Tagar

HABITAT

Tagar is native herb of India and grows in temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan, and Khasia hills up to an altitude of 3,000 meter.

INTRODUCTION

Tagar is a hairy perennial herb with a long history of traditional medicines uses. It is one of the most important herb in Ayurvedic medicine system for sleeping disorders. It has been used as a sedative and antianxiety medicine for more than 2000 years. It is originated from the Latin word “Valere” meaning to be in good health, a source of important phytomedicines. It is also used as general tonic. The British Herbal Pharmacopeia, describe it as sedative, hypnotic, carminative, and hypotensive, and indicated its use in sleeplessness, headaches, migraine, joint pain, rheumatic pain, cramps, etc.

BENEFITS

Stressbuster: It suppresses the activity of a chemical present in the brain that induces anxiety. This helps relax the central nervous system and decreases the symptoms of anxiety.

Ayurvedic View: Tagar is useful in managing the symptoms of anxiety. According to Ayurveda, Vata governs all the movements and actions of the body and nervous system respectively. Anxiety is mainly due to Vata imbalance. Tagar helps to reduce the symptoms of anxiety due to its property of Tridosha balancing (especially Vata) property.

Reduces Menstrual Cramps: Tagar has anti-spasmodic properties which help in easing muscles and suppressing muscle spasms. Thus, it helps in reducing menstrual cramps. It contains certain constituents that are similar to oestrogen (female reproductive hormone) that help manage menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats.

Ayurvedic View: Menopause is a stage of physical and mental transformation for women. The body shows both physical and mental symptoms, including more serious symptoms such as frequent hot flashes, continual sleep disturbance, and moderate to severe mood swings. According to Ayurveda, these symptoms are usually due to the build-up of wastes and toxins, referred to as Ama, in your body's tissues. Taking Tagar helps to remove these toxins (Ama) because of its Ushna (hot) potency which helps to digest Ama and control the symptoms of Menopause.

Sleep Enhancer: It reduces the activity of a certain chemical in the brain that helps in calming down brain activity which helps induce sleep.

Ayurvedic View: Tagar is useful to induce sound sleep. According to Ayurveda, an aggravated Vata dosha makes the nervous system sensitive which leads to Anidra (Insomnia). Tagar calms the nervous system due to its Tridosha balancing property, especially Vata balancing, thereby helping in the management of Insomnia.

Nervine Tonic: Tagar has also became known as a nervine tonic as it calms the nervous system while also acting as a tonic. The use of tagar root is beneficial in the removal of any obstruction from nerve channels. It relaxes the mind and improves brain health. It frequently serves the purpose of a memory enhancer. With the use of this herb problems like epilepsy and ADHD (attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder) can also be supressed.

Ayurvedic View: Tagar is helpful in managing Convulsions or seizures in epilepsy. Epilepsy, termed as Apasmara in Ayurveda is a condition in which patients experience seizures consisting of jerky movements of body parts and often loss of consciousness. It involves all the three doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Tagar helps to manage all these symptoms because of its Tridosha (Vata-Pitta-Kapha) balancing property, thereby managing Convulsions.

Improves Digestion: The root of tagar helps in improving the appetite which results in better digestion. It also relieves the body from digestive issues like bloating, flatulence, and constipation. It works like a great cleanser and removes toxins from the body.

Pain Reliever: Joint pain, stomach pain and headache can be reduced with this amazing herb due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Since it has anti-spasmodic properties, muscle pain can also be relieved easily. It inhibits smooth muscle contractions and provides relief from muscle pain.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

It exerts good peripheral analgesic action via inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis on acetic acid induced writhing. It exerts hypotensive effects possibly through KATP channel activation. It induces good sleep by improving monoamine (amine neurotransmitters with single amino group) level.

CLINICAL STUDIES & REFERENCES

Sahu S, Ray K, Kumar Y, Gupta G, Kauser H, Sanjeev K, Mishra K S, Panjwani U., Valerian wallichii root extract improves sleep quality and modulates brain monoamine level in rats. Phytomedicine, 2012; 19: 924- 929.
Bhattacharyya D, Jana U, Debnath P K, Sur T K. Initial exploratory observational pharmacology of Valeriana wallichii on stress management: a clinical report Nepal Med Coll J 2007; 9(1): 36-9.
Shi S, Jin- NLi Shi, Jong Liu, Yan – Li Wang, Chun – Guo Wang, Wen-Hui Hou and Jian – You Guo. The anxiolytic effects of valtrate in rats involves changes of cortisone levels. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2014, doi.
Mirabi P,Mojab F.The EFfects of Valerian root on Hot flashes in Menopausal women. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research.2013;12(1):217-222.
Joseph L,Rajeesh EP, Narayan RS. Supraaddictive effect of hydroethanolic extract of Valeriana Wallichii (Indian Valerian) root and phenobarbitone against maximal electroshock seizure in mice.International Journal of Bioassays.2013;02(08):1158-1161.