Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/745

Rh

Sans. : — Jatamânsi.

Vern. : — Balchar (H} ; Billi-lotan (Dec.) ; Sumbul (Bom.).

Habitat : — Alpine Himalaya, from Kumaon to Sikkim.

An erect perennial herb. Root-stock woody, long, stout, covered with fibres from the petioles of withered leaves. Stem 4-24in., more or less pubescent upwards, often glabrate below subscapose. Radical leaves 6-8 by lin., longitudinally nerved, glabrous or slightly pubescent, narrowed into the petiole ; cauline leaves 1-2 pairs, l-3in. long, sessile, oblong or subovate. Flower-heads usually 1, 3-5 ; bracts ¼in., oblong, usually pubescent. Corolla-tube 1/6in. long, somewhat hairy within, as are the filaments below. Fruit -§-in. long, covered with ascending white hairs, crowned by the ovate, acute,, often dentate calyx-teeth. C. B. Clarke says : — " There are two forms of this plant : a large flowered, with usually glabrous bracts, and a smaller one, with Corolla-tube, scarcely 1/6in. long, and the bracts densely, shortly hairy ; various intermediates occur" (P. 211, Vol 111 H. F Bl).

Uses : — It is prescribed by Hindoo physicians as a nervine tonic and aromatic adjunct, in the preparation of medicinal oils and ghritas (butter) (Dutt).

The author of the Makhzan considers it to be deobstruent and stimulant, diuretic and emmenagogue, and recommends it in various disorders of the digestive and respiratory organs, and as a nervine tonic in hysteria. He also notices the popular opinion that it promotes the growth and blackness of the hair. In doses of 45 grains, it is often employed as an expectorant in coughs and colds (Dymock.)

Ainslie says that in Southern India, the Vytians prepare a fragrant and cooling liniment from this drug, to be applied to the head and used internally as a blood purifier.

According to Sir Win. O'Shaughnessy, it is a perfect representative for Valerian.