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
- Herbal and Non-Herbal Dietary Supplements for Psychiatric Indications: Considerations in Liver Transplantationby Shivali Patel on June 28, 2024 at 10:00 am
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) modalities are widely employed. However, TCIM, specifically herbal and non-herbal dietary supplements, can pose challenges in the context of organ transplantation. In this review, we discuss common supplements used for psychiatric purposes and highlight important considerations for candidates and recipients of liver transplants.
- Research progress in the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and quality control of Valeriana jatamansi Jonesby Zhichao Wang on May 31, 2024 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSION: A review of literature shows V. jatamansi has pharmacological properties valuable in treating diseases, particularly for antianxiety and gastrointestinal disorders. Despite a wide spectrum of effects from specific compounds, research mainly focuses on in vitro and in vivo, with a lack of pharmacokinetics, clinical trials and underlying mechanisms. Consequently, it becomes important to embark on additional researchs to elucidate the pharmacokinetics, material basis and mechanisms of…
- Effects of Passiflora incarnata and Valeriana officinalis in the control of anxiety due to tooth extraction: a randomized controlled clinical trialby Amalia Celsy Abregu Velasquez on May 14, 2024 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSION: Phytotherapy drugs showed a reduction in anxiety state compared to the placebo group during third molar extraction procedure. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: klRBR-6kcxvrc, March 10, 2022.
- Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive reviewby Mahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar on April 10, 2024 at 10:00 am
Insomnia affects millions of people worldwide, prompting considerable interest in herbal remedies for its treatment. This review aims to assess the therapeutic potential of such remedies for insomnia by analyzing current scientific evidence. The analysis identified several herbs, including Rosmarinus officinalis, Crocus sativus, Rosa damascena, Curcuma longa, Valeriana officinalis, Lactuca sativa, Portulaca oleracea, Citrus aurantium, Lippia citriodora, and Melissa officinalis, which show…
- Physiological and biochemical regulation of Valeriana jatamansi Jones under water stressby Ankita Thakur on March 5, 2024 at 11:00 am
Understanding the physiological and biochemical regulations in a medicinal plant under stress environments is essential. Here, the effect of water stress such as flooding and water deficit [80% (control), 60%, 40%, 20% field capacity (FC)] conditions on Valeriana jatamansi was studied. Both types of water stresses retarded the plant growth and biomass. Photosynthetic pigments were reduced with maximum reduction under flood stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence study revealed distinct attributes under…
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