White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Spikenard, April 18, 2001
NewsNeNwsNNewsletter Archive ewsl
Spikenard
So, after bath, the
slave-girls brought
The precious raiment for her
wear,
The misty izar from Mosul,
The pearls and opals for her hair,
The slippers for her little feet,
(Two radiant crescent moons they were,)
And lavender, and spikenard sweet,
And attars, nedd, and heavy musk.
When they had finished dressing her,
(The Eye of Morn, the Heart's Desire!)
Like one pale star against the dusk, A single diamond on her brow
Trembled with its imprisoned fire!
Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907: The Course of True Love NEVER Did Run Smooth
[from The Course of True Love never Did Run Smooth (1858)]
Dear Friends,
The Spikenard of India, Nardostachys
jatamansi, produces a beautiful green or chocolate colored oil,
which eloquently
speaks of the high mountain environs from which it comes. The rich, mysterious,
earthy constituents mingle with a soft warm spicyness which is balm to the heart
and soul. It captures in itself something of the spirit of those places which
have been sacred places of devotion for countless centuries. The Himalayan ranges
of Nepal, India and Burma provide the natural habitat for this botancial gem
which has been revered both in east and west for many centuries. My personal
contact with the plant has been limited to holding the aromatic roots in hand
while standing in the Kullu Valley of the Himalayas. Mr. Nandlal, a true botanical
lover of the Himalayas presented us with roots used for distillation gathered
from the surrounding towering peaks and one could only marvel at how this modest
root could be gathered from the higher reaches of the mountains by the folk
living in their simple homes located on the sheer slopes. And what a sweet treasure
it was to crush the roots and smell the elixir gathered in the roots from the
soil of the ancient Himalayas. Following is information extracted from various
web sites which may give a fuller appreciation of the plant and its special
virtues. You can link to the various web sites to investigate the subject in
greater depth.
Spikenard
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin spca
nard, Latin spca, spike, ear, + Latin nard genitive of nardus, nard.
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English narde, from Old French, from Latin nardus,
from Greek nardos, probably ultimately from Sanskrit naladam, Indian spikenard.
History: It has from a very remote period been in use among the Indians
as a perfume and medicine. It is mentioned by Susruta in a prescription for
epilepsy and is prescribed by Indian physicians as a nervine tonic and carminative
and aromatic adjunct in the preparation of medicinal oils and ghees. N.jatamansi
is the Nardin of Dioscorides, which the writer tells us, was also called Gangitis
because the Ganges flowed from the foot of the mountains where the plant grew.
Arabic and Persian physicians call this plant Sumbul-i-Hindi, "Indian Spike",
to distinguish it from their Sumbul-i-Rumi or Ikliti (Valeriana celtica), the
root of which is used in Turkey and Egypt as a perfume. http://www.thehimalayadrugco.com/h-nardos.htm
Distribution It is commonly distributed in an elevation range of 3500m to
4500m in the northern aspect of the sub-alpine and alpine pastureland of the
Himalayas in Nepal. Though found in eastern to western region of the country,
Jatamansi is more abundant in the western regions. The plant is mostly found
growing in steep areas with a 25 o- 45o slope. It grows well on open, stony
and grassy slopes, and on the turf of glacial flats. It is also found growing
under the Silver Birch forest, where its growth is good with large leaves and
long rootstock. This may be due to the abundance of rotten leaves (humus) and
shade under the Birch forest.
http://www.panasia.org.sg/nepalnet/ansab/plantprofile.htm
Description N.jatamansi is
an erect perennial herb, with a long, stout and woody rootstock. Its radical
leaves are elongate and spathulate, its cauline leaves are sessile and oblong
or sub-ovate; the flowers are rosy, pale pink or blue, in dense cymes. The drug
consists of short, thick, dark grey rhizomes crowned with reddish brown tufted
fibrous remains of the petioles of the radical leaves. http://www.thehimalayadrugco.com/h-nardos.htm
The flowering takes place during June to July and fruiting in August-October.
In the beginning of October, all leaves turn yellow and become ready for pereniation.
