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)
• α-Bulnesene
• α-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.