?Useful in managing psychic condition

?Nervine rejuvenator

?Improves complexion and imparts a glowing look

?Increases strength of the body

?Useful in management of psychic condition those appear to be of super natural origin



?Useful in management of skin diseases, burning in any region of the body, chronic fever, toxicities and other blood born diseases

Common Name:
Indian Spikenard (Eng.)

Sanskrit Name:
Jatamansi- Means it is having a bulky structure with lots of hair on it
Bhootajata- As it is having long hair over it like those of a ghost
Tapaswini- Because of the presence of long hair as if a saint
Sulomasha- Means having soft hair over it
Nalada- Means it is having a pleasant smell
Lt. Name:
Nardostachys jatamansi- Valerianaceae

Bio energetics:
Rasa (Taste)- Tikta (Bitter); Kashaya (Astringent); Madhura (Sweet)
Guna (Characteristics)- Laghu (Light); Snigdha (Unctuous)
Veerya (Potency)- Sheeta (Cool and calm)
Vipaka (Post digestion effect)- Katu (Pungent)
Prabhava (Special action which cannot be explained logically how it works)- Bhootaghna (Useful in management of psychic condition those appear to be of super natural origin)

Effect on Tridoshas (Three bio humors):
Pacifies all the three Doshas i.e. it is useful in management of diseases resulting from aggravation of either of the Doshas or all the threes.

Action according to Ayurveda:
Bhootaghni- Useful in managing psychic condition
Medhya- Nervine rejuvenator
Kanti prada- Improves complexion and imparts a glowing look
Balya- Increases strength of the body
Besides all this Jatamansi is also useful in management of skin diseases, burning in any region of the body, chronic fever, toxicities and other blood born diseases.

Noms usuels utiles
Botanical Name(s): Nardostachys Jatamansi, Nardostachys Grandiflora
Family Name: Valerianaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Valerianaceae
Genus: Nardostachys
Species: N. grandiflora
Popular Name(s): Muskroot, Indian Spikenard, Jatamanshi, Jatamashi, Balchar, Nard, Nardin.
Parts Used: Rhizome, Rhizome Oil

Habitat: Found in India, Nepal and Bhutan



Medicinal value:

* A 50% ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of N. jatamansi is shown to possess hepatoprotective activity. Pretreatment of rats with the extract (800 mg/kg body wt, orally) for three consecutive days significantly ameliorated the liver damage in rats exposed to the hepatotoxic compound thioacetamide. Elevated levels of serum transaminases (aminotransferases) and alkaline phosphatase, observed in thioacetamide alone treated group of animals, were significantly lowered in N. jatamansi pretreated rats. Pretreatment of the animals with the extract also resulted in an increase in survival in rats intoxicated with LD90 dose of the hepatotoxic drug.

* Ethanol extract of the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi DC. (Valerianaceae) was studied for its anticonvulsant activity and neurotoxicity, alone and in rats. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the seizure threshold by Nardostachys jatamansi root extract against maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model as indicated by a decrease in the extension/flexion (E/F) ratio. However, the extract was ineffective against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures.

* The study is directed to explore the effect of ethanolic extract of Nardostachys jatamansi on the mitochondrial and lysosomal damage induced by doxorubicin in rats. Heart mitochondria were isolated from rats treated with doxorubicin (15 mg/kg, ip) a single dose, exhibited depressed rates of state 3 respiration, low respiratory control ratio (RCR), decreased Oxidative Phosphorylation ratio, Adenosine Triphosphate content and cytochromes (c, c1, b, aa3). In addition the doxorubicin given rats showed significant changes in the lysosomal enzymes (Cathepsin-D, Acid phosphatase, .BETA.-D-glucoronidase, .BETA.-D-galactosidase and .BETA.-N-acetyl glucosaminidase) and membrane bound phosphatases. Also myocardial damage, as assessed by ultrastructural changes showed loss of myofibrils, mitochondrial swelling, and cytoplasmic vacuolization. Pretreatment with Nardostachys jatamansi (500 mg/kg body weight orally) for seven days ameliorated the observed abnormalities and significantly prevented the mitochondrial respiration, lysosomal integrity, membrane bound phosphatases and ultrastructural studies in doxorubicin induced rats. These findings suggest that the cardioprotective efficacy of Nardostachys jatamansi could be mediated possibly through its antioxidant effect as well as by the attenuation of the oxidative stress. clearly demonstrated the synergistic action of both the drugs.

* Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the commonest neurodegenerative diseases, and oxidative stress has been evidenced to play a vital role in its causation. In the study, it was evaluated whether ethanolic extract of Nardostachys jatamansi roots (ENj), an antioxidant and enhancer of biogenic amines, can slow the neuronal injury in a 6-OHDA-rat model of Parkinson's. Rats were treated with 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight of ENj for 3 weeks. On day 21, 2 μl of 6-OHDA (12 μg in 0.01% in ascorbic acid-saline) was infused into the right striatum, while the sham-operated group received 2 μl of vehicle. Three weeks after the 6-OHDA injection, the rats were tested for neurobehavioural activity and were sacrificed after 6 weeks for the estimation of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione content, the activities of glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, quantification of catecholamines, dopaminergic D2 receptor binding and tyrosine hydroxylase expression. The increase in drug-induced rotations and deficits in locomotor activity and muscular coordination due to 6-OHDA injections were significantly and dose-dependently restored by ENj. Lesioning was followed by an increased lipid peroxidation and significant depletion of reduced glutathione content in the substantia nigra, which was prevented with ENj pretreatment. The activities of glutathione-dependent enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase in striatum, which were reduced significantly by lesioning, were dose-dependently restored by ENj. A significant decrease in the level of dopamine and its metabolites and an increase in the number of dopaminergic D2 receptors in striatum were observed after 6-OHDA injection, and both were significantly recovered following ENj treatment. All of these results were exhibited by an increased density of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-IR) fibers in the ipsilateral striatum of the lesioned rats following treatment with ENj; 6-OHDA injection had induced almost a complete loss of TH-IR fibers. This study indicates that the extract of Jatamansi might be helpful in attenuating Parkinsonism.

* It possess antiarrhythmic activity with possible therapeutical usefulness in cases of auricular flutter; it is less effective than quinidine but has the advantage of being less toxic; oil exerts hypotensive effect and in moderate doses it has a distinct depressant action on the central nervous system; lethal doses cause deep narcosis and death within a few hours; rhizome is considered tonic, stimulant, antispasmodic, diuretic, deobstruent, emmenagogue, stomachic, and laxative; infusion of rhizome is reported to be useful in epilepsy, hysteria, palpitation of heart and chorea; tincture given in intestinal cholic and flatulence; rhizome used as aromatic adjunct in preparation of medicinal oils; reported to promote growth of hair and impart blackness

Useful part: Rhizome

Doses:
2-4 gm

Some important combinations with Jatamansi:
Mansyadi kwatha; Sarvaushadhi snana; Rakshoghna ghruta