The problem of insomnia is as old as time itself and affects the lives of literally millions of people worldwide. This article considers the time-honored traditional use of herbal remedies and, particularly, considers the use of valerian root.
Insomnia, which has been with us for as long as recorded time, affects the lives of millions of individuals worldwide causing mild irritation to some people and severely affecting the quality of life for a large number of us.
Finding a cure for insomnia and getting back to nights of natural sleep can be difficult but, for many individuals, the answer lies in turning to time-honored traditional herbal remedies like valerian root.
Valerian, a hardy perennial flowering plant with sweet smelling white or pink flowers, can be found in several parts of Asia and Europe and now also grows naturally in areas of north America. Other names commonly used for valerian include: garden valerian, and garden heliotrope (which is not related to Heliotrope - Heliotropum).
Valerian is also referred to by various folk names: Red Valerian, Bloody Butcher, Capon's Trailer, Cat's Valerian, Sets Wale, English Valerian, All-Heal, Phu, Amantilla, St. George's Herb, Set Well, , and Vandal Root.
The chief components used for medicinal purposes are the roots, rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (horizontal stems). Usually harvested in September, the dried roots can be used to prepare teas and tinctures, while the dried plant materials normally find their way into capsules or pills.
There is reference to the use of valerian for medicinal purposes as far back as the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. The 16th century saw it used to treat headaches, trembling, heart palpitations, and nervousness. In the mid-19th century, many people considered valerian a stimulant that stimulated a few of the same complaints it was thought to treat and held it in low esteem. During The Second World War the British used it for the relief of stress during air raids.
Unlike many other herbal sleep aids, to gain the maximum benefit from valerian it needs to be used on a regular basis, with the full effects appearing slowly and steadily over time.
Results will normally appear after about one month and regular use promotes natural sleep and deep relaxation. A number of studies suggest valerian as by far the best natural answer for insomnia and general sleeplessness for many people.
Research at the Nestlé Research Laboratories in Switzerland demonstrated that 450 mg of valerian in an aqueous extract is the optimal dose as an insomnia treatment. A higher dose normally results in grogginess without any increased effectiveness, and therefore care needs to be taken when giving that valerian is a treatment for insomnia.
In addition, a double-blind crossover study of 128 subjects conducted in 1982, found valerian root to not only be effective as a sedative for insomnia, but also to be of assistance in raising the overall quality of sleep in the participants.
Frequently prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian can also play a very useful role in taking care of anxiety-related sleep problems.
Unlike other normally prescribed sleep medicines, valerian is not toxic, doesn't impair your ability to operate heavy machinery or drive and doesn't amplify the effects of alcohol.
It has been documented that valerian can act as a delayed stimulant for some individuals depending on body chemistry. For certain metabolic conditions, the effect is one of at first calming you down only to induce a surge of energy a few hours later - not an effect wanted by people interested in taking valerian as a nighttime sleeping remedy.
Several professional herbalists recommend taking fresh valerian root extract as opposed to an extract of dried valerian, as this is less likely to result in such a reaction.
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