During the winter, the herb sheds all leaves, gets buried under the snow and
remains dormant. With the melting of the snow in the beginning of summer, Jatamansi
starts growing.
http://www.panasia.org.sg/nepalnet/ansab/plantprofile.htm
Harvesting The appropriate
time for harvesting Jatamansi is October through December. The early snowfall
in some years disturbs the harvesting during the main harvesting season and
makes the harvesting job difficult and sometimes impossible due to the thick
layer of snow in the harvesting site. Because of this, it is sometimes harvested
during May or June which is detrimental for its future growth. Jatamansi is
generally collected by pulling out the rhizomes with or without the help of
a Kuto (a small spade like handtool). The long rhizomes under shrubs and trees
are handpicked. Rhizomes are gathered into a basket, or sac after removing leaves
and roots. Collectors dry the raw Jatamansi partially at the collection point
before transporting it to their home, processing unit, or to a selling point.
http://www.panasia.org.sg/nepalnet/ansab/plantprofile.htm
Projects in Nepal centered on Biodiversity Management with special reference
to Spikenard/ The websites listed explain the different dimensions of the project.
It is very inspirational. It is through this connection that I am able to procure
a beautiful spikenard oil. I think if you can manage to find the time to read
through the following reports it will be educational. There are many challanges
which such ethically based projects face but it is wonderful to see how this
type of work is evolving with the potential for being a model for projects in
other parts of the world. I believe there are many many opportunities for each
on of us to participate in such activities according to our own natures. As
we become more educated and aware of such endeavors we may find ways in which
we can help, however modest those efforts may be. Nepal Essential Oils Project http://www.enterpriseworks.org/programs_strategy_natural_products_nepal_essential.htm http://www.bcnet.org/learning/ar97/97_humla1.htm http://www.nepalnet.org.np/ansab/project_example.htm http://srdis.ciesin.org/cases/nepal-006.html http://www.mtnforum.org/resources/library/ojhax01a.htm
Constituents: essential oil, resin, sugar, starch,gum, bitter matter K = rhizomes and roots contain volatile essential oil .5% oleum jatamansi, resin, sugar, starch, bitter matter, gum, ketone called jatamansone, sesquiterpee = seychelane, and beta-sitosterol. Roots have many compounds viz. valeranone, valeranal, nardol,calarenol, nardostechone, n-hexacosanyl arachidate, n-hexaconsanol,calarene, n-hexacosane, h-hexacosanyl isovalerate, acosanyl arachidate, n-hexaconsanol, calarene, norseychelanone, seychellen, patchouli alcohol, hydrocarbons, beta-eudesmol, elemol, beta-sitosterol,angelicin, jatamansinol
http://www.ayurveda.com/materiamedica/Nardostachys%20jatamamsi-Jatamamsi-Indian%20spikenard.htm
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy2.pl?655
more useful information on specific photochemicals
Non Medicinal Uses Its oil
is also believed to promote growth and impart blackness to hair. The local people
also use the rhizome for making incense by mixing it with the powder of Juniper
and Sunpati. The rhizome of Jatamansi is used in the preparation of medicinal
oils and in perfumery. The dried rhizomes are steam-distilled to yield between
1 - 2% of essential oil, commercially known as Spikenard oil. Spikenard oil
of good quality has a greenish color and an odor suggestive of patchouli and
Indian valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), which has a sweet, woody, and spicy
animal odor.It can be used in perfumes with an oriental basis, heavy florals,
animal amber types, etc. It blends well with Cedarwood and Lavender. The oil
resinifies on exposure to air. Processing & Market. The volatile oil cells are
generally located on the fine fibrous hairs of the rhizome.
http://www.panasia.org.sg/nepalnet/ansab/plantprofile.htm
Its use as an anointing
oil and aromatic treasure in the Bible Traditional therapeutic uses Jatamansi
is harvested for local use as well as for the trade of its valuable roots/rhizomes.
Traditional healers use the root for different purposes. It is used as a stimulant,
antiseptic, insect repellent and for the treatment of epilepsy, hysteria, convulsive
affections, stomachache, constipation and cholera. The rhizome is used as an
aromatic adjunct in the preparation of medicinal oil. It is also believed to
be useful for leprosy. Mixed with sesame oil, it is rubbed on the head as a
nerve sedative. http://www.panasia.org.sg/nepalnet/ansab/plantprofile.htm
Uses: possess antiarrhythmic
activity with possible therapeutical usefulness in cases of auricular flutter;
it is less effective than quinidine but has the advantage of being less toxus;
oil exerts hypotensive effect and in moderate doses it has a distinct depressant
action on the central nervous system; lethal doses cause deep narcosis and death
within a few hours; rhizome is considered tonic, stimulant, antispasmodic, diuretic,
deobstruent, emmenagogue, stomachic, and laxative; infusion of rhizome is reported
to be useful in epilepsy, hysteria, palpitation of heart and chorea; tincture
given in intestinal cholic and flatulence; rhizome used as aromatic adjunct
in preparation of medicinal oils; reported to promote growth of hair and impart
blackness (WI, v. 7, p. 4) Folk and traditional medicines: In India roots are
well know tranquilizer and may be used alone or along with Valeriana jatamansi
(V. wallichi); infusion of root given in hysteria, palpitation of heart, menopause,
and various nervous diseases; in infusion, ammonia, camphor, or cinammon (Cinnamomum
verum) may be added; for treatment of diseases associated with indigestion a
compound preparation consisting of cinnamon, fennel (Foeniculun vulgare), ginger
(Zingiber officinalie) and sugar in addition to jatamansi is used; essential
oil from rhizome used in perfumery and has a tranquilizing effect when massaged
on head; also applied on leprous wounds; in ayurveda used in "Mansyadi Kwath"
and "Rakshoghna Ghrita" while in Unani, in "Jawarishood Tursh", "Ma'jun Musali
Pak", Ma'jun Nisgan", "Muffareh Kabir", Naushadaroo-i-Lulu", etc. (MEOPI, p.
