Valerian Root 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Valerian Root – 100 g ($16.99), 50 g ($6.910), 25 g ($7.99)

Benefits:

Valerian is a tranquilizer and calmative useful for disorders such as restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, hysteria, menstrual problems, headaches, and nervous stomach. It has also been used for menstrual states of agitation, menopause, neuralgia, fainting, and colic uterine spasticity, but many of these uses are unproven. Valerian alkaloids have been known to lower blood pressure. The German Commission E has approved valerian for restlessness and sleeping disorders based on nervous conditions.

Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and menopause-related problems. In a large-scale review of human studies on valerian for anxiety, only one seemed to show promise. One of the most common side effects of anxiety and depression is sleep disorders. In one study, people with depression, anxiety, and sleeping issues benefited from a combination of St. John’s wort and valerian. The optimal combination for reducing anxiety and improving sleep was 600 milligrams of St. John’s wort and 1,000 milligrams of valerian, and the effects took about ten days to manifest.

Most large-scale scientific studies have confirmed valerian’s ability to improve the quality of sleep and relieve insomnia, especially the insomnia that sometimes accompanies menopause. These effects occurred without numerous side effects. Dozens of over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids contain valerian. A double-blind study with 128 participants showed that taking a water-based extract of valerian both improved subjective ratings of sleep quality and reduced sleep latency, the time required to fall asleep. Valerian relieved insomnia without causing grogginess or “hangover” the next morning.

A follow-up study found that valerian was as effective in inducing sleep as barbiturates such as pentobarbital and benzodiazepines such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium). These drugs cause morning sleepiness. Valerian, in contrast, reduced morning sleepiness. The difference, apparently, was that valerian appeared to be nonaddictive and its effects seemed to be milder.

Valerian has a much more pronounced effect when used by people with chronic insomnia than when used by people whose sleeping difficulties are temporary. It is especially suitable for older adults who fall asleep relatively easily but have difficulty staying asleep throughout the night. In addition, this herb relieves panic attacks that occur at night. One clinical study found that using valerian together with St. John’s wort was an effective alternative to diazepam (Valium). Some studies in animals have confirmed that valerian does not show overt sedative or tranquilizing effects as compared to diazepam (Valium). Researchers say that a combination of hops and valerian may be as effective as benzodiazepine medications (the group of drugs that includes Valium) for nonchronic and nonpsychiatric sleep disorders.

Valerian has been used safely and effectively in children aged five to fourteen years with sleep difficulties. In one well-controlled trial, where exact measurements of valerian were used daily, children who were intellectually and neurologically deficient (IQ under 70) and their parents slept better and for a longer time period. Do not give valerian to your child without speaking to a pediatrician.

Indigestion. Valerian relaxes the muscles of the digestive tract when under stress. It soothes the digestive system and relieves some types of indigestion, constipation, and stomach cramps, especially when these problems are due to nervous tension.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Naturopathic physicians sometimes prescribe valerian as one of a combination of herbs useful for the treatment of IBS. One of the chemicals produced when valerian is processed, valerenic acid, not only encourages sleep but also reduces muscle spasms. Although valerenic acid makes sleeping easier, as noted above, it does not force sleep by inducing drowsiness.

 

Recommended Use

Valerian is available in the form of valepotriate tablets and as tinctures. The herb can also be made into tea, and it can be used in bathwater. Typical amounts are ½ to 1 teaspoon of the tincture, 2 to 3 grams of the herb, and 100 grams for a bath.

In its natural state, valerian contains a compound known to aid sleep, its essential oil. For this reason, valerian preparations used for insomnia usually state their essential oil content. However, if valerian is combined with herbs such as hops and lemon balm (melissa), a different set of chemicals is responsible for the promotion of sleep. In these compounds, the content of essential oil is not important.

People who use valerian for several months may experience withdrawal symptoms (agitation, headache, insomnia, and racing heart) if they abruptly stop using the herb. Used by itself, valerian is almost always free of side effects, although it can increase side effects of barbiturates and tranquilizers such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), or lorazepam (Ativan).

Do not use valerian if you have liver disease, as there have been reports of liver toxicity. Some people complain of gastrointestinal side effects. Symptoms of overdose may include paralysis, weakening of the heartbeat, giddiness, light-headedness, blurred vision, restlessness, nausea, and, possibly, liver toxicity. Valerian should not be used with prescription medications such as diazepam (Valium) or amitriptyline (Elavil), or with sedative or antidepressant drugs, before consulting with a physician. You should not continue taking valerian if you experience heart palpitations or nervousness after taking it. This herb should not be given to children under the age of fourteen years. It should not be taken with alcohol, nor should it be used by pregnant women or nursing mothers. If you are taking iron, allow one to two hours between taking the iron and the valerian.

Research indicates that valerian does not impair one’s ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, there does appear to be some impairment of attention for a couple of hours after taking valerian. For this reason, it is not a good idea to drive immediately after taking it.

Botanical Name: Valeriana officinalis
English: Valerian, Common Valerian
Ayurvedic: Tagara, Nata, Baalaka
Also, known as: All Heal, Akar Pulepandak, Amantilla, Amantilla, Balderbrackenwurzel, Baldrian, Baldrianwurzel, Cat’s Love, Cat’s Valerian, Fragrant Valerian, Garden Heliotrope, Great Wild Valerian, Ka No-Ko-So, Katzenwurzel, Kesso Root, Kissokon, Kuanyexiccao, Luj, Nard, Ntiv, Racine De Valeriane, St. George’s Herb, Setwall, Setewale, Txham Laaj, Valerian Fragrant, Valerian, Valeriana, Valeriana Extranjera, Valeriana Rhizome, Valeriane, Vandal Root, Valeriana Radix, Waliryana, Wild Valerian, Sugandhabaalaa, Taggar, Belgian Valerian, Capon’s Tail, English Valerian, Garden Heliotrope, German Valerian, Great Wild Valerian, Heliotrope, Indian Valerian, and Vermont Valerian
Origin: Poland
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Root or rhizome

General Information:
Valeriana officinalis is a 1-4 feet tall perennial plant whose underground portion consists of a vertical rhizome bearing numerous rootlets. The rhizome is light grayish brown, about the size of a finger joint, bearing many rootlets. The fresh root has no odor, while the dried root smells distinctly unpleasant, akin to old gym socks, due to isovaleric acid. Strong-smelling roots yield the drug valerian which has been used for many years in herbal medicines for treating many problems. Leaves are odd-pinnate, up to 8″ long, each leaf having 7-10 pairs of toothed, lance-shaped leaflets. The upper leaflet surface is medium to dark green and glabrous, while the lower surface is paler and either glabrous or slightly hairy. Leaves are aromatic when bruised. Individual trumpet-shaped flowers are about 4-7 mm long, consisting of a light pink or white corolla with 5 spreading lobes, a short green calyx with 5 teeth, 3 stamens, and a pistil with a style that is tripartite at its tip.

How to use:
Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water. Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications. All information on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.