Overview
Night Jasmine is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for back pain. Parijata (Night Jasmine) is a small tree (8-10 feet) with fragrant white flowers with orange tubes that bloom at night and fall in the morning. The orange tubes of the flowers yield a natural dye. The leaves are rough textured. It is an important antipyretic herb - the leaf decoction is widely used for malarial and other fevers. It is described as having remarkable febrifuge properties. The tree flowers profusely, carpeting the ground with fallen flowers each morning. It is one of the most popular medicinal trees in Indian gardens. The leaves decoction is given in sciatica (gridhrasi). Note: Erythrina indica was called Parijata by some scholars. Chunekar clarifies this is the true Parijata. Verse: 9-10.
How Night Jasmine Helps with Back Pain
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Night Jasmine has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing back pain:
- Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Katu (pungent)
- Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)
Other Herbs for Back Pain
See all herbs for back pain on the Back Pain page.
▶ Classical Text References (1 sources)
For Vata-type abscess (Vidradhi): a paste of Shigru (Moringa oleifera), Shephali (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, night jasmine), Eranda (castor, Ricinus communis), Yava (barley, Hordeum vulgare), Godhuma (wheat, Triticum aestivum), and Mudraka (rice), applied warm (Sukhoshna) and thick (Bahula).
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
This warm, thick poultice for Vata abscess uses grain flours (barley, wheat, rice) as the bulk base to retain heat, combined with anti-inflammatory Moringa and Vata-pacifying castor and night jasmine.
— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Source: Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.