Spikenard, also called nard, nardin, and muskroot, is a class of aromatic amber-colored essential oil derived from Nardostachys jatamansi, a flowering plant in the honeysuckle family which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. The oil has been used over centuries as a perfume, a traditional medicine, or in religious ceremonies across a wide territory from India to Europe.[1][2][3] Historically, the name nard has also referred to essential oils derived from other species including the closely related valerian genus, as well as Spanish lavender; these cheaper, more common plants have been used in perfume-making, and sometimes to adulterate true spikenard.
- ^ Pathak, Shilpi; Godela, Ramreddy (January 2024). "Nardostachys jatamansi: Phytochemistry, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological activities: A comprehensive review". Fitoterapia. 172 105764. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105764. PMID 38042505. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Wang, Miao; Yang, Tian-Tain; Rao, Yao; Wang, Zhi-Mei; Dong, Xueqi; Zhang, Li-Hua; Han, Lifeng; Zhang, Yi; Wang, Tao; Zhu, Yan; Gao, Xiu-Mei; Li, Tian-Xiang; Xu, Yan-Tong; Wu, Hong-Hua (November 2021). "A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and the analytical methods of the genus Nardostachys". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 280 114446. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2021.114446. PMID 34339792. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ Dafni, Amots; Böck, Barbara (November 2019). "Medicinal plants of the Bible—revisited". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 15 (1) 57: 57. doi:10.1186/s13002-019-0338-8. PMC 6882220. PMID 31775790.