Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/746

666 The roots are aromatic and bitter in taste. They are supposed to possess tonic, stimulant, and antispasmodic properties, and are often employed in the treatment of epilepsy, hysteria, and convulsive affections (Watt). Used in palpitation of the heart (Thompson, in Watt's Dictionary).

Vern. '— Jal-lakri (H.) ; Kálá vála (Mar.); Jalajakan, billi-lotan (Ajmere).

Habitat : — North Kashmir ; Sonaming ; Kunzlwan.

Perennial herbs, subglabrous. Rootstock short, suberect, hardly thicker than the stem, stoloniferous. Stem 1-3 ft., erect, corymbose above, nodes minutely hairy. Leaves pinnate, segments numerous, narrow, entire or toothed. Radical leaves at flowering time or pinnate. The leaves on lateral offsets in autumn near the root are often ovate, entire or slightly toothed. Cauline leaves several, all pinnate. Upper bracts 1/10 in., oblong-linear, shorter than the fruits.

Uses — The root is officinal, being stimulant and antispasmodic. It is useful as an antispasmodic in hysteria, epilepsy, chorea and allied affections. As a stimulant, it is used in the advanced stages of fevers, low asthenic inflammations, &c. (Pharm. Ind.) As an antispasmodic, it is much inferior to assafœtida. Tn excessive doses, it causes headache, mental excitement, indicating a deranged state of the nervous system. In intermittents, it has been useful when combined with cinchona bark or other tonics. Baths of Valerian have been found very useful in acute rheumatism. The volatile oil of Valerian is also a good form of administration (Bentley & Trimen

Syn. : — V. Jatamansi, Roxb. 55.

Vern. : — Mush kwáli, bala (Pb).

Habitat:— Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Bhotan, and Khasia Mountains.