Botanical Name:- Valeriana wallichii DC.
Family:- Valerianaceae
Hindi:- तगर, सुगन्धबाला, मुश्वबाला
In the normal part of the Himalaya mountains from Kashmir to Bhutan, they are found at an altitude of 1 to 4 thousand meters and in the Khasia mountains, they are found in abundance at an altitude of 1 to 2 meters.
Earlier there was a difference of opinion about what is tagar. Some people considered the root of a small white flowered tree Tabernae montana coronaria R. Br., Hindi-Chandni, to be tagar. At some places, a heavy wood like sandalwood of dark colour is sold. In Bengal, some grass growing in water and in Punjab, some yellow wood etc. were used. But now it has been proved beyond doubt that the root of the above mentioned Valeriana wallichii is tagar. In the market, it is sold by the name of ‘Sugandhabala’ and Vaidya have been using it in place of ‘Baalakam or Hribar’. In reality, it is not Sugandhabala. The substance sold in the market by the name of ‘Tagar’ is some odorless wood which is made fragrant by keeping it with some fragrant substance.
Indian Tagar is considered to be the best representative in place of the foreign Valeriana, Valeriana offcinalis Linn., used in western medicine. Although Indian Tagar is found in sufficient quantity here, yet the commercial Tagar is mostly exported from Afghanistan. In India, foreign Tagar (V. officinalis) is found in very small quantity at Sonmarg in the north of Kashmir at an altitude of 2 to 3 thousand meters. Its other subspecies V. hardwickii Wall. is also found along with V. wallichii. People sell this Tagar in the market by the name of Sugandhabala and Asarun. In the Unani dravyagun vigyan written by Shri Thakur Daljit Singh, the general name of Asarun is written as Asarum europaeum Linn.; Fam. Aristolochiaceae. The description of its form also seems to be the same (A. europaeum) but the properties mentioned are similar to those of Tagar ( Valeriana). He has considered it as a substitute Indian variety which has been named ‘Tuggur’. Dr. Desai has described Tagar (Valeriana Wallichii) and Asarun (A. europaeum) separately and has also written different properties of both. Dr. Desai has written Asarun as emetic, laxative, diaphoretic, cough-reducing anti-inflammatory which are different from Tagar. In its introduction it is written that the root of Asarun has a smell like pepper and a bitter taste and smelling the powder of its panchang causes sneezing. Tagar has a bitter taste and a different kind of smell. Dr. Chopra also agrees with Dr. Desai. Dr. Desai has clearly written that there is another plant which looks similar to Asarun but is different in properties and is called Tuggur and people use it in place of Asarun.
From this point of view the substance sold in the market by the name of Sugandhwala is the real Tagar (Valeriana) and it is not right to name it Asarun or use it in place of Asarun. Asarun is a different substance. Similarly Sugandhwala is also a different substance. The black colored wood powder etc. sold in the market by the name of Tagar should also not be considered as Tagar. Prof. Acharya P.V. Sharma considers this to be Sugandhabala.
It is an anti-flatulent, anti-inflammatory, stimulant for blood circulation, analgesic, narcotic, carminative, central nervous system depressant, local analgesic, and wound healer. Like other aromatic oils, when given in small quantities, it produces a feeling of heat in the upper abdomen, increases the pulse rate, and causes mild mental excitement. It also causes deafness in the sympathetic nerves. When administered in large quantities, it may cause dizziness, hiccups, vomiting, and depression of the heart.
It is widely used in hypochondriasis, restlessness, and similar mental disorders. Yashadbhasma is often administered with it. This effect is probably due to its unpleasant taste and strong odor. It is also sometimes used in cases of paralysis.
When the heart and body are weakened due to chronic fever and the tridosha is aggravated, its administration strengthens the heart and helps the patient regain consciousness by alleviating delirium, weakness, and related conditions. In cases of unconsciousness and heart palpitations, its oil is prescribed in doses of 2–5 drops, mixed with gum and cinnamon powder.
Its powder is used to reduce joint pain and swelling, Tamakashwas, chronic ligament pain, painful ulcers, wounds, fractures, and acute rheumatism.
In diabetes and polyuria caused by disorders of the Vata Nadi sansthan, opium is used in small quantities along with it.
In intermittent fever, Manahshila, Yashadbhasma, Tagar, Bhang, or Opium are given in the form of tablets with betel juice, which reduces the mental and physical fatigue caused by fever. In cold fever, when there is no relief and symptoms are limited to headache or abdominal pain, Tagar and Yashadbhasma are prescribed.