The Pharmacy of Flowers

by David Crow, L.Ac.

Jatamansi
Nardostachys jatamansi; Himalayan spikenard

Jatamansi is an example of the complex factors which cause medicinal plants to become endangered: high demand, overharvesting of wild populations, loss of habitat, slow growth of the plant, and destruction of its life-supporting parts. It is also an excellent example of a plant that could lift communities out of poverty if brought into sustainable cultivation.

Jatamansi has been used as medicine and perfume since antiquity. It was mentioned by the Ayurvedic physician Susruta (500 BCE) in a prescription for epilepsy. It has been used throughout ancient Persia, Turkey, and Egypt; its use as an anointing oil and aromatic treasure is mentioned in the Bible.

There is a great demand for the root and oil as traditional medicines, which is increasing as Ayurveda becomes known throughout the world. Jatamansi is prescribed by Ayurvedic physicians for a wide range of health problems, but primarily as a nervine tonic with sedative attributes. It is a member of the Valerianaceae family, and functionally similar to Valerian root. Jatamansi oil is used in perfumery and incense; it is also used in hair oils, and is reported to promote growth of hair and impart blackness.

Jatamansi grows in steep alpine areas of the Himalayas. It prefers open, stony and grassy slopes, the turf of glacial flats, and is also found growing in forests of silver birch. The plant grows slowly in the alpine environment, and because the rhizome is used, the plant is destroyed by harvesting. Jatamansi, and the biodiversity of Valerianaceae family in general, is under threat in India and Nepal. Most plant material used in medicine and for oil is collected from the wild, but some cultivation projects are now underway in Nepal.

Jatamansi is a plant that could lift many communities of the Himalayan region out of poverty. High quality roots are in limited supply, and there is a growing demand. Because the oil is scarce, adulteration occurs frequently. It is possible that with more support from local governments and Ayurvedic herb companies, sustainable Jatamansi cultivation could become a significant source of income for the villagers of the remote Himalayan regions. Some projects are now underway in Nepal, primarily in the western Humla district.

Next: Vetiver

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