Jatamansi

JATAMANSI (NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI)

Parts Used: Dried Rhizomes and Roots

Common Names: Jatamansi / Spikenard / Muskroot / Balchar

Rasa (Taste): Tikta (Bitter), Kasaya (Astringent), Madhura (Sweet)

Guna (Qualities): Laghu (Light), Snigadh or Sneha (Unctuous or Oily)

Veerya (Potency): Sheeta (Cool)

Vipaka (Post Digestion Effect): Katu (Pungent)

Karma (Pharmacological Activity): Medhya (Brain Tonic), Rasayana (Rejuvenates the Mind), Nidhrajnana (Promotes Sleep), Manasrogaghna (Alleviates Mental Diseases), Pachana (Digestive), Kasawasahara (Alleviates - Coughs and breathing difficulties), Kushtaghna (Stops Skin Diseases and Itching), Dahaprasha - Mana (Stops Burning Sensations) and Romasanjanana (Promotes-Hair Growth)

Bioactive Compounds: Sesquiterpenes, Coumarins, Lignans, Neolignans, Alkaloids and Steroids

Family: Valerianaceae

HABITAT

Nardostachys jatamansi DC is a small perennial, rhizomatous herb which grows in steep, moist, rocky, undisturbed grassy slopes of India, Nepal, China, and Bhutan from 2300 m to 6000 m above sea level.

INTRODUCTION

Jatamansi is a famous Ayurvedic herb used in neuro-psychiatric diseases and skin diseases. The plant has been valued for centuries in Ayurvedic in Indian, Unani in ancient Greek and Arab, and in ancient Egypt and Rome for its medicinal values. Jatamansi, also known as “tapaswani” in Ayurveda, is a perennial, dwarf, hairy, herbaceous, and endangered plant species. It acts as a brain tonic and helps to improve memory and brain functions by preventing cell damage due to its antioxidant property. It also calms down the brain and manages anxiety as well as insomnia. In Sanskrit it is called as Kantiprada meaning improving complexion and luster of skin. Charakacharya refers it in kandughna Ghana means it relieves itching.

BENEFITS

Stress Buster: The plant has power to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and tension by balancing biochemical reactions in the body. It is good to have the mind cool and healthy and act as one of the finest mind rejuvenator tonic. It also possesses tranquilizing and sedative effect on brain. It is potent nerve tonic and lowers mental stress and exhaustion. It is well-known for enhancing healthy nerve function and offers sustenance to the brain. This amazing ayurvedic herb combats stress, boosts up cognitive performance, lowers nerve weakness, improves stamina and overall well-being.

Ayurvedic View: According to Ayurveda, Vata governs all the movement and actions of the body and nervous system respectively. Anxiety is mainly due to Vata imbalance. Jatamansi helps to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. This is due to its property of Tridosha balancing and a unique Medhya (improve intelligence) effect.

Bolsters Memory: Jatamansi works as an effective memory booster and improves learning and cognitive skills. It acts as a restorative agent and helps people suffering from memory loss.

Ayurvedic View: According to Ayurveda, the nervous system is controlled by Vata. An imbalance of Vata leads to weak memory or poor mental alertness. Jatamansi is useful to enhance memory and gives instant mental alertness. This is due to its Tridosa balancing and Medhya (improve intelligence) properties.

Remedies Epilepsy and Seizures: The potent antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of Jatamansi shield the body against oxidative cell damage. The herb aids in maintaining the balance of hormones in the nervous system.

Ayurvedic View: In Ayurveda, epilepsy is termed as Apasmara. Epileptic patient’s experiences episodes of seizures. A seizure is due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain leading to uncontrollable and rapid body movements. This might even lead to unconsciousness. Epilepsy involves all the three doshas-Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Jatamansi helps to balance all the three doshas and reduces the episodes of seizures. It also helps to maintain healthy brain function because of its Medhya (improve intelligence) property.

Good for Skin: It glows skin and improves complexion. It ensures youthful appearance of skin. It is antioxidant and removes free radicle which damage skin. It retains moisture of skin and reduces redness. Because of its bitter taste and Pitta balancing quality, it is widely used to purify blood, hence useful in skin diseases.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Jatamansi reverses the neurodegenerative loss by enhancing the biogenic amines and reducing the dopaminergic D2 receptors in the striatum part of brain. Being an antioxidant produces significant beneficial effects on GSH, CAT, SOD and some other related enzymes and catecholamine. It also increases the biogenic amines and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. It works as an anti-depression agent by inducing a sense of calmness and serenity. It increases the cerebral levels of a chemical called GABA (GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID). It is likely to reduce depression by increasing the levels of monoamines in the brain. It also stimulates fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin fibres giving more elastic and less wrinkled properties to the skin.

CLINICAL STUDIES & REFERENCES

Ali A, Dua Y, Siddiqui AW, Sultana S, Rafiullah MRM. Inhibition of benzoyl peroxide-induced cutaneous oxidative stress, toxicity, and ear edema in mice by Nardostachys jatamansi. Pharm Biol 2005; 43:533-9..
Suchetha Kumari N, Madhu LN. Protective effect of Nardostachys jatamansi on radiation-induced anxiety and oxidative stress. Biomedicine 2012; 32:337-41.
Badruzzaman Khan M, Nasrul Hoda, Tauheed Ishrat, Saif Ahmad, Moshahid Khan, Ajmal Ahmad, et al. Neuroprotective efficacy of Nardostachys jatamansi and crocetin in conjunction with selenium in cognitive impairment. J Neurol Sci 2012; 33:1011-20.
Badruzzaman Khan M, Nasrul Hoda, Tauheed Ishrat, Saif Ahmad, Moshahid Khan, Ajmal Ahmad, et al. Neuroprotective efficacy of Nardostachys jatamansi and crocetin in conjunction with selenium in cognitive impairment. J Neurol Sci 2012; 33:1011-20.
Rezaie A, Pashazadeh M, Ahmadizadeh Ch, Jafari B, Jalilzadeh HM. Study of sedative and anxiolytic effect of an herbal extract of Nardostachys jatamansi in comparison with diazepam in rats. J Med Plants 2010; 9:169-74.