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.

Cautions of Valerian.Valeriana officinalis.:

Do not take for more than two or three weeks at a time without a break. Continual use or high doses can lead to headaches and palpitations.
 It should not be taken during the day since it does promote sleep.
 Do not take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
 Do not take with sleep-enhancing drugs as this herb increases the action.
 Do not confuse the herb with the garden plant, red American valerian (Centranthus ruber), which has no medicinal value.

 In case of proper use in recommended doses Valerian herb produce no side effects. Failing overdose it may cause vivid dreams, blurred vision, changes in heart rhythm, stomach upset, itching, fatigue, abdominal cramping, chest tightness, foot and hand tremor or liver damage. Inasmuch as Spikenard may have mutating effects on cells, pregnant and lactating women should avoid use of this herb. It also is not recommended for children under 3 and persons with liver dysfunction.

 To avoid dangerous interactions don't take Setwall with other muscle relaxants; narcotic pain relievers; prescription sleep medications; cancer, allergy and antifungal drugs; and alcohol.

 Daily dose of All-Heal herb varies for each form medicine sold in (tincture, tablet, liquid, capsule and dried herb/tea), age and condition of the patient.


 Side Effects:

 Large doses of valerian may occasionally cause headache, muscle spasm, heart palpitations, dizziness, gastric distress, sleeplessness, and confusion. Uninterrupted use may cause depression.

 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) gives valerian a class 1 safety rating, indicating that it is a safe herb with a wide dosage range.

 Some people, however, experience adverse reactions to valerian. Rather than feeling the calming or sleep-inducing effects, they suddenly feel nervous, anxious and restless after taking the herb and may experience heart palpitations.

 There is also evidence that in some cases of long-term use, serious withdrawal symptoms may occur when it is stopped abruptly.

 Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not use valerian. It should not be used while driving, operating heavy machinery or engaging in other activities which require one to be alert, due to its tranquilizing effects. Those with liver disease are also warned against taking valerian in combination with skullcap, another herb commonly used for anxiety.

 Valerian should not be used if taking anesthesia, sedatives or anti-anxiety medications without first consulting a healthcare practitioner.

 Well, since Valerian root can act as a diuretic, people who tend to wake during the night to urinate may not find it effective as a sleep aid. Though side effects are rare, some people who use Valerian root for long periods of time may develop headaches, insomnia or agitation.

 Though this may seem paradoxical, the same side effect is often noted with prescription sleep aids and anti-anxiety medications if they are over-used.

 Valerian root should be used conservatively to treat symptoms of anxiety and insomnia, and it should not be discontinued suddenly. Because of possible negative interaction with barbiturates and benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Valium, and Xanax, people taking these medications should not use Valerian root.


 Research suggests that valerian does not impair one's ability to drive or operate machinery. There is one case reported of a man experiencing severe cardiac symptoms that may have been due to withdrawing from valerian. This man abruptly discontinued taking valerian, after having used 5-20 times the recommended amount "for many years". However, when taken at recommended amounts, valerian supplementation does not lead to addiction or dependence. In the case of an 18-year old college student who tried to kill herself by ingesting approximately 20,000 mg of valerian root (approximately 40-50 times the recommended amount), the only symptoms reported were fatigue, abdominal pain, and a mild tremor of the hands and feet. Valerian does not appear to impair reaction time, alertness, or concentration the morning after use. There are no known reasons to avoid valerian during pregnancy or breast-feeding.

 Precautions:

 Valerian should not be used in large doses or for an extended period. People should not take it continuously for more than two to three weeks. Users of valerian may become tolerant to its effects with prolonged use. Increasing the dose of the herb to achieve desired effects may result in negative side effects. Prolonged use, according to some research, could result in liver damage and central nervous system impairment.

 Interactions:

 Although valerian has been regarded as a relatively safe herb because few interactions with prescription medications have been reported, newer research indicates that it should be used cautiously following surgery. Like St.John's wort, valerian can interact with anesthetics and other medications given to patients after surgery. Because valerian has a mild sedative effect, it should not be taken together with alcoholic beverages, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or antihistamines. Long-term safety studies of valerian have not been done as of early 2003.

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.