Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)


Updated 27 January 2024

Botanical characteristics

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Division: Magnoliophyta 
  • Class: Magnoliopsida 
  • Order: Dipsacales 
  • Family: Valerianaceae
  • Part used: Root / Rhizome
  • Country of origin: Nepal

Precautions for use

Caution! Spikenard essential oil is a rare oil that can only be used by adults and adolescents.

It is non-toxic but has estrogen-like properties.

Other precautions

Warning:

  • People with epilepsy and asthma should seek medical advice before using Spikenard essential oil.
  • Spikenard essential oil is not recommended for prolonged use.

Cutaneous use:

  • Before applying essential oil to the skin, dilute it in vegetable oil (20% essential oil to 80% vegetable oil).

Diffusion: 

  • Dilute Spikenard essential oil between 5 and 10% in other essential oils for atmospheric diffusion.
  • Pregnant women and babies over three months old can enjoy atmospheric diffusion without risk.

Allergenic components:

Spikenard essential oil contains several biochemical allergenic components:

  • Eugenol (≤ 0.5%)
  • Limonene (≤ 1%)
  • Linalool (≤ 1%)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

 Adults and adolescents

Children under 6 years

 Pregnant and breastfeeding women

 Pregnant women younger than 3 months

 Infants under 3 years old

How to use

 Inhalation

 Cutaneous

 Oral

Diffusion

Risks of use

 Oestrogen-like

Properties

  • Central nervous system depressant 
  • Respiratory and cardiac 
  • Circulatory 
  • Anti-inflammatory 
  • Antibacterial

Indications

Directions for use/usual dosage

  • Externally and locally, as an olfacto.
  • Friction on the cardiac/solar/sacral plexus to calm breathing and heart rate. 
  • Massage synergy for venous disorders.
  • As a hair growth synergy.
  • As an unction to help sleep and let go.

Find out more

The plant is becoming rarer, it is now protected and its essential oil is becoming harder to find and more expensive. However, it is difficult to replace and its Chinese counterpart is not as interesting. Indian spikenard has a very strong odour, which can bother some people.