Valerian (තවරල)

Valeriana wallichii is a rhizome herb of the genus Valeriana and the family Valerianaceae also called Indian Valerian or Tagar-Ganthoda, not to be confused with ganthoda, the root of Indian long pepper. It is an herb useful in Ayurvedic medicine used as an analeptic, antispasmodic, carminative, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, and nervine.

Flower : Snow-white flowers are borne in flat-topped clusters on top of the stems.

Seeds : Seed-pods are velvety, shorter than the upper bracts.

Ayurvedic usage : Alopecia, Cancer, Chorea, Convulsion, Cramp, Debility, Dysuria, Epilepsy, Escherichia, Snake bite

Height : 0.5-2 ft

Leaves : At the base are heart-shaped or ovate, 2-10 cm x 1.5-8 cm, toothed or wavy-toothed. Stem leaves are stalkless, smaller, uppermost often cut

Related medicinal properties : Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Carminative, CNS Depressant, Emmenogogue, Sedative, Stomachic