Tagara Plant

तगरं स्यात कषायोष्नं स्निग्धं दोषत्रय प्रणुत l

दृक्शीर्षविषदोषघ्नं भूतापस्मार नाशनम् l l ध .नि

तगरस्याप्यभावे तु कुष्ठ दद्याभ्दिषग्वर : l भा प्र

Botanical Name:Valerianawallichii. D.C

 Classification:

According To Modern

Kingdom –Plantae

Order –Asterales

Family     – Valenanceae

According To Ayurveda

Charak-  Sitaprasamanavarga

Tiktaskanda

Sushruta-   Eladigana

Bhavprakash- Karpuradivarga

Vagabhata-Eladi gana

Dhanvantari Nighantu-Chandanadi Varga

Kaideva Nighantu-Oushadhi varga

Other Names :

Hindi name- Tagar
English name- Indian Valerian
Gujarathi Name- Tagaragantoda
Kannada name- Mushkabala
Marathi Name- Tagaramoola
Punjabi Name- Sugandhabala

Synonyms-

Natam-The plant is short

Kutila,Vakra-The rhizome is twisted

Kalanusari,Barhishta,Barhana,Vakra,Shata,Nahusha,Nrupa

General Information :

Habit – hairy perennial herb. Root stock is thick, horizontal. Stem is 15 to 45 cm high usually tufted. Leaves – basal leaves are often 2.5 to 7.5 cm in diameter, long stalked, deeply cordate-ovate, usually toothed or sinuate, number, much smaller, entire or pinnate. Fruits – Hairy.

Properties (Gunadharma)

Rasa- Tikta, Katu, Kasaya

Vipak- Katu

Virya- Ushna

Guna-Laghu, Snigdha

Types of Plant :

There are types of plant.

Pindatagara

described by Nighantu is more rounded and has less smell.

Specific Parts :

Root

Doshaghnata :

Kapha-Vatashamak.

Shloka’s :

            तगरं कटुकं तिक्तं कटुपाकरसं लघु│

स्निग्धोष्नं तुवरं भुतमदापस्मारनाशनम││

विषचक्षु:शिरोरोगे रक्तदोषामयापहम│ कै .नि.

तगरं स्यात कषायोष्नं स्निग्धं दोषत्रय प्रणुत l

दृक्शीर्षविषदोषघ्नं भूतापस्मार नाशनम् l l ध .नि

तगरस्याप्यभावे तु कुष्ठ दद्याभ्दिषग्वर : l भा प्र

Benefits :

In agnimandya, udarashoola, anaha, yakritshotha, kamala, jalodara and pleehavriddhi being deepana, saraka, shoolaprashamana and yakritottejana. In mootraghta being mootrala; in klaibya and kashtartava being vajeekarana and artavajanana and also in kustha, jvara, vishavikaras and general weakness.

Tagara Other Benefits
Tagara  is used for the treatment, control, prevention, & improvement of the following diseases, coconditions and symptoms:
Sleeping disorder
Mild tremors
Indigestion
Dysuria
Arthralgia
Joint pain
Headache
Wounds
Epilepsy
Tagara  may also be used for purposes not listed here.

Sandhi roga (Diseases of joints)

Root of tagara (Valerianawallichi) is triturated with but. Termilk and given internally will cure various vatajasandhiroga (Joint disorders due to Vata).

Vatavyadhi (Disorders of Vata)

Tagara (Valerianawallichi) is triturated with buttermilk to prepare a paste. Consuming this paste will relieve Vatavyadhi (Disorders of Vata) immediately.

The paste of the root of Tagara is applied over the joints in cases of arthritis to relieve the pain.

The decoction of the bark and root of the plant of Valerianawallichii is given in a dose of 40-50 ml to treat cases indigestion, pain in abdomen and hepatomegaly.

The cold infusion of the root is given as a general tonic regularly for 1-2 weeks in a dose of 30-40 ml in cases of general debility.

The paste of the root of tagara is applied externally over the area affected with skin diseases like discoloration and ring worm.

Cold infusion of root or bark is used in the treatment of fever.

Root paste of Tagara is locally applied over insect bite and scorpion sting.

Root decoction of Tagara is used to treat asthma and cough associated with phlegm.Dose-25-30ml

To treat the Asthma,Tagara is used with Pushkarmool and Kustha in a dose of 100gm twice a day with honey.

Root decoction of Tagara is used to treat paralysis,convulsions and hysteria.Dose-25-30ml

Cold infusion of Tagara root is used to treat pain related to wound and infection.

It is useful in inducing sleep also.

Tagara is also used in the patients with stress and mood disorders as it helps in stress reduction and calms the mood.

It is also used in dysmenorrhoea as it alleviates pain.

Tagar root churna is also prevents gas formation and relaxes muscles,so it alleviates abdominal pain and cramps.

It is given in depression with symptoms of apathy ,lethargy,laziness,drowsiness or other passive symptoms of depression.

Rhizome extract of Tagara had antioxident effects on brain.

To treat Hypochondriasis,(chronic anxiety disoders),Tagara churna with Yashad bhasma is advisiable.

Mix the equal quantity of Tagara churna with Nirgundi,Javitri,Ashwagandha,Yasthimadhu,Godanti Bhasma,Nagarmotha,Shallaki and Shuddha guggul.This prepared churna is taken in a dose of 4gm in patient with knee pain,backache and osteoarthritis.

Fresh Rhizome of Tagara with buttermilk is advisiable in osteoarthriti pain in Rajmartanda.

Tagar Churna with Kushta powder is used in snakebite.4gm of each herb churna should be taken in the interval of 1-2hrs should be recommanded in snake poisoning.

Natadai Tail prepared with using Tagar,Kantakari,Deodaru,Saidhav namak,water(16parts)and sesame oil(1 part) is used for vaginal douche.

Tagar root powder  in a dose of 250mg,thrice a day is advisiable in Post menopausal syndrom.

Formulation (Kalp):

Prasarinitaila,

Pasarinileha.

Devadarvyarishta

Pippalysava

Himasarga taila

Dhanvantaram tailam

Bala tailam

Mahanarayana Tailam

Jatiphaladi churna

Dosage :

Svarasa – 10 to 20 ml.

Quatha – 40 to 80 ml.

Research Corner :

Oxidative stress and inflammation are some of the contributing factors for dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of V. wallichii rhizome extract (VWE) was studied in MPTP induced PD mice. GC-MS analysis of VWE indicated the presence of phytoconstituents like isovaleric acid and acacetin. PD induced mice were treated orally with three differentdoeses (50 ,100, 200mg/kg ody weight (BW) of VWE for 14 days and their behavioural changes were studied on days 0,8, 13 and 21. The levels of striatal dopamine, mid brain tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH*) cell count, TH protein expression, reactive oxygenspecies (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), antioxidants and inflammatory cytokines were analysed.

Side Effects-
It should not be take for long duration of time as it causes hypotension.

High dose of Tagara causes restlessness,agitation and irritation.

High doses of Tagara causes hyperactive delirium.

It is hot in potency hence should not be used in pregnancy.

Over dose ay cause central paralysis and other severe conditions.