Quick Facts

Botanical Name: Cyperus scariosus
Family Name: Cyperaceae
Common Names: Nagarmotha (Hindi name) bhadramusta, Nagarmustka (Sanskrit names) umbrella sedge (English name)
Part Used: Roots
Specific Gravity: The oil contains alkaloids, minerals with calcium, carbonates and sodium.
Blends Well With: carrier oils

Uses: It is used as a medicine in digestive problems and diarrhoea. Fragrance, fixative in costly perfumes.

It helps to cure insufficient periods, mucus and scabies (a disease caused by mites). This commonly is mixed with some other oils or swallowed in diluted form to avoid its side effects. It is costliest oil and helps to reduce blood glucose level in mice. It is considered anti-inflammatory too.

Countries where it's found

Cypriol has been grown on a large scale in MP (India). It smells earth-like and wood-like and it is used as expensive ingredient in many perfumes in India itself.

Harvesting information

The Cyper plant is grown in India and is a shrub which grows till two and a half feet long and its stem is sleek and slender with lustrous green colour. Its flowers have a length of 2 to 8 inches. It is a weed so in most of the countries people consider it as a pest. This stem has a unique aroma and white from innermost part.

Nagarmotha is a minor produce of the forests in Chhattisgarh and significantly earns revenue for the state. Because of its threat of extinction, facts are being gathered for cultivating and growing it on larger scale. This research was conducted at Kajool Nadi, Dhamrati district, Chhattisgarh to know the present status and future prospects of expanding this.

History of the Plant

This seems that it is popular for so many years as its Sanskrit name (bhadramusta, Nagarmustka) indicates that it was popular in those days too when the Sanskrit language was spoken. It is believed that it is essentially used from the Vedic era in India, as Sanskrit is assumed to be the oldest language in the world. It grows wild so it's cultivation is not much needed and it grows automatically.

Extraction Process

The oil is extracted from the roots of the plant via the steam distillation process. Via this process there is a yield of 0.075 to 0.080% cyperine which is its essential constituent. This oil is unique because it has colour changing ability and it also changes its fragrance. While its colour changes from dark brown to transparent green, its fragrance changes from earthen to woody. It cannot be used isolated because it is too strong, so it is mingled with some other carrier oil to lessen its effect otherwise it can cause irritation to the skin.

Commonly known Benefits

€¢    It fights to eradicate worms of intestine and works as a healthy tonic as well as helping to cure an upset stomach.

€¢    Many skin disorders, fever, uric acid related problems can be treated by cyproil.

€¢    Its medicinal qualities help in treating gout, rheumatoid and fibromyalgia

€¢    Painful menstruation can be reduced by the intake of this oil.

€¢    By using this oil with some carrier oil, it can be a good medicine for itching and irritation.
This oil is prohibited for women who are pregnant because of its strong impact; they can have miscarriage problems after swallowing it.