Tagara (Indian valerian)
Valeriana wallichii · तगर
Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda.
Also called Indian valerian, Tagar, Wallich's valerian
Sanskrit: तगर (Tagara)
Sedating; avoid with sedativesTagara, or Indian valerian, is a Himalayan root used in Ayurveda for sleep and nerves, and it is related to the valerian sold in Europe.
Did you know? Valerian root, a close relative of tagara, has a strong earthy smell that many people compare to dirty socks.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Sleep. Traditional sleep herb. Human data for this species are very limited, and European valerian has mixed trial results.Traditional proof
- Stress & anxiety. Used for nerves and anxiety in tradition. Few human studies have tested it.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Ayurveda uses tagara for sleep, nerves and calm, and it appears in several classic calming formulas.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Sedative, Nervine, Antispasmodic. Energy: cooling.
- Ayurveda
- Calms Vata and Pitta. Taste (rasa): bitter, pungent. Energy (virya): cooling. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Nidrajanana (sleep-inducing), Medhya (brain tonic).
How people take it
Traditional doses are about 1 to 3 grams of root powder, usually at bedtime. Good modern dosing studies for this species are lacking.
Powder, tea and tincture.
Where to get it
Grows in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, India and nearby mountains. Sold as dried root, powder, tincture and in calming blends, and adulteration with other roots is possible.
Be careful
Can cause drowsiness, dizziness or stomach upset, so do not drive until you know how it affects you. Rare liver injury has been reported with European valerian, so people with liver disease should avoid this herb. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; liver disease; children under 12.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are traditional Ayurvedic herbs for sleep and the nerves.
- Works well together
Often grouped with brahmi in Ayurvedic calm and memory blends.
- Use cautionSleep or anxiety medicine (Ambien, Xanax, Ativan)
Adds to the effect of sleep medicines and sedatives, and can cause dangerous drowsiness.
- Use cautionAlcohol (beer, wine, spirits)
Alcohol plus calming herbs can add to drowsiness and slow reactions.
Adds up with others that can make you drowsy: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 14 more.
The honest take
Tagara's sleep and nerve claims come from tradition, and its own human research is very limited. Its European cousin, valerian, has mixed trial results for sleep. Keep use short, and do not mix it with sleep medicines or alcohol.