Arvindus

Svadeva

Jatamansi

  • Title: Svadeva, Jatamansi.
  • Author: Arvindus.
  • Publisher: Arvindus.
  • Copyright: Arvindus, 2014, all rights reserved.
  • Index: 201402262.
  • Edition: html, first edition.
  • Original: Svadeva, Jatamansi, Index: 201402261.

Abstract

Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) is a plant from the Valerianaceae family that is found in the Himalaya mountains. In cultures from Asia to Europe and North Africa has the plant always been particularly valued because of its qualities and scent. Jatamansi essential oil increases awareness, calms the psyche, strengthens the nerve system, purifies the blood and looks after skin and hair.

Names

Jatamansi is known under many names of which some are misleading. The most used valid names are:

  • Botanical: Nardostachys jatamansi, Nardostachys grandiflora.
  • Sanskrit: Jaṭāmāṇśī, nalada.
  • Hindi: Balchar, jaṭāmāṇśī.
  • English: Jatamansi, muskroot, spikenard.
  • Dutch: Jatamansi, narduskruid.

Names that are not validly being used are 'nardus', '(Indian) valerian' and 'Valeriana wallichi'.

Ayurveda

Jatamansi grows in an area where since ages ayurveda, the Hinduistic medicine, is being practised. It is no wonder then that jatamansi is in use in ayurveda. Below you can find a general overview of the qualities of jatamansi from ayurvedic perspective.

  • Energetics: Bitter / sweet / astringent - cold - pungent.
  • VPK= (Jatamansi balances vata, pitta en kapha)
  • Tissues: Blood, marrow, nerve system, circulation system, digestion, respiratory system, reproduction.
  • Action: Aromatic, antispasmodic, diuretic, emmenagogue, nervine, tonic, carminative, deobstruent, digestive stimulant, reproductive.
  • Indication: Complexion, strength, kidney stones, jaundice, removes blood impurities, spasmodic hysteria and other nervous convulsive ailments; heart palpitations, nervous headache, flatulence, epilepsy, convulsions, respiratory and digestive diseases, skin conditions, typhoid, gastric disorders, seminal debility.
  • Spirituality: Increases awareness. Jatamansi is sattvik by nature.

Herbology

Jatamansi grows in the wild exclusively in the Himalaya mountains and has therefore no traditional place in Western herbology. However due to the increased general availability of jatamansi has this plant also become increasingly part of herbology. Below follows an overview of the qualities as found in Western herbology.

  • Action: Alexeteric, antiarrhythmi, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antidote, antiemetic, antiestrogenic, antihistaminic, antipyretic, antiseptic, antiserotonin, antispasmodic, antiulcer, aperitif, bitter, bronchodilator, candidicide, carminative, cns-depressan, deobstruent, depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue, fungicide, hypotensive, laxative, lipogenic, pectoral, propecic, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, taenicide, tonic, tranquilizer, uterotonic, vermifuge.
  • Indication: Attention-Deficit Disorder, aggressiveness, alopecia, anorexia, arrhythmia, asthma, bacteria, biliousness, bite, bronchosis, candida, cardiopathy, chorea, cholera, circulosis, colic, complexion, constipation, convulsion, cough, cramp, dermatosis, dysmenorrhea, dyspnea, dysuria, enterosis, epilepsy, erysipelas, escherichia, fever, fungus, gas, gastrosis, gleet, gray hair, headache, hepatosis, high blood pressure, hyperkinesis, hysteria, infection, inflammation, insomnia, jaundice, leprosy, lumbago, madness, menopause, mycosis, nausea, nephrosis, nervousness, neurasthenia, neurosis, ophthalmia, pain, palpitation, respirosis, rhinosis, salmonella, smallpox, snakebite, sore, sore throat, staphylococcus, sting, stomachache, tachycardia, tapeworm, tuberculosis, ulcer, uterosis, vomiting, water retention, worm, yeast

Agni Yoga

Jatamansi is possibly the plant to which is referred with the name 'valerian' in the Agni Yoga teaching of Helena Roerich.

  • Action: Keeps respiration pure, restores energy, calms agitation, promotes serenity, renews the nerve centres, kindles and sustains the fires, protets against 'the fiery sickness', cancer and other fiery ailments, is a tonic, giver of life, protects against many diseases.

Useage

Jatamansi essential oil can be used aromatically, in bath, for massage and as a perfume. Consult before use the paragraph 'Side Effects' and when hesitant a doctor or therapist.

  • Aromatically: The oil can be used aromatically by putting a few drops in a nebulizer or vaporizer.
  • Bath: You can add several drops to your bathing water.
  • Massage: The oil can be mixed with a conducting oil (for instance cold pressed sesame oil). Especially with head massages does jatamansi oil do well because when used thus it can bring the head to a rest, take care of the skin on the face and can strengthen hair growth.
  • Perfume: You can apply one or two drops on the places where you would also apply perfume. The scent can in first instance come on strong but will quickly become subtle. Jatamansi then has a delightful musky scent.

Side Effects

No side effects are known. Jatamansi essential oil can be used safely.

Constituents

Jatamansi essential oil has in general constituents as follows:

  • Patchouli alcohol 40.2%
  • d-Guaiene 10.7%
  • Seychellene 8.2%
  • Viridiflorol 5.2%
  • 8-Acetoxy-patchouli alcohol 4.5%
  • a-Guaiene 4.3%
  • a-Patchoulene 4.3%
  • b-Pinene 2.9%
  • Methyl carvacrol 2.5%
  • Bornyl acetate 1.9%
  • Camphene 1.8%
  • a-Muurolene 1.7%
  • b-Caryophyllene 1.6%
  • a-Pinene 1.5%
  • Methyl thymol 1.3%
  • Kessane 1.2%
  • g-Patchoulene 1.2%
  • Valencene 1.1%
Bibliography
  • 'Contemplaties, Een etymologie van 'Nardostachys jatamansi'', Index: 201402111.
  • 'Contemplaties, Jatamansi in Agni Yoga', Index: 201402182.
  • James A. Duke, Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, CRC Press, Boca Raton / et alibi, 2002.
  • Vasant Lad en David Frawley, Ayurveda en Kruiden, Uitleg en gebruik van ruim 250 kruiden voor Ayurvedisch genezen, Schors, Amsterdam 1994.
  • Helena Roerich, Agni Yoga, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1997.
  • Helena Roerich, Brotherhood, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1982.
  • Helena Roerich, Fiery World, Book One, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1969.
  • Helena Roerich, Fiery World, Book Two, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1978.
  • Helena Roerich, Fiery World, Book Three, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1980.
  • Helena Roerich, Heart, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1982.
  • Helena Roerich, Leaves of Morya's Garden, Book One, The Call, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1998.
  • Helena Roerich, Letters of Helena Roerich, Volume I, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1979.
  • Helena Roerich, Letters of Helena Roerich, Volume II, Agni Yoga Society, New York, 1981.
  • Swami Sadashiva Tirtha, The Āyurveda Encyclopedia, Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention and Longevity, Ayurveda Holistic Center Press, Bayville, 2005.
  • Robert Tisserand, Rodney Young, Essential Oils Safety, A Guide for Health Care Professionals, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Edinburgh / et alibi, 2014.