Spikenard also called nard and muskroot, is a flowering plant used in the manufacture of an intensely aromatic amber-colored essential oil. The oil has, since ancient times, been used as a perfume, as a medicine and in religious contexts, particularly in connection with historical Judaism.

The Bible contains several references to the spikenard, and it is used in Catholic iconography to represent Saint Joseph. With this meaning, Pop Francis has included the spikenard in his coat of arms.

The oil was known in ancient times and was part of the Ayurvedic herbal tradition of India. It was obtained as a luxury in ancient Egypt, the Near East. In Rome, it was the main ingredient of the perfume nardinum, derived from the Hebrew, which was part of the Ketoret used when referring to the consecrated incense described in the Hebrew Bible and Talmud.

Spikenard has a woody fragrance which is astonishingly herbaceous and aromatic, warm and sensual. This fragrance is also a combination of sweet, resinous, spicy, and animal-fat odors. With Jatamansi, the essential oil is like an organic earthy scent.

Spikenard Essential Oil can be attributed to its properties as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, deodorant, laxative, sedative and uterine substance.

The traditional use of this plant was for the skin and female reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovaries. Due to its earthy and somewhat wet, soil-like smell, which resembles the smell of moss, it is also used in aromatherapy as a sedative and calming agent.

This plant is very famous on the Indian Subcontinent by the name of Jatamansi and is widely used in herbal medicines. Several herbal, medicinal preparations based on this plant can be found on the market, particularly in India and a few of its neighboring countries. This plant is native to Nepal and is called Nardostachys Jatamansi in botanical terminology.

The oil was known in ancient times and was part of the Ayurvedic herbal tradition of India. It was the main ingredient of the perfume nardinum. Nard was used to perfume the body of Patroklos by Achilles in Book 18 of Homer's Iliad. Natural History lists twelve species of "nard", identifiable with varying assurance, in a range from lavender stonechats and tuberous valerian to true nard (in modern terms Nardostachys Jatamansi).

Benefit & Uses:

Spikenard has been utilized since ancient times as a medicine for curing heart diseases, mental retardation, urine-related problems, insomnia etc. Famed Ayurvedic-healer Charaka and "Father of Surgery" Sushruta incorporated Jatamansi in many medicinal oils, which are prescribed for edema, hemorrhoids, arthritis, gout, fractures, and obstinate skin diseases, mostly for external application.

It can be used to treat allergies, fever, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and the pain of angina, as well as aiding in the regeneration of cells, the healing of wounds, the circulation of blood and lymph, and the secretion of hormones and enzymes. In aromatherapy, this oil is employed for inducing mental peace, harmony, and truthfulness.

This oil is used as depurative for the uterus and the ovaries. It stimulates the uterus and ovaries and the secretion of hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which help to maintain the proper health and reproductive capabilities of these organs.

Essential oil of Spikenard is a well known sedative and helps maintain physical, mental and psychological balance. It sedates inflammations in the digestive and nervous system, irritations, nervous afflictions, convulsions, depression, stress and feelings like anxiety, anger, and panic. It also sedates cardiac problems such as abnormal palpitations and restlessness. This is sedating and relaxing effects also helps patients of insomnia to get healthy sleep.

It helps to cure ailments caused by fungal infections on the skin and inside the body, including food poisoning by fungus, dermatitis, patches on skin, itching, deformation in the skin, and psoriasis.

Spikenard oil can be effective for tension, stress, migraine, nervous indigestion and insomnia. It seems to have rejuvenating qualities especially for the mature skin, and can help with allergies, skin inflammations and rashes.