Indian Spikenard: Best Herb for Mental, Hair Problems (Nardostachys Jatamansi)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Indian Spikenard, also known as Nardostachys Jatamansi, is a well-known herb used in traditional system of medicines since ages for the treatment of mental aliments. The plant has found a reputed place in ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptians and Arabians texts. This herb has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries due to its numerous health benefits. It is included in the group of 11 drugs used as incense in the body temple of Jerusalem.

Hippocrates used it in sweetened and spiced wine drinks. The European used the herb for seasoning food. It is also used for making perfumes, aromatic medicated oils, and as a sedative soothing drink.

Indian Spikenard is renowned for its ability to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss, making it a popular herbal remedy in the beauty industry. But its benefits extend far beyond hair care. From improving sleep to reducing anxiety and depression, Indian Spikenard has a wide range of medicinal uses.

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2. Common Names

• Family – Valerianaceae
• Hindi Name – Jatamamsi, Balchaad
• English Name – Spikenard, Indian Nard, Nardus root, Jatamamsi, Musk root

3. Vernacular Names

• Assamese – Jatamansi, Jatamangshi
• Bengali – Jatamamsi
• Gujrati – Baalchad, Kalichad
• Kannada – Bhootajata, Gangaila
• Kashmiri – Bhutijata
• Malayalam – Manchi
• Marathi – Jatamansi
• Oriya – Jatamansi
• Punjabi – Billiotan, Balchar
• Tamil – Jatamanji
• Telugu – Jatamamas

4. Synonyms

• Mamsi – It is an efficacious drug in metal disorder.
• Mata – Being sedative in action, it helps in inducing sound sleep like a mother.
• Nalda – The rhizome is highly aromatic.
• Tapaswini – The hairy rhizome looks like the matted hairs of sages.

5. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Sanjnasthapana
• Sushrut Samhita – Eladi
• Ashtanga Hridya - Anjanadi
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Chandanadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Karpuradi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Chandanadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Karpuradi varga

6. Distribution

The plant is native to the Alpine and sub-Alpine regions of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and China. It is a perennial herb that usually grows between 3,300 and 5,000 m above sea level in the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam and Sikkim.

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7. Morphology

Indian Spikenard is also known as Indian Valerian, it has long, woody rhizomes or an underground stem producing roots covered with fibers and small bunches of pale pink, or blue flowers. The dried rhizomes and roots of this plant constitute the drug. The Indian name Jatamansi refers to the bearded appearance of rhizomes.

It contains a volatile oil that contains an unidentified ester, alcohol, and two alkaloids. The rhizomes of the plant contain jatamansi acid and essential oil, which has the same uses as the rhizomes. It is also used in preparations of medicines because of its aromatic.

Leaves – Simple, glabrous, basal one elongated, spatulate, 10-25cm x 2-3 cm narrowed into a petiole. Cauline leaves is opposite, oblong, sessile about 8cm long, five-nerved at base.

Flowers – Rose or pale pink colored, appears in terminal corymbose cymes.

Fruits – Small, hairy, and crowned by persistent calyx teeth.

Root – Deeply seated, dark gray rhizomes are crowned with reddish-brown tufted fibers, aromatic, highly agreeable odor, size ranges from 2.5 to 7.5 cm. Shape is elongated and cylindrical. The plant is propagated by vegetative like rhizome cuttings.

8. Ayurvedic properties

Rasa (Taste): Indian Spikenard is believed to have a combination of bitter (Tikta) and astringent (Kashaya) and Madhura (sweet) tastes.

Virya (Potency): It is cooling in nature (Sheeta).

Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is bitter (katu).

9. Chemical Constituent

The main active constituent reported from the roots are sesquiterpenes, coumarin, alkaloids, lignans and neoligananes. Indian Spikenard is the principle sesquiterpene, nardin, nardal, valeranal, angelicin, calarene, jatamansin, jatamansinol, valeranal, calarene, norddostachnol and jatamansic acid. Other nonvolatile components include actidine, propionate, ester, essential oil, resin, and sugar.

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10. Identity, Purity, and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 5%
• Total Ash – Not more than 9%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 5%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 2%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 5%
• Volatile oil – Not less than 0.1%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1999)

11. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Action

Traditional Ayurvedic texts attributes brain tonic, rejuvenate, digestive, provide physical strength, complexion promoter, promotes sleep, alleviates mental disease, cure cough and asthma, hair tonic, alleviates burning sensation, wound healing and alleviates skin disease properties to it.

Pharmacological Action

Its rhizomes are reported to show marked tranquilizing activity, antioxidant, antipyretic, antibacterial, antiasthmatic, antifungal, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anticancerous, cardioprotective, and nootropic activities.

12. Health Benefits

Ayurvedic classics used it in the treatment of insanity, epilepsy, evil spirits, insomnia, poisoning, erysipelas, burning sensation, skin disease, wounds, cough, asthma, neuromuscular disease, heart disease, graying of hair, vomiting.

Its essential oil is used to maintain a balance in emotional, spiritual and physical energies. It is applied locally in anxiety, stress, fear, hysteria, emotional breakdown, nervousness, irritability, vertigo, seizures as a tranquillizing, relaxant, nervine tonic, soothing, antianxiety medication.

13. Therapeutic Uses

External Uses

Skin Disease – Local application of paste prepared with jatamansi, marich, salt, turmeric, tagar, snuhi, grahadhoom, mutra, pitta and palash kshar.

Mental Stress - Take powders of Indian Spikenard root and mixed with Brahmi, Ashwagandha, and Acorus Calamus Root helps to give relief from mental stress.

Premature Grey Hairs - Take powders of Indian Spikenard root and mixed with Trailing Eclipta Leaf and Indian Gooseberry, helps to cure premature grey hairs.

Energy - Indian Spikenard root powder mixed with Ashwagandha root powder, helps to treat insomnia and increase energy level.

Respiratory Disorders – Jatamansi is used in the treatment of bronchitis and other disorders of the respiratory system. Doses of 30 to 40 grains with the addition of a little camphor and cinnamon can be taken. It can also be taken as an infusion in doses of 30 to 60 gm, thrice a day.

Hair Tonic – It is a well-known hair tonic used as a important ingredient of many hair washes and hair oils.

For Menstrual Disorder - The herb helps in menstruation and regulates the menstrual cycle. It is especially useful in dysmenorrhea or painful and difficult menstruation.

For Intestinal Worms - This herb is beneficial in treating intestinal worms, it can be given to children with a purgative like Jalap. For treating threadworms, an enema made of an infusion of the rhizomes is suggested.

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14. Official Part Used

Root, Rhizome

15. Doses

• Powder – 2 to 4gm
• Toxicity / Side Effects

Indian Spikenard oil is reported to be nontoxic, no irritating, and no sensitizing.

16. Herbal Remedy for Hairs

Ingredients

• Indian Spikenard Root Powder – 2 tbsp.
• Indian Gooseberry Powder – 2 tbsp.
• Trailing Eclipta Leaf Powder – 2 tbsp.
• Aloe Vera Powder – 1 tbsp.
• Hibiscus Flower Powder – 2 tbsp.
• Red Onion Juice – 1 tbsp.
• Onion Seed Powder – 1tbsp.

Method

• Take a bowl and add all the ingredients and mix them well.
• Make a paste with help of water.
• Apply the paste to the scalp and hair and leave for 30-45 minutes.
• Wash the hair with normal water and let them dry.
• Wash the hair with soft shampoo after one day of the pack.