Valerian Root

Species Name: Valeriana officinalis

Also Known As: Valerian, garden valerian, garden heliotrope, vandal root, capon's tail, amantilla, setwall, and all-heal.

Native to Europe and Asia. It is a hardy perennial flowering plant with pink or white flowers that have a sweet scent. In the 16th century Valerian flowers were used to make perfume.

What is valerian root? There are about 150 species of Valerian, but when used for medicinal purposes the root of the Valeriana officinalis plant is what is used.

Valerian root is available as a dried root, in tea, liquid and dried extract or powder form, in capsules and tablets.

Home Remedies Using Valerian Root:

Benefits of Valerian Root:

Valerian root has a long history of being utilized as a medicinal herb. From the times of ancient Greece and Rome it was a treatment for insomnia.

Today valerian root is known to have a sedative effect. It may also contain some antioxidant properties and work as an anixiolytic, or mild tranquilizer.

Valerian root is most often used to treat sleep disorders, but may have some effectiveness in treating gastrointestinal distress or spasms, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and even epileptic seizures.

Valerian is most often used to treat insomnia. As a sedative it can be an effective treatment for anxiety, hysteria, nervous tension, and excitability.

Other uses include the treatment of:

  • Stress
  • Nervousness
  • Headaches
  • Delirium
  • Mild to moderate mood swings
  • Depression
  • Colic
  • Stomach Cramps
  • Menstrual Cramps
  • Migraine treatment
  • Sedation
  • Spasms
  • Stomach and intestinal gas
  • Muscle relaxant

The recommended dosage of valerian root for use as a sleep aid is valerian extract at 400 - 900 mg taken 30 min before bedtime.

For anxiety, valerian extract is 220 mg of extract three times daily. It is recommenced that the daily dosage of valerian extract should not exceed 1800 mg. Valerian root is not recommended for long-term use.

Research on valerian root has shown, "A wealth of clinical studies support the sleep-promoting and central nervous-system relaxing qualities of this popular herb."

Side Effects of Valerian Root:

Common side effects of valerian root can include headache, uneasiness, cardiac disturbances, morning drowsiness, and impaired alertness.

It is important to note that valerian root may have an additive effect when combined with barbiturates like pentobarbital, or with benzodiazepines like alprazolam or triazolam.

Use during pregnancy or by nursing mothers is not recommended.