Wild-crafted Jatamansi from Jigme Dorji National Park
Jatamansi is a perennial, herbaceous medicinal and aromatic plant endemic to the Himalayas and grows wild at altitudes between 3500m and 5000m above sea level. The plant has been treasured for centuries in Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine for its calming, neuroprotective benefits—supporting sleep, easing anxiety, and strengthening the heart. In Bhutan, it is also burned as a sacred incense to honor Nagas, guardians of nature. Beyond the Himalayas, Jatamansi was traded for centuries as a rare fragrance and even appears in the Bible as an anointing oil. Today, its essential oil is valued in aromatherapy for grounding and stress relief, and is used in hospice care to bring comfort and peace. Current research is exploring the neuroprotective and healing effects of Jatamansi on the brain.
In many places of its original occurrence, Jatamansi has been overharvested and is therefore listed in Appendix II. of the CITES Convention as critically endangered. Bhutan has treated its resources with great care and a National Resource Assessment conducted in 2022 showed thriving populations in the areas of occurrence. With a nationwide Resource Assessment and the launch of Guidlines for sustainable harvesting and trade, Bhutan's CITES Authorities have laid the foundation for sustainable Jatamansi collection in Bhutan.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Gangriphuensum Ngomen Tshogpa
After researching Jatmansi for two years all over Bhutan, Terra Himalaya has built it's first partnership with the Collector Group Gangriphuensum Ngomen Tshogpa from the Naro District. At approximately 3.500 Meters above sea level, the 70 households of Naro are spread over a vast territory in the unique ecosystems of Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP). The Park is watershed for four major rivers and home to 376 glaciers. It is the only ecosystem in the world where the Royal Bengal Tiger meets the elusive Snow Leopard. Approximately 6000 people of mostly nomadic cultures live in the Park and have traditional collection right for medicinal plants.
