666 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



The roots are aromatic and bitter in taste. They are 

 supposed to possess tonic, stimulant, and antispasmodic pro- 

 perties, and are often employed in the treatment of epilepsy, 

 hysteria, and convulsive affections (Watt). Used in palpita- 

 tion of the heart (Thompson, in Watt's Dictionary). 



620. Valeriana officinalis, Linn, h.f.b.l, ill. 

 211. 



Vern. '— Jal-lakri (H.) ; Kala vala (Mar.); Jalajakan, billi- 

 lotan (A j mere). 



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, seg- 

 ments 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 io in., oblong- 

 linear, shorter than the fruits. 



Uses' — The root is officinal, being stimulant and antispas- 

 modic. 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 

 assafoetida. Tn excessive doses, it causes headache, mental ex- 

 citement, 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\ 



621. V. Wallichii, DC. h.f.b.i., hi. 213. 

 Syn. : — V. Jatamansi, Roxb. 55. 



Vern. : — Mush kw&li, bala (Pb). 



Habitat:— Temperate Himalaya, from Kashmir to Bhotan, 

 and Khasia Mountains. 



