमशा ( अधिक रोमों वाली), नलदा ( लं गन्धं ददाति-सुगन्धित );
• मराठी, गुजराती-जटामांसी,
• Tamil name- Jatamansi
• Telugu name – Jatamansi
• Kannada name –  Jatamansi
• Malayalam name –Jatamansi,
• Kashmiri –कुकिलिपोट, भूतिजट्ट;
• Nepali – हसवा, नसवा, जटामाड़ासी,
• Bhutani-पम्पे, जटामांसी ,
• Arbi- सुंबुलु तिब, सुंबुले हिन्दी;
• फ़ारसी-नॉरिदे  ;
• English – Spikenard

External Morphology:

• It is an erect perennial herb, often with strong smelling
• rhizome.Root stalk woody, long stout covered with reddish brown fibers from the petioles of radical leaves.
• Stem -more or less pubescent upwards often glabrate below.
• Leaves-radical, longitudinally nerves elongate, spathulate, glabrous or slightly pubescent narrowed into petiole and sessile.
• Flowers – rosy, pale pink or blue in dense cymes.
• Fruits covered with ascending hairs, crowned by the ovate,acute, often dentate.

Habitat:

Generally grows at great elevation upto 17,000 ft. on the Alpine Himalayas.

Chemical composition :

Actinidine, carotene, aristolons, calarene, calarenal, elemol ,droaristolene, B-eudesmol, Jatamols Aand B, Jatamansic acid, Jatamansone, nardol, nardostachys, nardostachys, patchouli alcohol, spirojatomol, valeranal, valeranone, virolin, angelicin, Jatamansi, jatamansi oil, oroselol etc.

Rasapanchaka :

1. Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya, Madhura
2. Guna : Laghu
3. Veerya : Sheets
4. Vipaka : Katu
5. Doshas Karma: Tridosha Hara

Also read: trick to learn Ras Panchak

Indications:

Medha vikar, Kushtha, Kandu, Jawara, Daha.

Part Used : Rhizome

Doses:

• Churana 1-3 gm
• Kwatha 5-10 gm

Uses/ Aamika Prayoga:

• 1. Kesha vardhana : Jatamansi, Kushtha, Tila, Sariva, Nilotpala are made into paste by mixing with milk, and honey, and applied externally.
• 2. Vatarakta :After siravedhana, paste of madhuka, Ashvatha twaka, Jatamansi, shatavari, udumbara and durva, should  be applied.
• 3. Visphota : jatamansi Lepa is applied externally.
• 4. Sira shoola : jatamansi Taila is useful.

Formulations/Yoga:

• 1. Maha Paisachika ghrita
• 2. Mansaadi Kwatha
• 3. Rakshoghana Ghrita
• 4. Sarvoshadhi snana
• 5. Jatamansi arka
• 6. Kulathaadi ghrita
• 7. Abhayanjana Taila
• 8. Changeri Ghrita
• 9. Hiberadi ghrita
• 10. Trutyaadi yoga
• 11. Mahapadma Taila
• 12. Madhuparnyaadi Taila
• 13. Khadiraadi gutika
• 14. Bala Taila
• 15. Amritaadi Taila