Valerian is great. I personally use it when I feel an anxiety attack about to happen. Before or during a full-blown panic attack, I will take a few drops of a valerian tincture and it will calm me down. I love it for this use. It is also helpful for some to use as a sleep aid.
The roots and rhizomes of valerian have been used medicinally since the times of early Greece and Rome to treat insomnia, migraine, fatigue, and stomach cramps. Today, valerian is promoted for insomnia, anxiety, stress, and depression. Some even say it is helpful for menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), over compulsive disorder (OCD), or restless leg syndrome.
It is generally safe to use daily up to 6 weeks if needed. Obviously, don’t use it with other sedatives for sleep or if pregnant or nursing.
So, how does it work in the body? Scientists aren’t exactly sure how valerian works in the body but research suggests its activity is related to the independent and synergistic actions of compounds found in the plant, including valepotriates, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, carboxylic compounds, lignans, flavonoids, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
GABA is a chemical messenger that helps regulate nerve impulses in your nervous system. It is one of the main neurotransmitters responsible for sleep regulation, and increasing the amount of GABA available in your body has sedative effects. Valerian can increase the amount of GABA available in the central nervous system.
Compounds in valerian may also interact with receptors for serotonin and adenosine, chemicals that play important roles in the regulation of sleep and mood and also provide anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects in the body.
If you want to purchase good quality herbs, please consider using this affiliate link to purchase them. I highly recommend this link because of how they process and store herbs. You can’t always trust who you purchase from online, but with this company, I truly do feel it is top of the line and high quality. Just go to this link and type in each herb. I also have a limited supply of herbs listed on my website at www.theweeddoc.net.
If you would like to find out more about the author, learn about other herbs on her blog, or sign up for a wellness advice membership please consider visiting this link.
Stay natural!
~Dr. Amanda P. Cartwright