---

Valerian

Valerian is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Valeriana which is found in the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis L.), part of the valerian family, is an antispasmodic, calmative, emmenagogue and nerve tonic. Extracts of the root have been used for medicinal purposes for over a century. Valerian root has been used for thousands of years as a tranquilizer and calmative for several disorders such as restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, hysteria, menstrual problems, and as a sedative for a nervous stomach. Valerian root has marked sedative, anticonvulsive, hypotensive, tranquilizing, neurotropic, and anti-aggressive properties. Valerian is used for nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, headaches, irritability and intestinal cramps. Valerian acts as a sedative when agitation is present as a stimulant when fatigue is present, is antibacterial and liver-protective. Valerian root extract has been recommended for use as a tea or as a poultice for relief of painful rheumatic or swollen joints. It has been used to treat dandruff, coughs, constipation, cholera and flatulence. Valerian oil is the essential oil obtained from the root of Valeriana Officinalis. The folk medicine literature lists the valerian root (fresh or dried) as being useful as an antispasmodic, carminative, stomachic and sedative. It has been used to treat migraine, insomnia, hysteria, fatigue and stomach cramps that cause vomiting. Valerian's primary functional effect is to suppress and regulate the autonomic nervous system. As a result, it has been found effective in treating psychosomatic diseases and childhood behavioral disorders that involve disregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Valerian is commercially available in a number of forms, as the dried root, or dried and powdered root, as a juice as an extract, and as small pills. Aqueous extracts of valerian roots are also available. The most commonly used valerian preparations include aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts, such as tinctures, intended for oral administration.

---