361)
http://members.aol.com/ratrani/spikenard.html
However, one of the most used in the clinic essential oil is the essential oil of Jatamansi (Spikenard) which is obtained by steam distillation of dried rhizomes of Nardostachys jatamansi D.C. It is a slightly viscous liquid in appearance and varies from amber to deep blue or greenish blue colour. The aroma of Jatamansi oil is lingering, heavy, sweet-woody and spicy-animal when used in treatment. In clinical aromatherapy, Jatamansi oil can be employed in the treatment of epilepsy, hysteria and in many varieties of convulsive affections. It is used in cases of heart palpitations (even as a substitute for Valerian). At the Preston clinic, this oil is being used successfully in intestinal colic and nervous disorders. Its antispasmodic characteristics are unsurpassed. Clinical aroma- therapists do appreciate Jatamansi¹s properties as a diuretic, carminative, stomachic and laxative (excellent when used over time in cases of chronic constipation). Tibetan herbalists use Jatamansi oil for the purpose of hair growth and colour restoration. The results are more than rewarding as many patients in our clinic would testify. This essential oil shows excellent results in combating baldness and grey hair.... The herb is used in tribal medicine for incurable skin conditions and is believed to contain anti-ageing properties. One of our patients used Jatamansi oil when her husband, suffering from high blood pressure, collapsed at home. She could not feel his pulse and he became unconscious. Waiting for the ambulance, she tried to think how to help her husband. In a trauma of the circumstance, she ran to the bathroom cabinet and took the Jatamansi oil. She started to massage her husband and let him smell the oil on a tissue. When the ambulance arrived, her husband was sitting on the carpet propped up comfortably against the wall. He later fully recovered in hospital. This anecdotal evidence is well documented on our patient¹s file.
Thou box of alabaster,
in whose walls
The souls of flowers lie pent, the precious balm
And spikenard of Arabian farms, the spirits
Of aromatic herbs, ethereal natures
Nursed by the sun and dew, not all unworthy
To bathe his consecrated feet, whose step
Makes every threshold holy that he crosses;
Let us go forth upon our pilgrimage,
Thou and I only! Let us search for him
Until we find him, and pour out our souls
Before his feet, till all that's left of us
Shall be the broken caskets that once held us!
Poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Christus: A Mystery
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/valerian.htm#figure
2
superb article on therapeutic dimensions of valarian and spikenard. A stunning
botanical drawing of Spikenard http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Aromatherapy/basyet45.htm
This is a very nice article by Jolanta Basnyet on her visit to India and Nepal http://india.coolatlanta.com/GreatPages/sudheer/prod.html
http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h154.htm
therapeutic information
http://www.indolink.com/indolink/Health/Ayurveda/jatamnsi.html ayurveda http://www.thehimalayadrugco.com/h-nardos.htm
herbal monograph
http://sarasvati.simplenet.com/Indian%20Lexicon/nardostachys.htm
word origin
http://www.ayurveda.com/materiamedica/Nardostachys%20jatamamsi-Jatamamsi-Indian%20spikenard.htm
ayurveda
http://members.aol.com/ratrani/spikenard.html monograph
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy2.pl?655
phytochemicals
http://projects.ghostwheel.com/dictionary?define=spikenard
etymology of spikenard
http://www.panasia.org.sg/nepalnet/ansab/plantprofile.htm
agricultural considerations in Nepal
http://www.spikenard.com/spikeoil2.html
anointing oil with historical background
http://www.phoenixuk.com/Spikenard.htm
msds information and more
http://ngls.tad.ch/english/pubs/21/21_3.html