True Spikenard, the Biblical Spikenard, a strong sedative related to Valerian, can relax mental over-stimulation, promote healthy sleep and calm the overly active mind, and its roots are a well know tranquilizer, an infusion of the root often being given in hysteria, heart palpitations, menopause, and various nervous diseases.
In terms of Jatamansi’s energetics, its medicinally useful rhizome (root) and the root’s oil are bitter, astringent and sweet in taste, with a cooling virya and a pungent vipaka. Its doshic signature is KPV=.
Jatamansi enters into the rakta and majja dhatus and the rasavaha and raktavaha, anavaha, majjavaha, pranavaha and shukravaha srotam, and counteracts the effects of stress, having both antispasmodic and generally calmative actions.
Among its many indications it has been found useful in the treatment of digestive diseases generally, flatulence, hypercholesterolemia, heart palpitations, the effects of nervous and emotional upset, hypochondria (somatizing disorder), jaundice, kidney stones, respiratory diseases generally, skin conditions generally, typhoid, seminal debility, spasmodic hysterical states, epilepsy, convulsions, tension headache, insomnia, ADHD, febrile delirium, delirium tremens and senile dementia. Jatamansi’s pharmacologic activities include those of an analgesic, both a stimulant and a sedative (a surprising combination of seemingly contradictory properties, quite like ashwagandha with which it is often found in formulation), antiarrhythmic, hypotensive, calmative, tonic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, an alternative for syphilitic, cutaneous and rheumatic cases, a promoter of hair growth, and an antioxidant.
Its use is contraindicated in pregnancy, and daily dosage varies from 3 to 5 grams daily of the churna.
Article provided by William Courson, BVSA, D. Ayur., an Ayurvedic Practitioner, faculty member and the College Dean of Institutional Development at Sai Ayurvedic College & Ayurvedic Wellness Center.