Practical
Plants

Valeriana jatamansii

Indian Valerian

a perennial member of the Valeriana genus in the family Valerianaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Some caution is advised with the use of this plant. At least one member of the genus is considered to be poisonous raw[4] and V. officinalis is a powerful nervine and sedative that can become habit-forming.

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The root is antispasmodic, carminative and stimulant[15][14]. It has many of the properties of V. officinalis and could therefore be employed as a nervine and sedative[15]. It is used in Nepal to treat hysteria, insomna, nausea, pimples, rheumatism and cholera[14]. The juice of the root is applied to the forehead in the treatment of headaches, and is dripped into the eyes for treating eye problems[14]. A paste of the plant is applied externally to boils[14]. This species is an effective substitute for V. officinalis[12]. The uses of that plant are as follows:- Valerian is a well-known and frequently used medicinal herb that has a long and proven history of efficacy. It is noted especially for its effect as a tranquilliser and nervine, particularly for those people suffering from nervous overstrain[15][10]. Valerian has been shown to encourage sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce blood pressure[13]. It is also used internally in the treatment of painful menstruation, cramps, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome etc[11][13]. It should not be prescribed for patients with liver problems[11]. Externally, it is used to treat eczema, ulcers and minor injuries[11]. The root is antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, hypnotic, powerfully nervine, sedative and stimulant[15][19][20][2][8][16][3][5][6][9]. The active ingredients are called valepotriates, research has confirmed that these have a calming effect on agitated people, but are also a stimulant in cases of fatigue[10]. The roots of 2 year old plants are harvested in the autumn once the leaves have died down and are used fresh or dried[15][20][11]. The fresh root is about 3 times as effective as roots dried at 40° (the report does not specify if this is centigrade or fahrenheit), whilst temperatures above 82° destroy the active principle in the root[12]. Use with caution[8][11], see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Nervine
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried rhizome is used as an incense[15][14]. The root contains 0.8% essential oil[14]. It is used in perfumery and in preparations for the hair[15][18].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Incense

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Afghanistan to S.W. China.
Habitat
Common in forests, shrubberies and on open slopes, 1500 - 3600 metres[17].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed because it requires light for germination[7]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions in the summer if sufficient growth has been made. If the plants are too small to plant out, grow them on in the greenhouse or frame for their first winter and plant them out early in the following summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The overcollection of its roots from the wild is becoming a cause fr conservation concern[14]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

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  3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

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  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

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  6. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

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  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  8. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

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  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  11. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  12. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  14. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  15. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  16. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  17. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

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  18. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  19. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

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  20. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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