Valeriana officinalis.Valerian and Medical Attributes.Valerian Root Extract.

Contents

• Botanical Description of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.
• Narrative History and Ancient Register of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.
• Medical Attributes of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.
• Medical Parts,Key actions and key components of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.
• Valerian:Pharmacology,Mechanisms of Action
• Traditional Uses of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.
• Cautions of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.
• Dosage of Valerian:How much to take?
• Safety and Acute toxicity:Valerienic acid
• Valerian and Dreams
• Valerian,Nardostachys and Patrinia
• Research update of Valerian Root.
• Photo Gallery of Valeriana officinalis.

Traditional Uses of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.:

Valerian Root is a tall perennial herb whose name comes from the Latin word valere, meaning well-being. Traditionally, Valerian Root has been prescribed as a natural sedative that works to relax the Central Nervous System (CNS) in moderate doses and improves overall sleep quality when administered in higher doses.
 In modern research studies, the active components of Valerian Root have been shown to provide positive support for:
 Tension, nervousness and irritability
 Occasional anxiety and panic
 Mild to moderate mood changes
 Depressed mood caused by everyday stress
 Restlessness and sleep difficulties

 Valerian Root has been clinically shown to promote relaxation, emotional balance and improve overall sleep cycle within between one (1) to thirty (30) days of continued use.


 1.Valerian Stengthen the heart:
 Valerian has been found to strengthen the heart and can sometimes reduce high blood pressure, if it is caused by stress and anxiety.

 2,Wound Healing Prompter:It encourages ulcer and wound healing and, when used topically, is effective for muscle spasms and menstrual cramps.

 3,Valerian As an expectorant:it helps a tickling, nervous cough.

 In South Africa, V. capensis, is used for hysteria and epilepsy. In China, V. hardwickii, is used as an atispasmodic. The Menominee tribe of North America, used V. ulginosa for cramps and menopausal symptoms while, in the Himalayas, V. wallichi is used in almost exactly the same way.

 It has a relaxing nature is a benefit to those unable to relax during stress-related periods and in general has a more calming effect rather than a sedating one. It is also beneficial in relaxing overcontracted muscles and helpful for shoulder and neck tensions, asthma, colic, and irritable bowel syndrome.

 For more than a decade, it has been used to treat ADHD and researchers have found it to be more effective than pharmaceutical agents with fewer adverse side effects.

 4.Valerian used to treat Nervous spasms and tremors, phobias, insomnia, and restlessness:

 It has also been successfully used as a tincture in treating the condition known as Ekbom's Syndrome, or "restless legs". This condition causes the person to feel that they must constantly move their legs to prevent cramping. The symptoms usually intensify at night when in a supine position. An infusion of Valerian root will normally keep the symptoms at bay if taken on a regular basis after the initial course of treatment is over. Valerian is not addictive or habit-forming and causes no known side effects. However, it should not be taken in large doses except under professional supervision.

 Although it is not safe to take with Valium or other pharmaceuticals, it is safe to take with other calming herbs such as lemon balm, chamomile, catnip, or kava, and with 5-HTP, GABA, and other calming supplements. However, large amounts over a long period of time is not advised.

 5.Historical uses:Known as "all-heal" in the Middle Ages, valerian was credited with many virtues -in particular with healing epilepsy. In 1592, Fabius Calumna published a detailed work on herbal medicine in which he claimed to have cured his epilepsy with the herb.


 6.Stress-related disorders:Valerian reduces mental over activity and nervous excitability, helping people who find it hard to "switch off." Valerian is beneficial for almost any stress-related condition, and, in general, has a calming, rather than directly sedative, effect on the mind.

 7.Anxiety and insomnia:Many symptoms of anxiety, including tremors, panic, palpitations, and sweating, can be relieved with valerian. Valerian is a useful remedy for insomnia, whether caused by anxiety or overexcitement.

 8.Effective relaxant:Valerian relaxes over contracted muscles, and is helpful for shoulder and neck tension, asthma, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle spasms, and menstrual pain.

 9.High blood pressure:Valerian is used with other herbs in remedies for high blood pressure caused by stress and anxiety.

 10.Other Uses:Phobia, Temporomandibular joint syndrome or disorder / TMJ (TMD), Urinary incontinence.
 

