Healing Gardens

Valeriana officinalis

Family: Valerianaceae

Habitat: Native to Eurasia, this is a cultivated perennial that has naturalized widely in Northeastern US. Valerian is a beautiful perennial plant that grows happily in any moist, rich place.

Valerian is a mineral rich tonic that nourishes the nervous system. It has an strang odor resembling dirty wet socks or a sewer in which rats are attracted to. In European folklore it is believed the pied piper owed much sucess to the valerian in his pocket (Pojar). Valerian is well known as superior sleep inducer. 

Actions: sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic, nervine tonic, carminative, anodyne.

Indications: Insomnia, anxiety, muscular spasms, nervous tension, and palpitations. Also hysteria and dizziness from emotional upsets. Menstrual cramps and menopausal syndromes.

Energetics: warm, bitter, sweet, spicy, Relaxes, warms stomach and is resorative to nerves and brain.

Contraindications: continuous use may produce side effects including headaches, excitability, and insomnia. Can become habit forming.

Parts used: roots and rhizomes.

Combinations: combines well with passionflower for insomnia. combines well with crampbark as a pain reliever.

Preparations and Dosages: tincture, infusion, or capsules in frequent dosages of up to every half an hour until relief is felt. As an essential oil, valerian remains profoundly sedative and calming to nervous disorders.