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What is it?

Valerian in herbal medicine is the root of a long lived plant that grows up to 1.5 meters tall in moist ground all over Europe right up to the Arctic Circle. Valerian only produces a short root but this in turn sends out plenty of ‘runners’. The roots and runners of Valerian are nearly odourless when fresh but after drying they develop the characteristic smell that tells you exactly what you are dealing with.

How has it been used?

The old name ‘All-heal’ gives you a fair indication of just how much regard this herb was held in from ancient times. In the case of the name Valerian itself, this comes from the same origin of the Latin word for ‘valour’. Valerian was believed to markedly increase a person's strength and courage.

The main use of Valerian in the world in recent times and today is focused on reducing anxiety and improving sleep.

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Personal experiences

If you give Valerian to someone who is tightly wound you can see them palpably ‘uncoil’ after a little while. The effects of such a reversal of tension can be profound on a person's health; improved sleep, better mood, better self-healing.

Valerian also has some mild cleansing properties and people often notice they urinate more than usual or have a period of coughing up some old stuff in their lungs.

The right therapeutic dose of Valerian is the one that palpably works, taking larger amounts may be counterproductive. It is also noticeable that the longer people use Valerian the better they respond to its effects. Valerian combines perfectly with Hops for insomnia, with St Johns wort and Skullcap for moodiness and fatigue and with Cramp bark for physical tension that is impacting the health.

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Excerpt from Felter & Lloyd's Kings Dispensatory from 1898

In properly selected cases Valerian relieves irritability and pain, and favors rest and sleep. In such cases it is frequently useful in hemicrania and other forms of nervous headache. Other cases requiring Valerian are those evidencing enfeebled cerebral circulation; there is despondency and marked mental depression. Its chief value is in chorea, with enfeebled cerebral circulation. Valerian is one of many agents which have been used for the relief of epilepsy and the fluid extract has been found to possess all the medicinal virtues of the root.

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