 11.Folklore:

 Valerian can be found in Western herbology since prehistoric times. Some early herbals such as Moore (1564) and Gerard (1597), make clear note of it. It also appears in Willis (1681), Lewis (1769), Motherby (1785), Bigelow (1822), Griffith (1847) and had a prominent place in the practices of the Eclectics at the turn of the century.Valerian has a marked influence on the cerebrospinal system and is employed as a sedative of the higher nerve centre for afflictions such as St. Vitus's Dance, nervous unrest, neuralgic pain, epileptic fits, hysteria (especially female), restlessness, and wakefulness. Though small ordinary doses of valerian root are good, large doses taken over a period of time cause headache, heaviness and stupour.

 It is recommended in cases of heart palpitation because it slows down the heart rate while increasing the strength of the beats. It also is used for circulatory problems as well as to stimulate the stomach and intestinal motility. Valerian is often used for hypochondria. It has an unpleasant odor which is often masked by essence of aniseed. Over half a dozen Valeriana species are known to have been used by the Native peoples of North America. The plant was used to treat colds, cuts, inflammation, headaches and constipation.


 12.Therapeutic Actions:

 Valerian can be classified in many different therapeutic categories. It is one of the best nervine herbs for its efficacy in treating disorders of the nervous system and in calming the entire body. Other categories include anodyne (pain reliever), anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiemetic, carminative (tones, soothes, and stimulates the digestive and elimination systems), sedative, hypnotic, antihypertensive, and antibacterial.

 13.Usage:

 Valerian may be indicated for the relief of insomnia, stress-related anxiety, and nervous restlessness. It may also be used to ease stomach and menstrual cramps, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), some of the restlessness that accompanies attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and migraine symptoms. And, more rarely, it may be used to treat convulsions from a seizure disorder. In its most well-documented use, however, it is used as a calmant to help people sleep.

 14.Preparation Methods:

  The volatile oils in valerian are extremely pungent, somewhat like aged cheese or milk. Valerian is often prepared in tea form, and in doing so it should not be prepared with boiling water, as this may drive off the lighter oils. As well, valerian is commonly taken as a dietary supplement, often in tablet or capsule form.


 15.Nervine:Central nervous system soother and depressor

 Valerian root extract has conventionally been used as a nervine, antispasmodic and stomachic. Successful results were reported when using Valerian root extract in cases where the chief cause of trouble is emotional or mental as in cases of a hypochondriac or hysteria. It was also successful in helping with migraines and insomnia in addition to depression.

 History reports that the women in Germany would take Valerian along with their coffee, which resulted in a lack of nervousness or irritability. Valerian behaves as a soother and depressor of the central nervous system. Although once questioned to be a narcotic of some kind, there is no proof that it is habit forming.

 It serves as a beneficial treatment for nervous conditions. It increases heart action and temperature, and helps stimulate circulation, secretion and peristalsis for the stomach and intestines.

 The body does away with Valerian root extract through the mucous membranes of the kidneys, bronchial tubes and genitourinary tract.

 16.Antispasmodic:valerianic acid

 The chief antispasmodic (substance used to relieve or prevent spasms (especially of the smooth muscles) element is valerianic acid. It is a thin, oleaginous liquid that contains the bad smell mentioned earlier.

 17.calming effects:valepotriates

 The calming effects are allowed by the alkaloids called valepotriates. In addition, the alkaloids are antibacterial, antidiuretic, and have the potential to prevent liver necrosis.

 18.Effect on Cats and Rats

 An unusual feature of valerian is that the dried root affects the domestic cat in a similar way as that of catnip. If valerian root is left in a place to which cats have access, they will roll in it, salivate onto it and eat it. Burmese cats are attracted to the dried herb and will deliberately destroy containers to obtain it. However, some cats will not go near valerian root.[citation needed]

 Valerian's effect on cats is featured as a clue in two works by Agatha Christie.

 Valerian is also very attractive to rats, so much so that it has been used to bait traps. Some versions of the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin have him using valerian, as well as his pipes, to attract the rats.

Reference:

• Valeriana officinalis.Valerian and Medical Attributes.Valerian Root Extract.

This article written and edited via herbalist of MDidea Extracts Professional. They run a range of online descriptions about this herb,including general information related and summarized updating discoveries from findings of professional scientisits this field related.Describe style aimed to form a useful detecting literature space where the intertwined threshold and related questions raise out and visualize themselves.

♣ last edit date:08th,Oct.2010.