Contents:
Common Names | Parts Usually Used | Plant(s) & Culture | Where Found | Medicinal Properties | Biochemical Information
Legends, Myths and Stories | Uses | Formulas or Dosages | How Sold | Warning | Resource Links | Bibliography
Scientific Names
- Valeriana officinalis L.
- Valerianaceae
- Valerian family
Common Names
- All-heal
- American English valerian (grown in the US)
- Blessed herb
- Capon’s tail
- English Valerian
- Garden heliotrope
- German valerian
- Great wild valerian
- Heal-all
- Heliotrope
- Setwall
- Tagara (Sanskrit name)
- Vandal root
- Vermont valerian
- Wild valerian
Parts Usually Used
Dried root, rhizome
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Description of Plant(s) and
Culture
Valerian is a tallish plant with clusters of pink or, less commonly, white flowers. A perennial grows to
V. officinalis bears pinkish-lavender or pinkish-white flowers;
Other varieties: Native Americans used
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Where Found
A native of damp woods, roadsides, and riversides. Quebec, Maine to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio to Minnesota. Native of Europe.
Do not confuse valerian with Lady’s Slipper which is often called American valerian, although both herbs are said to produce similar therapeutic action.
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Medicinal Properties
Calmative, antispasmodic, nerve tonic, nervine, sedative, anodyne, and carminative, aromatic, emmenagogue
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Biochemical Information
Active components are called valepotriates. Valerianic, formic and acetic acids, essential oils, resin, starch, a glucoside, and
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Legends, Myths and Stories
Like many botanicals, valerian has a long history. Named the “Valium of the 19th century,” although chemically unrelated to Valium, is recognized worldwide for the relaxing effect it has on the body. Often, in Europe, it is prescribed to treat anxiety. Valerian does not taste very good, but it has few unpleasant side effects and is not addictive; unlike prescription drugs in the United States such as Valium and Xanax. When Valium is taken together with alcohol, the 2 drugs tend to greatly exaggerate each other’s effect on the body. Valium is a synergistic drug in that respect and tends to exaggerate serious side effects as well. For centuries valerian has been the treatment of choice by herbalists when treating panic attacks or nervous tension.
Valerian has a curious effect on some animals. Cats become frisky on smelling it, and an oil prepared from valerian and aniseed is used by gypsies to quell unfriendly dogs. Horses, too, are known to like its scent, as are rats and mice, for whose benefit it was once used as a bait in traps.
The common name of valerian is heal-all, which comes from the Latin word valere, meaning to be well. It is believed valerian is the spikenard referred to in the Bible as a perfume brought from the East.
Valerian has a distinctive, rather unpleasant smell, and was aptly called phu by the Greek physician Galen. In recent years, it has been well researched, with chemicals called valepotriates developing in valerian extracts. These seem to depress the nervous system, and the fresh plant is more sedating.
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Uses
Used for hypochondria, nervous headaches, irritability, mild spasmodic affections, diarrhea, epilepsy, migraine headaches, croup, hysteria, convulsions, vertigo, nervous cough, delirium, neuralgia, muscle cramps, gas pains, stomach cramps, spasms, palpitations, gas, colic, depression, panic attacks, emotional stress, PMS, menstrual cramps, despondency, insomnia.
Research has confirmed that teas, tinctures, and/or extracts of this plant are
A nerve tonic has a relaxing effect and even euphoric effect on the system, although too much of it brings about the opposite result.
A marvelous remedy for fevers. Will often clear a cold overnight. Good for expelling phlegm from throat and chest. Will expel worms when everything else fails. Excellent for shortness of breath and wheezing. Tea can be used as an enema for pinworms and tape worms and externally as a wash for sores, wounds, chronic skin diseases, and pimples.
If taken too often or in excessive doses, however, it can cause headaches, spasmodic movements, or hallucinations.
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Formulas or Dosages
Harvest in the fall. Do not boil the root.
To obtain the maximum benefit take
Drying roots is different from drying leaves. Roots should be dried at a high temperature, such as
Infusion: steep 1 tsp. root in
Cold extract: use 2 tsp. roots with
Tincture: take 20 drops on sugar or in water,
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How Sold
Valerian roots are grown commercially and used in proprietary medicines in Europe. Other valerians are not generally used in herb medicine.
Capsules: take
Extract: mix
Tincture: take
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Warning
Valerian should not be used for more than
Valerian enhances the action of sleep-inducing drugs, so avoid if taking this type of medication.
Do not confuse with the garden plant, red “American” valerian (Centranthus ruber) which has no medicinal properties.
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Resource Links
LiveStrong.com: Is Valerian Root Dangerous to the Liver?
University of Maryland Medical Center: Valerian
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Valerian
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Valerian
Bibliography
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants
Back to Eden
Culpeper’s Complete Herbal & English Physician: Updated With 117 Modern Herbs
Earl Mindell’s Herb Bible
Old Ways Rediscovered
Indian Herbalogy of North America
The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Indian Uses of Native Plants
The Complete Medicinal Herbal
Herbal Gardening, compiled by The Robison York State Herb Garden, Cornell Plantations, Matthaei Botanical Gardens of the University of Michigan, University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley., Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition
The Magic of Herbs
Planetary Herbology
The Herb Book
American Folk Medicine
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements
Webster’s New World Dictionary
An Instant Guide to Medicinal Plants
The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living
A Useful Guide to Herbal Health Care
The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine
The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book)
The Healing Plants
