Tagara contains significant amounts of phenols and flavonoids
Tagara revealed the presence of essential oils such as hydroxyvalerenic and valerenic acids.
Tagara (Valeriana wallichii of family Valerianaceae), an ayurvedic drug that possesses protective effects
on several aspects of brain and nervous conditions
It is well used in various pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of migraine [10, 11] , insomnia
and anxiety
Tagara or Valerian Wallichi is a hairy perennial herb that has been used widely in traditional
medicines for ages, owing to its incredible medicinal and therapeutic properties. It is a kind of
valerian, known as Indian valerian, that belongs to the Valerianeaceae family and holds an
important place in the Ayurvedic manuscripts. Tagara grows up to 40-45cm in height in
temperate regions of the Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan. The leaves are pinnate bearing
unisexual flowers that are white or slightly pinkish in colour. There are mainly two varieties of
tagara -Nighantus Tagara and Pinda Tagara.
Tagara is known by other vernacular names such as Tagar Ganthoda in Gujarati, Mushkabala in
Kannada, Tagarai in Tamil, Tagaramool in Marathi, and Sugandha Bala in Punjabi.
According to the sage Charka, Tagara has been categorised as sitaprasamana, which eases the cold
sensation of the skin. The root comprises valerianic acid and valepotriates that possess sedative and
tranquillizer activity, which is beneficial for relieving stress, anxiety, fatigue, and nervous disorders. The
incredible sedative nature of valerian root induces a night of sound sleep, treats insomnia, calms the
mind, and regulates blood pressure.
Ayurvedic Properties
Tagara formulations or churna is known to possess tikta (bitter taste), katu (pungent) and kasaya
(astringent) properties. It is well known to pacify Vata and Kapha Dosha.