Vetiver
Latin Name: Chrysopogon zizanioides
Common Names: Vetiver, Khus, Vetivert, Ruh Khus, Miracle grass, Sunshine Cuscus Grass
Family: Poaceae
Habitat: Vetiver is native to India but is widely cultivated in tropical regions worldwide, including Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, Africa, and South America. It thrives in hot, humid climates and is drought tolerant once established. Vetiver grows in well-drained, loamy to clay soils, often on slopes to prevent erosion due to its dense root system.
Vetiver is a tufted bunchgrass and can grow 1.5 to 2 meters tall with long, narrow leaves that have sharp edges. Leaves are very aromatic when crushed. The flowers emerge as a panicle up to 15-30 cm long, but it rarely produces viable seeds. They have very deep, fibrous roots that can go down 3-4 meters into the soil, even in the first year of growth! The roots are also aromatic and tend to grow straight down instead of laterally. Roots are generally harvested after 12-24 months, which is when the essential oil content is the highest.
Parts Used: roots (medicinal uses), leaves and stems (alternative uses)
History/Tradition: Vetiver has been used for over a thousand years in Ayurvedic and traditional Southeast Asian medicine. In Ayurveda, it is known as Usheera and traditionally used to cool the body, treat fevers, and support the nervous system. In ancient India and Sri Lanka, vetiver roots were woven into mats and curtains to cool and scent rooms. It was also historically burned as incense and used in perfumery, particularly in India and the Middle East.
Energetics: cooling, drying, bitter, sweet
Indications: Most traditionally used for heat-related conditions like fevers, inflammation, and heat stroke.
Systems: nervous, integumentary, digestive, circulatory
Actions: nervine, diaphoretic, carminative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, antifungal
Cautions: generally considered safe, but rare allergic reactions from the essential oil have been reported
Constituents: essential oils (khusimol, vetiselinenol, vetivone, terpenes, sesquiterpenes), tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids
Culinary Use: In India and Southeast Asia, vetiver root is infused in beverages for its cooling and aromatic properties, especially during the hot summers. It can also be used to flavor syrups, sherbets and desserts.
Other Uses: Vetiver has many uses, not only for its interesting scent that some describe as earthy, woody and smoky. Vetiver essential oil is often an ingredient in cosmetic products like soap, deodorant, lotion, and shampoo. One of its main uses is to prevent soil erosion as their dense root system can rehabilitate degraded lands. It also has shown great potential to be used for bioremediation of poor and contaminated soils. The roots have also been woven into mats, fans, and curtains used to cool the air. The essential oil is also used as a natural insect and pest repellent.
References:
https://www.iaras.org/iaras/filedownloads/ijes/2017/008-0023(2017).pdf
https://www.plantsjournal.com/vol1Issue1/Issue_may_2013/6.pdf
Here is an entire podcast devoted to the many uses of this amazing plant!
Written by Jaime Pawelek
