Valerian
(Valeriana officinalis L., Valerianaceae)
Also called: Common Valerian, Garden Heliotrope, Setwall.
Description: Perennial herb with a short rhizome producing
subterranean stolons.
Rhizome of wild plant is 2cm (0.8in) thick and bears several roots 2-3mm (0.07-0.1
in) thick and 10-20cm (4-8in) long.
T he rhizome of cultivated plants bears a cluster of roots.
Leaves imparipinnate, of 7-21 lanceolate segments with dentate margins. Flowering
stems, arising in the 2nd or 3rd year, are round, striated; up to 1-5m (5ft)
high.
Flowers, arranged in umbels, are small, pink (sometimes white) and tubular.
An extreme form, which has been named V. sambucifolia Mik. and has
aerial stolons, is also used.
Flowering: June-August.
Part Used: Rhizome and roots, either fresh or dried.
Habitat and Cultivation: Native to Europe and western Asia,
naturalised in North America; grown commercially in Europe, the United States
and elsewhere.
Beside rivers and streams in marshy places, in woods and copses in
Europe, apart from the extreme north and south and throughout Britain.
The drug may be cultivated by replanting the young plants from the stolons
at 30cm (12in) intervals in light soil either in autumn or spring.
Collection is in September-November, the rhizome and roots being well washed,
followed by combing with a coarse comb before drying in the shade:
Yield: 25-40kg (55-881b) of dried drug per are (120sq yd).
Constituents and Action: It has been very well researched
and the active principles are the recently
discovered valepotriates, valerenic acid (also
found in other sedative herbs) , a volatile oil and a spasmolytic
substance.
The valepotriates develop in the dried
herb and seem to have a depressant effect on the nervous system, while the
fresh plant is more sedating.
Antispasmodic, anti-bacterial, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, hypotensive,
mild anodyne, tranquilliser
Valerian depresses the central nervous system.
The valepotriates are a complex group of chemicals that also show anti-tumour
activity.
Mild sedation in the relief of insomnia and anxiety.
Preliminary studies indicate that valerian also relieves muscle spasms.
Valerian is sometimes described as nature's tranquilliser - a calming nervine
without the side effects of comparable orthodox drugs.
It is probably
the most widely used over-thecounter herbal sedative, featuring in remedies
for insomnia and anxiety and it is one of
the few sedatives that can be safely taken to steady the nerves before driving
tests.
It is used to reduce high
blood pressure and is prescribed by herbalists for a variety of heart conditions.
It is popular in proprietary remedies targeted at menopausal women and for
anxiety assocated with premenstrual syndrome and period pain.
Drink valerian
tea for nervous irritability, tension headaches, menopausal problems or to
relieve bronchial spasm and smokers cough.
A strong maceration of the fresh root can be added to bath water to make an extremely
relaxing bath when suffering from nervous exhaustion.
Valerian root is best prepared by macerating overnight in cold water or it can, unusually for a root, be infused rather than decocted.
It has a distinctive, rather unpleasant smell and was aptly called phu by Galen; cats, however, love it and will roll ecstatically in the growing plants. Valerian has been identified as the "spikenard" referred to in the Bible.
Forms available: Teas, capsules, tablets, tinctures, extracts,
sleep-inducing preparations.
Products are sometimes standardised to 0.8 to 1 per cent valerenic acid.
Usage: The tincture, fresh roots and the infusion (raise slowly to the boil 1 teaspoonful of chopped drug in cold water and allow to stand) for nervous conditions, for mild insomnia and for nervous heart disturbances.
Caution: Though rare, minor side effects - including headaches, excitability and insomnia - may occur with continual use.
