GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Valerian is an extract from the underground
stem and root of Valeriana officinalis, a plant that grows in temperate regions of North America,
Europe, and Asia. Valerian has been used as a sedative for
more than a thousand years. Today, valerian continues to
be used as a treatment for anxiety
and insomnia. It also helps to
alleviate headaches, and
intestinal and menstrual cramps.
ROLE FOR ANTI-AGING:
Valerian is very effective in promoting sleep,
and has a much better safety record than prescription sleeping pills. Valerian helps to relax
mind and body, provide temporary relieffrom anxiety and
calms nervous stomach. Researchers are trying to pinpoint
which compound or compounds are responsible for valerian’s sedative effects. Many extracts are now
standardized for valerenic acid, which may interact with
receptors for GABA, the calming brain chemical. In
vitro and animal studies have also found that valerian can
fight certain bacteria and protect against
experimentally induced liver necrosis, however these effects have not been confirmed in humans. In
recent years, preliminary cell culture studies raised health
concerns about the safety of long-term use of concentrated
valerian extracts. Long-term studies, however, have not found valerian to be toxic.
THERAPEUTIC DAILY AMOUNT:
Valerian is sold in capsules, tinctures, and
extracts; it is frequently combined with other calming herbs (like kava) in natural insomnia remedies. Valerian root has an unpleasant smell, so
many people prefer the odor-free capsules to liquid
remedies. An average dose is 100 to 200mg of valerian
extract standardized to contain 0.8 to 1.0% valerenic
acid.
MAXIMUM SAFE LEVEL:
Not established, however, a woman who swallowed forty to fifty capsules of powdered valerian containing 470 mg each (approximately
20-times the recommended dose) in a suicide attempt suffered
no longterm ill-effects.
SIDE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Valerian is much safer than prescription sedatives. However, as with any relaxant, one should
not take it before doing tasks that require full alertness,
nor should one use it regularly for an extended period of
time (more than a few weeks). For unknown reasons,
a small minority may find valerian stimulating instead of calming. Valerian is not contraindicated
during pregnancy or lactation, however it should not be
given to children under age 12. The documented CNS
depressant activity of valerian may potentiate existing sedative therapy.
