Valerian Root

Valeriana officinalis, commonly known as valerian, is widely used for helping those with insomnia sleep better. Valerian is also taken for alleviation of mood disorders, anxiety and stress. Women also use it for menstrual cramps and symptoms of menopause. The plant is a perennial that is native in Europe and Asia, and it has become naturalized in the United States. Preparations from roots and rhizomes (which have a peculiar odor) of the plant are sold as a dietary supplement in the United States.

Valerian was ranked as the 11th most used herb in the United States in 2008. IHippocrates reported its medicinal uses and it was also used in ancient Rome. Valerian was prescribed for insomnia and other ailments in the 2nd century by Galen. It was placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the "envy" of the elves in medieval Sweden. In the 16th century, Culpepper reported uses for "nervousness, trembling, headaches, and heart palpitations." Cavaliere, C., Rea, R., Lynch, M., and Blumenthal, M. 2009. Herbal supplement sales experience slight increase in 2008. HerbalGram, 82:58-61. http://medherb.com/Materia_Medica/Valerian_-_Valerian_Trials.htm http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17145239 ntp.niehs.nih.gov/NTP/About_NTP/BSC/2009/.../Valerian_Dec2009.pdf http://wapedia.mobi/en/Valerian_%28herb%29

On this page, you will find information about differences between the available commercial preparations of this herb, traditional uses, the results of clinical trails to determine its effectiveness for treating insomnia, and other ways to find out more about this common herb, such as related links and pages, news and blogs. A featured video talks of valerian and other herbs that help to cure insomnia.

Valerian can be purchased as either a powder, chopped roots, teas, pills or as alcoholic extracts. It is sometimes mixed with other herbs. Because there are several active constituents which differ in their chemical properties, alcoholic extracts of valerian roots can differ significantly in their composition of active ingredients. Differences in doses and preparations have confounded the interpretation of some clinical trials for the effectiveness of valerian for sleep improvement for insomniacs. In that regard, a meta-analysis of nine studies suggests that it is effective and with negligible side effects, but further studies are recommended with standardized doses. However, there appears to be several chemical constituents by which manufacturers currently standardize valerian preparations, including the volatile oil content, sesquiterpenes and valepotriates.http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/valerian.asp Bent, S., Padula, A., Moore, D., Patterson, M., and Mehling, W. 2006. Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med, 119(12):1005-1012. ntp.niehs.nih.gov/NTP/About_NTP/BSC/2009/.../Valerian_Dec2009.pdf http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/valerian.asp

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a doctor before taking any action suggested on this page.