Double Nn Valerian Root –Valeriana offficinalis
| No. | Title | Description |
| 1 | Nomenclature | Valeriana officinalis L. Family name: Valerianaceae
Common name: All Heal, Amantilla, Capon’s tail, cat’s love, common valerian, English valerian, fragrant valerian, garden heliotrope, German valerian, great wild valerian, heliotrope, Indian valerian, setewale, setwall, valerian, valeriana, valeriana radix, vandal root, Vermont valerian, wild valerian (Sharma et al., 2010; Therapeutic Research Center, n.d.) |
| 2 | Part(s) used | Root (Therapeutic Research Center, n.d.) |
| 3 | Taste/odor | Taste: Bitter (Sharma et al., 2010) Odor: fresh root has no odor, dried root has a pungent smell similar to old gym socks (Valeriana officinalis, 2004; Sharma et al., 2010) |
| 4 | Energetics | Warm, moving aromatic energy, slightly drying (Irvine, n.d.) |
| 5 | Actions | Nervine, nervous system depressant, sedative, gastrointestinal spasmolytic, gastrointestinal carminative (Valeriana officinalis, 2004) |
| 6 | Traditional uses | Valerian is native to Europe and Asia, though it also grows in North America after being brought from gardens in Europe (U.S. Department, 2020). During the times of the Greeks and Romans, it was used to relieve insomnia, migraines, fatigue and stomach aches. It was also employed as a sedative and hypnotic in western Europe. Traditional Chinese medicine applied Valerian to heal headaches, numbness, colds, menstrual difficulties, and bruises (Isetts, 2007). In addition, Valerian was employed in Traditional Ayurvedic and African medicine for their healing practices. The Japanese used the herb as a sedative, spasmolytic, and antidepressant (Sharma et al., 2010). Furthermore, in the 18th century, Valerian was a known treatment for nervous disorders that caused a “restless” digestive tract and administered as a sedative. Lastly, during WWI Valerian was given to help keep civilians relax amid air raids and to care for shell shocked frontline troops. |
| 7 | Phytotherapy indications, uses | Anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, anxiolytic for restlessness, sleeping disorders, migraine, headache, fatigue, seizures, numbness caused by rheumatic conditions, colds, menstrual difficulties, bruises, depression, stress, menopausal symptoms, urinary tract infections, stress, and aches (Isetts, 2007; Valeriana officinalis, 2004; Sharma et al., 2010) |
| 8. | Preparations and doses | Tincture: 100% alcohol, fresh root, 1:1.5 or 1:2, 1-3 mL up to 3x a day (Green, 2002) Hot Infusion: boiling water, ground dried root or rhizome, 1:20 or 2-5g to 237mL 3x a day (Green, 2002) |
| 9. | Scientific section | Valerian extracts were shown to help substantially promote better sleep and sleep latency during a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Sharma et al., 2010). In this trial, 400 mg aqueous extract of valerian and a placebo consisting of valerian or hops preparation that was encapsulated brown sugar was administered to 128 volunteers to measure the effects of one dose compounded randomly on awakening, night awakenings, and dream recall.
In another Valerian study, the goal was to deduce whether the herb influenced hot flashes in menopausal women (Mirabi & Mojab, 2013). Valerian was found to reduce the frequency of the flashes after 4-8 weeks of treatment. In this double-blind study women were given 255mg of Valerian capsules 3 times every day for 8 weeks. There was also a placebo group who received starch capsules. There was no difference in the placebo group, however, in the drug group Valerian illustrated promising data for possibly being a treatment option for women who do not want to receive therapy or medicine to aid their hot flashes. |
| 10 | Safety issues | For short term oral usage, Valerian is found to likely be safe (Therapeutic Research Center, n.d.). In daily doses of 300-600 mg, Valerian is safe for up to 6 weeks. However, there is not enough information to ensure its safety beyond 6 weeks. Side effects of the oral application for the herb include dizziness, drowsiness, mental slowness, headaches, gastrointestinal upset, and vivid dreams. There are withdrawal side effects if the herb has been used chronically and stop suddenly such as tachycardia, anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. It is possibly safe for children under the age of 12 in 160-320 mg doses for 4-8 weeks. Lastly, it is advised to be avoided by those pregnant or breastfeeding because of insufficient information. |
References
Green, J. (2002). Tincturing By Maceration. In The Herbal Medicine-Makers’ Handbook: A Home Manual (pp. 156). essay, Crossing Press
Green, J. (2002). Infusion. In The Herbal Medicine-Makers’ Handbook: A Home Manual (pp. 110). essay, Crossing Press
Irvine, H. (n.d.). Valerian. HerbRally. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/valerian
Isetts, B. J. (2007). Valerian. Herbal Products: Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, 55-70.
Mirabi, P., & Mojab, F. (2013). The Effects of Valerian Root on Hot Flashes In Menopausal Women. Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research : IJPR, 12(1), 217–222.
Monograph. Valeriana officinalis. (2004). Alternative Medicine Review : A Journal of Clinical Therapeutic, 9(4), 438–441.
Sharma, M., Jain, U. K., Patel, A., & Gupta, N. (2010). A Comprehensive Pharmacognostic Report on Valerian. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and
Research, 1(7), 6-40.
Therapeutic Research Center. (n.d.). Valerian. Natural Medicines. Retrieved February 4, 2023, from https://0-naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.sclcatalog.muih.edu/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=870
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, October). Valerian. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved February 4, 2023, from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/valerian#:~:text=Historically%2C%20valerian%20was%20used%20to,are%20used%20for%20medicinal%20purposes
