Most of us are used to treating ailments with pharmaceutical pills of one sort or another. The idea of using plants as medicine would seem outdated. It evokes medieval visions of cackling witches brewing their secret potions in the moonlight or peasant women boiling roots and barks.
However, people all over the world are now turning to health foods, botanicals, and herbal remedies. And today, we are going to educate you about one such herb that is no less than a miracle - Valeriana Jatamansi.
Valerian Jatamansi is a Perennial herb, not cultivated but grows wildly. It bears pink or white flowers.
In traditional and modern Indian medicine, Valeriana Jantamansi is pretty well known. For centuries it has been used for medicinal purposes, especially in Ayurvedic (Indian) systems of medicine.
Found mostly in the temperate Himalayas region, from Kashmir to Bhutan and Khasi Hills. It grows well in moist loamy soils having partial shades of trees.
It grows in slopes over a wide range of soil that it gets adequate nutrients and water.
Uses of Valerian in Ayurveda
Valerian Jatamansi has been used in Ayurvedic system medicine for a long time. Its Ayurvedic name is Tagar.
It is a herb of choice for native support from mental conditions. It may help relieve stress, anxiety, and is considered to have antioxidant, digestive, circulatory properties. It may help calm the nervous system.
Valerian – a Popular Medicinal Herb Among the Khasis
The plant is called “Jatung” in Khasi (a local language in Meghalaya). They are found mostly in West Khasi Hills.
In Khasi Hills, the practice of herbal remedies for the treatment of various diseases rests with the traditional healers or ‘Nong ai dawai Kynbat’ as we called them locally. They belong to the indigenous family in which they passed the traditional healing knowledge from one generation to another.
People consult them for the treatment of various diseases and injuries, such as bone fractured.
The whole plant of Valerian Jatamansi is used for making a paste and apply it after setting a fractured bone.
Roots of the plant (Rhizomes) is mashed with water to make a paste to use for healing purposes and relieving from severe pain. It is used for medicinal purposes, such as for treating insomnia and mental disorders. It is also beneficial for treating bacterial infections and advanced stages of fever.
Harvesting Months
Harvesting of roots is done in September to October. The crop may be kept in the field for one or two years. Its harvesting is best in the second year.
Jatamansi is harvested for local medicinal use as well as trade for its valuable medicinal benefits presents on the herbs.
The herbs are collected from the forest or direct fields, and they should be dried as rapidly as possible without overheating.
Once they become dried the rhizomes are processed into powder and stored in a jar.
The Health Benefits You Can Get Are:
- Helps in treating Insomnia: Having trouble sleeping can increase your risk for anxiety, depression, heart failure, and high blood pressure. The powder added with tea or milk can help improve sleeping quality and treat sleeping disorders.
- Lower blood pressure: Jatamansi has been proven to lower high blood pressure. It works to regulate the heart rate and treat both High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) and Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension).
- Preventing bacterial infection: Applying Jatamansi is the best way to prevent infections from bacteria that can cause cuts and bruises area.
- Laxative: Due to various reasons such as improper eating habits, changes in diet, and stressful lifestyle, health issues like constipation may cause. Jatamansi is the best and effective option for curing constipation as it works without affecting digestion and other systems in the body.
- Skin Care: Regular care and protective measures of your skin are becoming very essentials. Jatamansi is the best and effective solution for curing and preventing a range of skin issues like dermatitis, which involves itchy, rash, or dry skin and reddened the skin. Other skin conditions in which skins cell build up and form scales, itchy dry patches, can also benefit by using Jatamansi.
- Hair growth: A few of the Jatamansi benefits for hair include extracting the natural oil and using in on your scalp for increased hair growth. It is also beneficial for healthy, smooth, and silky hair too.
- Other minor ailments: The powdered also helps in curing minor ailments such as cold sores, severe headache, and many more.
Other Uses:
Apart from medicinal use, Jatamansi benefits for hair include using the natural dye to colour your hair black and make it smooth and shiny. Massaging your scalp with the oil extract from the Jatamansi plant can prevent hair fall.
Side Effects:
Excesses consumption of Jatamansi may cause adverse effects on the body. Consuming in a large quantity may cause stomach problems. Dosage should always be as per prescriptions. Due to the lack of clinical studies consuming Valerian Jantamansi during pregnancy and Lactation is not recommended.
How to Use Valerian Powder:
If you grow valerian in your garden, you can powder it and use this recipe to make your valerian tea.
Here is a simple recipe on how to use Valerian powder:
- Take 1/3 spoon of Valerian root powder.
- Add it in a cup of 250ml warm water.
- Add your choice of sweetener.
For best results consume 30 minutes to 2 hours before bedtime.
A person with a busy lifestyle, the mind, and the body are often stressful and tired.
Pure Valerian powder added with warm water, tea, or coffee helps to reduce stress and improve the quality of sleep.
This herb has been used in modern and traditional Indian medicine for centuries. It surely is the most effective natural remedy for a sound sleep!
