NAT. ORDER VALERIANACEÆ.
NARDOSTACHYS JATAMANSI, DC.
Syn. Valeriana Jatamansi, Jones.
Sans. Jaṭámánsi. Vern. Jaṭámánsi, Beng. Báluchar, Hind.
The Nardostachys Jatamansi is a native of the mountains of Northern India and has been used in Hindu medicine from a very ancient period. The fragrant root is considered a nervine tonic, and is much used as an aromatic adjunct in the preparation of medicinal oils and ghritas. It does not appear however to have been used internally except as an ingredient of complex prescriptions. In the Pharmacopœia of India it is stated that jaṭámánsi enters into the composition of a nostrum highly recommended in the treatment of epilepsy by Susruta. I do not find in Susruta’s work any prescription for epilepsy, containing jaṭámánsi, except the following, in which however it can hardly be said to be an active ingredient. Take of the pulse of Phaseolus Roxburghii (kulattha), barley, jujube fruit, seeds of Crotolaria juncea (sana), bdellium, jaṭámánsi root, the ten drugs collectively called dasamula (see Desmodium gangeticum), and chebulic myrobalan, equal parts; and prepare a decoction in the usual way. This decoction is recommended to be administered with the addition of clarified butter and goat’s urine.
The Sanskrit name in Devanagari beside the heading and the Sanskrit verse in footnote 1 are not transcribed, nor the superscript note number. Words hyphenated across a line break are joined.