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Tagar तगर
Valeriana wallichii
Part used: Root
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Valeriana wallichii
- Part used: Root
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Rhizome powder 1–3 g per day, usually in the evening with warm water or milk; decoction 40–60 ml.
Tagar in other languages
Introduction
Tagar (Valeriana wallichii) is Indian valerian, a Himalayan herb whose rhizome carries the heavy, earthy odour characteristic of the genus. It is closely allied in use to Jatamansi and the two are often paired.
Ayurveda uses it as a Nidrajanana and Vedanasthapana drug — one that brings sleep and settles pain — and in disorders of the mind where restlessness and agitation dominate.
Classification
Family Caprifoliaceae (formerly Valerianaceae). The rhizome and roots are officinal. Rasa: Tikta, Katu, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu, Snigdha, Tikshna. Virya: Ushna. Vipaka: Katu. Doshaghnata: pacifies Vata and Kapha.
Uses & benefits
Given in insomnia, restlessness and anxiety, and in Unmada and Apasmara formulations. Its antispasmodic quality also makes it a drug for colic, cramping pain and painful menstruation. Externally the paste is applied for pain and swelling.
Tagar for sleep and restlessness
The classical Nidrajanana indication. It is used where the mind will not settle at night, often with Jatamansi, and is taken in the evening.
Tagar for cramping pain
As a Vedanasthapana drug it is used in colic, griping abdominal pain and painful menstruation, where the pain is spasmodic rather than steady.
Dosage — how much to take
Rhizome powder 1–3 g per day, usually in the evening with warm water or milk; decoction 40–60 ml.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Tagar?
The citations held for Tagar in this catalogue are: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Karpuradi Varga — Tagara).
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Tagar?
Tikta-katu rasa, ushna virya; nidrajanana and vedanasthapana. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga — Tagara.
What is Tagar traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
Given in insomnia, restlessness and anxiety, and in Unmada and Apasmara formulations. Its antispasmodic quality also makes it a drug for colic, cramping pain and painful menstruation. Externally the paste is applied for pain and swelling.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Tagar?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Tagar classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Tagar carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Tagar is used medicinally?
The part used is Root.
How much Tagar is taken, and how?
Rhizome powder 1–3 g per day, usually in the evening with warm water or milk; decoction 40–60 ml. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Tagar be avoided?
Calming — take care when combined with sedatives, sleeping medication or alcohol, and tell your physician what else you are taking. Avoid before driving until you know how it affects you. Not advised in pregnancy. Valeriana species are under collection pressure in the Himalaya; check sourcing.
Where does Tagar grow?
Temperate Himalaya from Kashmir to Bhutan between roughly 1,500 and 3,600 m, in damp shaded ground and along stream banks.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga — Tagara
Tikta-katu rasa, ushna virya; nidrajanana and vedanasthapana. - Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Part I — Tagara
Rhizome of Valeriana wallichii; identity, dose and indications.
Safety & precautions
Calming — take care when combined with sedatives, sleeping medication or alcohol, and tell your physician what else you are taking. Avoid before driving until you know how it affects you. Not advised in pregnancy. Valeriana species are under collection pressure in the Himalaya; check sourcing.
Where it grows
Temperate Himalaya from Kashmir to Bhutan between roughly 1,500 and 3,600 m, in damp shaded ground and along stream banks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tagar the same as Jatamansi?
No, though they are related and often used together. Tagar is Valeriana wallichii; Jatamansi is Nardostachys jatamansi. Tagar is the warmer and more antispasmodic of the two.
Can it be taken with sleeping tablets?
Not without telling your physician. It is a calming drug and its effect can add to that of prescribed sedatives.
