Valerian Root: Its Uses, History, and Other Information

Uses

Valerian root can be used in pill, extract, tea, or bath form. In Germany, there is even valerian juice. People have used valerian to help reduce symptoms related to arthritis, muscle spasms, indigestion, anxiety, and insomnia.


There are a few cautions to consider. About ten percent of the population will experience a negative or neutral effect from valerian. Negative effects include heart palpitations, sleeplessness, and nervousness. The very things you are trying to avoid. It is also a bad idea to take valerian daily for more than a three week period. Keep in mind, valerian is a sedative, too much of it can leave you chronically lethargic.


Manufactures of valerian root in capsule form often use different ''¹..."fillers'. Therefore if one brand of pills won't work for you, sometimes another brand will. Valerian root is often combined with hop for a stronger working sedative. Hop helps to counteract the occasional stimulate effect valerian root can have (that ten percent negative effect described above).

Plant and Growth Info

Valerian is a flower that grows up to four feet tall. It's a perennial (meaning it lives longer than two years) with flowers that are white and pink. The root of the plant is what has medicinal properties. The roots act as a mild sedative to humans. Thus, they can be used for a myriad of reasons including help with cramping, arthritis pain, and anxiety.

The roots are harvested in fall after the green part of the plant has withered for the year. If growing this yourself you would need to dig to get the whole root up at once. You would then scrub the root in water being careful not to wash away the nutrients held close to the skin of the root. Roots are easiest to cut when wet. Sometimes you can replant part of the root so as to regrow the flower.

History

Valerian root was used in World War 1 to help control anxiety among men in the trenches. It was also given to civilians during air raids.


Long ago, valerian root was used "cure" people of demons. Sometimes there would be a positive effect on people with epilepsy (which in old times was thought as a form of demon possession). Not to mention its calming effects in disturbed people would be easy to misinterpret.

Trivia

While the smell of the root is quite fierce to most people, cats and rats love it. It can therefore be used as rat bait. It's thought that if there were a pied piper (a person with "power" over rats) then valerian root may well have been involved.


The smell is a result of the process used for drying, fresh valerian root is not nearly so strong. Thus if you can use a fresh valerian root to create a tincture, the taste is better.


A tradition out of Louisiana is to leave valerian root inside a pillow and inhale its scent as you sleep.

Combinations

Valerian root is often seen mixed with passion fruit or hop. When combined with hop it becomes more effective at treating insomnia. Hop is a plant (Humulus lupulus) native in Europe that acts as a sedative and antispasmodic. In Mexico hop tea is used to help with rheumatism.


There is a gypsy wine made with valerian. It is made combining valerian root with clove, orange rind, rosemary and white wine. The mixture is left to sit for a month and then strained.

A Thought:

Remember, just because something is natural doesn't automatically make it good for you. Arsenic is natural too. So is snake venom.

Sources and Other Reading:

Bergner, Paul and Ph.D Hufford, David J. Folk Remedies: Healing Wisdom. consultant Ph.D. Ara Der Marderosian, Publications International, Ltd. Lincolnwood, IL 1998.


De La Tour, Shatoiya, Earth Mother: Herbal Remedies, Recipes, Lotions, and Potions from Mother Nature's Healing Plants. Fair Winds Press, Gloucester, Massachusetts 2002.


Buchman, Dian Dincin, Herbal Medicine: The Natural Way to get Well and Stay Well. Wing Books, Avenel, NJ 1996.