Witnessed by: TCM · Ayurveda · Unani

Indian valerian (Valeriana jatamansi), of the Caprifoliaceae (formerly Valerianaceae) family. Small perennial herb of a stout aromatic rhizome and long-stalked heart-shaped leaves; native range: The temperate Himalaya from Afghanistan through India to south-west China. Globally recognized as tagara in Sanskrit, tagar / balchhar in Hindi, xie cao (缬草) in Chinese, balchhar / sumbul-e-hindi in Arabic, and Indian valerian, tagar, Indian nard in English. The part used is rhizome and root. Short, knotty, hairy brownish rhizomes with a strong, heavy, musky-valerianic scent; warm, bitter and pungent to taste.

In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.

INDIAN VALERIAN

IDENTITY

Name

Common: Indian valerian
Scientific name: Valeriana jatamansi Jones
Family: Caprifoliaceae (formerly Valerianaceae)

Form

Part used: rhizome and root

PROPERTIES

Nature

Taste

how the plant declares itself on the tongue

TCM: pungent · bitter
Ayurveda: bitter · pungent · astringent (tikta, katu, kashaya)
Unani: pungent · bitter

Temperature

TCM: warm

Ayurveda: heating (ushna)

Unani: hot (& dry, 2nd degree)

convergence: all {witness_count} witnesses read it warming — an aromatic nervine that moves and calms without chilling

Affinity

where in the body it travels

Organs / channels

TCM: Heart · Liver
Unani: brain · nerves · heart

PRACTICE

Virtue

Actions

TCM: calms the spirit, moves and regulates qi and blood, dispels wind-damp, relieves pain and settles palpitation
Ayurveda: medhya (nervine), nidrajanana (promotes sleep), vata-shamaka, shula-prashamana (antispasmodic), dipana, a fragrant vishaghna
Unani: muqawwi-e-dimagh (nervine and brain tonic), mufarreh (exhilarant), musakkin (sedative and calmant), kaasir-e-riyah (carminative), mufatteh sudad

Cautions

Contraindications: high pitta and heat states; heavy sedation with other calmatives; pregnancy without supervision
Toxicity: low; large doses may dull, over-sedate or cause heaviness of the head

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