PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS JATAMANSI /433

Characteristics: The flowers are very fragrant.

Habitat: France, Italy, China, Japan, India, Morocco, Egypt

Production: Common jasmine flowers are the dried, fresh

flowers of Jasminum officinale var. grandiflorum

Other Names: Royal Jasmine, Italian Jasmine, Catalonian

Jasmine, Poet's Jasmine

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil

Pyrridine alkaloids: jasminine (presumably an artifact)

EFFECTS

No definitive data are available.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper

administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

DOSAGE

Preparation: Jasmine is available as a tea blend or oil.

LITERATURE

No data available

Jasminum officinale

See Jasmine

Jatamansi

Nardostachys jatamansi

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the plant is the

rhizome.

Flower and Fruit: The flowers are in 1 to 5 capitula, which

are usually surrounded by bracts. Their structures are in

fives, the petals fused, the corolla tube 6 mm long and lightly

pubescent on the inside. The fruit is crowned by pointed

ovate calyx tips, which are covered in splayed white hairs.

Leaves, Stem and Root: This upright herbaceous perennial
grows to a height reaching up to 60 cm high. The leaves are

opposite, grow from the rhizome, are 15 to 20 cm long, 2.5

cm wide, spatulate and narrow toward the petiole. The

cauline leaves are sessile, opposite, 2.5 to 7.5 cm. long and

narrow-ovate. The finger-thick, woody rhizome is covered

with reddish brown fibers from the remains of the petioles.

Habitat: Nardostachys jatamansi is indigenous to China,

India and Nepal.

Production: Jatamansi roots are the dried roots and rhizome

of Nardostachys jatamansi. An essential oil is extracted from

the rhizome.

Not to be Confused With: Selinum vaginatum

Other Names: Indian Nard, Indian Spikenard, Spikenard,

Nard, Narrow-Leaved-Echinacea

ACTION AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Volatile oil (0.3 to 0.4%): including valeranone (jataman-

sone), nardosinone, calarene, beta-maaliene. maaliol, beta-

ionone, l(10)-aristelonone-(2), nardol, valerenal

EFFECTS

Valid data regarding the pharmacological efficacy of the

drug have not yet become available. In animal experiments, a

limiting effect upon convulsant thresholds and a reduction of

motor coordination ability traceable to the sequiterpene

ketone valeranone contained in the drug have been demon-

strated. The authors conclude from this that the substance is

anticonvulsive in effect without exhibiting neuroleptic char-

acteristics. In addition, it manifests an antiulcerogenic effect.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: In combination with cold water, the various

oils are considered to be effective against nausea, stomach-

ache, flatulence, liver problems, jaundice and kidney com-

plaints, insomnia and headache. Externally, the oil is added

to a steaming bath to treat inflammation of the uterus. The

oils are also used in eye compounds and as poison antidotes.

Indian Medicine: Jatamansi is used for nervous headache,

excitement, menopausal symptoms, flatulence, epilepsy and

for pain in the intestinal region.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Use of the drug is contraindicated during pregnancy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper

administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Jatamansi root is used in the forms

of a whole, cut or powdered drug for internal and external

use.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Chinese Medicine: Jasmine is used for hepatitis and abdomi-

nal pain in liver cirrhosis or dysentery.

Indian Medicine: Preparations are used for pain symptoms of

the stomach, head, teeth and eyes, for leprosy, itching, skin

disease and dysmenorrhea.