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Patchouli

Sanskrit name: Patchouli

Identification No: SDACH/HG/241

Botanical Name: Pogostemon cablin

Family Name: Lamiaceae

Vernacular Names

  • Hindi: Patchauli / Jatamansi
  • Malayalam: Patchouli
  • Tamil: Patchai ilai
  • Telugu: Patchouli chettu
  • Kannada: Pacholi gida
  • English: Patchouli
  • Bengali: Patchouli

Habitat & Distribution

  • Native: Philippines and Southeast Asia
  • Cultivated: Extensively in India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala), Indonesia, China, and Malaysia
  • Requires warm, humid climate and well-drained loamy soil.

Morphology (Based on Quality Standards/API/CCRAS)

  • Habit: Perennial herb or shrub, up to 1 m tall
  • Stem: Erect, quadrangular, soft-woody, and branching
  • Leaves: Opposite, ovate-lanceolate, softly hairy, aromatic
  • Flowers: Purple, borne in terminal or axillary spikes
  • Odour: Strong characteristic fragrance due to patchouli oil
  • Roots: Fibrous

Varieties

  • Pogostemon cablin (main cultivated variety)
  • Pogostemon heyneanus (Indian patchouli; different phytochemistry and scent)

Substitute/Adulterant

  • Substitutes: Pogostemon heyneanus (Indian patchouli, less preferred in perfumery)
  • Adulterants: Inferior aromatic herbs or artificially scented plant materials

Phytochemicals

  • Patchoulol (Patchouli alcohol)
  • Ξ±-Bulnesene
  • Ξ±-Guaiene
  • Caryophyllene
  • Seychellene
  • Norpatchoulenol
  • Pogostol
  • Azulenes

Raspanchaka

  • Rasa: Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
  • Guna: Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)
  • Virya: Ushna (hot)
  • Vipaka: Katu
  • Prabhava: Sugandhikaraka, Manovardhaka
  • Dosha Shamakta: Kapha-Vata shamak

Karma (Rogaghnata)

  • Sugandhikara
  • Krimighna
  • Shothahara
  • Tvachya
  • Triptikara
  • Manas rogahara

Amayika Prayoga / Therapeutic Uses

External

  • Uses:
    • Skin inflammation, fungal infections, eczema
    • Aromatherapy for stress relief
    • Hair tonics for dandruff
    • Deodorants and perfumery
  • Application Forms:
    • Essential oil (diluted)
    • Creams, balms, shampoos

Internal (with caution and appropriate formulation)

  • Uses:
    • Digestive stimulant
    • Carminative in small doses
    • Adaptogen for stress and anxiety
  • Caution: Essential oil not recommended orally without supervision

Part Used

  • Leaves (dried or fresh)
  • Essential oil extracted from leaves

Dose

  • Powdered leaves: 1–2 grams
  • Essential oil (external): 2–5% dilution in carrier oil
  • In formulations: As per proprietary Ayurvedic formulations

Yoga / Formulations

  • Used in Sugandhit taila, massage oils
  • Found in some modern proprietary cosmeceuticals and Ayurvedic aromatic preparations
  • Incorporated into stress-relief and insomnia oils

IUCN Status

  • Not Evaluated (NE) under IUCN Red List

Research Updates (Last 5 Years)

  1. Antidepressant Effects:
    • 2021, Journal of Ethnopharmacology: Patchouli oil showed significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in animal models.
  2. Antimicrobial Potential:
    • 2020, Phytomedicine: Patchoulol demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus.
  3. Anti-inflammatory Action:
    • 2022, Journal of Essential Oil Research: Topical application of patchouli oil reduced inflammatory markers in dermatitis models.
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