Know a herb of India

Herbs - Jatamansi

Latin -- Nardostachys jatamansiSanskrit -- JatamansiHindi -- Jatamashi, BalcharEnglish -- Muskroot, Indian Spikenard, (Indian Valerian -- informal)

Parts Used:

Rhizome, rhizome oil. Each plant and part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits. Only found at high altitudes (from 10,000 to 17,000 feet) in India, Bhutan, and Sikkim.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses:

Famous in ayurveda as an herb to combat the effects of day-to-day stress. It has the property of enhancing the body's innate ability to sleep well.
It is considered a holy or "divine" plant in ayurveda and has traditionally been used as an air purifier. Charaka's ayurvedic text recommends it highly for insomnia, mental instability and to enhance memory.
It is said to promote growth and maintain the color of hair.

Combinations are Best

The experts at Maharishi Ayurveda do not recommend the use of single herbs for self-care due to several important reasons:
Single herbs often have unwanted effects over time, which can be canceled by herbs in proper combination.
Herbs in combination are much more powerful.
Good formulas address all co-factors to a health goal for much greater effectiveness.
Expert combinations include herbs that increase assimilation and effective potency of the other ingredients.
Herbs have different effects according to dose, and when mixed with other herbs.