Valerian
This book is available in the John R. Martin Rare Book Room in Hardin Library for the Health Sciences.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valeriana officinalis is a member of the Honeysuckle Family (Caprifoliaceae), native to Europe and Asia but now grown all over the world (Spinella, 2001). A perennial growing up to one or two meters tall (3–6 feet), it has dark green, pinnately compound leaves with serrated leaflets along the stem and at the base of the plant. It bears white to pinkish flowers in terminal clusters and produces an offensive odor when the roots are dry and exposed (Eadie, 2004). For centuries an ointment from Valerian officinalis has been used in China, Egypt, and Greece, as well as other countries throughout Europe, to treat sleep disorders (Gooneratne, 2008). During the 18th and 19th centuries, valerian was also used in Europe as a popular anticonvulsant remedy to treat epilepsy (Eadie, 2004). One study has shown that the root extract improves the quality of sleep for women who suffer sleep disorders as they progress through menopause (Bent et al. 2006).
Historical use
Nicholas Culpeper’s English Physician and Complete Herbal published in 1789 includes historical information on the use of Valerian. The root was boiled with licorice and raisins and ingested to treat coughs and remove phlegm. It was boiled in wine to treat a bite or sting from a venomous animal. A drop of boiled Valerian was applied to the eye to remove any dimness of sight and alleviate any eye pain. It was also used to treat any internal or external wounds and remove splinter or thorns.
Latest Research
- Safety Concerns Related to the Simultaneous Use of Prescription or Over-the-Counter Medications and Herbal Medicinal Products: Survey Results among Latvian Citizensby Inga Sile on August 25, 2023 at 10:00 am
The use of herbal medicines is increasing worldwide. While the safety profile of many herbal medicines is promising, the data in the literature show important interactions with conventional drugs that can expose individual patients to high risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the experience of the use of herbal medicines and preparations and the risks of interactions between herbal and conventional medicines among Latvian citizens. Data were collected between 2019 and 2021 using a…
- Immunological evaluation of herbal extracts commonly used for treatment of mental diseases during pregnancyby Moritz Winker on June 14, 2023 at 10:00 am
Nonpsychotic mental diseases (NMDs) affect approximately 15% of pregnant women in the US. Herbal preparations are perceived a safe alternative to placenta-crossing antidepressants or benzodiazepines in the treatment of nonpsychotic mental diseases. But are these drugs really safe for mother and foetus? This question is of great relevance to physicians and patients. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of St. John’s wort, valerian, hops, lavender, and California poppy and their…
- Phytotherapy of mood disorders in the light of microbiota-gut-brain axisby Maciej Korczak on January 15, 2023 at 11:00 am
CONCLUSION: Modification of microbiota-gut-brain axis by natural products is a plausible explanation of their therapeutic properties. Future studies evaluating the effectiveness of herbal medicine and isolated compounds in treating mild mood disorders should consider the bidirectional interplay between phytoconstituents and the gut microbiota community.
- Medicinal Plants Used for Anxiety, Depression, or Stress Treatment: An Updateby Maša Kenda on September 23, 2022 at 10:00 am
Depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental disorders, which are on the rise worldwide, are indications that pharmacological therapy can have serious adverse effects, which is why many patients prefer to use herbal products to treat these symptoms. Here, we reviewed plants and products derived from them that are commonly used for the above indications, focusing on clinical data and safety profiles. While lavender, hops, maypop, lemon balm, and valerian have consistently been shown in clinical…
- Medicinal Herbs in the Relief of Neurological, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Symptoms after COVID-19 Infection A Literature Reviewby Joanna Nawrot on June 24, 2022 at 10:00 am
COVID-19 infection causes complications, even in people who have had a mild course of the disease. The most dangerous seem to be neurological ailments: anxiety, depression, mixed anxiety-depressive (MAD) syndromes, and irreversible dementia. These conditions can negatively affect the respiratory system, circulatory system, and heart functioning. We believe that phytotherapy can be helpful in all of these conditions. Clinical trials confirm this possibility. The work presents plant materials…
References
Eadie, M. J. (2004). Could valerian have been the first anticonvulsant? Epilepsia, 45(11), 1338-1343. doi:10.1111/j.0013-9580.2004.27904.x
Gooneratne, N. S. (2008). Complementary and alternative medicine for sleep disturbances in older adults. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, 24(1), 121-138, viii. doi:10.1016/j.cger.2007.08.002
Spinella, M. (2001). Herbal Medicines and Epilepsy: The Potential for Benefit and Adverse Effects. Epilepsy & Behavior, 2(6), 524-532. doi:10.1006/ebeh.2001.0281