Thyme

Valerian

Valeriana officinalis is an herb and flower used historically to help with stress, restlessness, pain, anxiety, and trouble falling asleep/insomnia.

Valerian is the common name for the valeriana officinalis plant. This plant is used in herbal medicine. It is the valerian root that holds the medicinal properties and is an herbal support for insomnia. Valerian root is known as a nervine hypnotic which means that it is sedative and relaxing to the central nervous system (CNS). This makes it helpful for many different neurological complaints including anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, mood balance, stress or anything where it feels as if the body is wound up tight.

Valeriana Officinalis Origin and types

Valerian is a small pink flower that blooms in bunches, It is mainly found in Europe and Asia. It can grow up to 1.5 m tall at its highest. It is part of the Caprifoliaceae family which contains many different plants and flowers. V. Officinalis is the plant within this family that is thought to aid in the sleep symptom insomnia and used in a capsule as a natural health product in herbal medicine.

What does the flower look like?

The flowers themselves are quite small and found in bunches on the end of a long stem. The flowers are most often pink or white in colour.

Where the name comes from?

The name of the V. Officinalis plant is thought to have multiple points of origin. One is after the female name Valeria. The other is from the Latin verb valere which means to be strong and healthy. This could be because of its large stalk showing the grandeur of the plant itself.

Valeriana Officinalis as a medicinal plant

What can Valeriana Help with

Uses for valerian root and valerian extract include

  • anxiety and specific anxiety disorders
  • insomnia
  • sleep disorders
  • nervousness
  • mood balance
  • stress
  • spasmodic cough
  • muscle pain
  • muscle tension
  • cramping in the urinary tract or reproductive system
  • pain from kidney stones
  • digestive pain or cramps
  • tension in the arteries that could be causing high blood pressure
  • sluggish circulation and digestion
  • menopause symptoms such as hot flashes
  • overall calming and relaxing the body due to its sedative effects

Medicinal Properties of Valeriana Officinalis

  • nervine
  • hypnotic
  • sedative
  • anxiolytic
  • CNS relaxant
  • antispasmodic
  • bitter
  • carminitive

Each of the properties of the plant acts on various areas of the body to bring it into a relaxed state. This makes it especially effective for bringing calmness into one's life because it acts on the body and the person as a whole. This is part of what distinguishes this plant from other Health Products and over-the-counter products that are geared towards insomnia and sleep support.

What is Valerian used for?

It is often the valerian root that is used to make medicine. Most commonly it is used as a herbal sleep aid, but overall the plant has many different uses based on its various actions. Valerian root can be used as a dried extract as a tea, as an aqueous extract or in a capsule as a dietary supplement.

This plant from the valerianaceae family is thought to work on our CNS calming it down. It does this by acting on the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric) receptors in order to have its sleep-enhancing effects. GABA is the major calming neurotransmitter in the brain. The Valerenic Acid found in valerian is thought to be a GABA agonist increasing GABA concentration in the brain and relaxing the body. This is what makes it so helpful as herbal support for insomnia. There is some conflicting evidence that other constituents in Valerian may have other impacts on GABA neurotransmitters as well as the valerenic acid leading to its effects.

Benefits for Sleep

Valerian root is a herbal remedy that has been historically used as a sleep aid. It is often best indicated when people have trouble falling asleep. This herbal support has been shown to improve sleep quality and leave you feeling more refreshed in the morning after sleep.

Placebo-controlled clinical trials have shown that valerian root extract is more effective than placebo when it comes to improving sleep quality, and decreasing the time it takes to fall asleep

What makes Valerian different?

In some people, the relaxing effect of the Valerian root can also be sedative. It can leave someone feeling tired and ready to sleep. Valerian is not just relaxing for the nervous system but also for the various organ and muscular systems of the body – it is an antispasmodic to both the skeletal and the smooth muscle – therefore it can help with spasmodic cough, cramping in the urinary tract or the reproductive system, kidney stones, digestive cramps, and arterial tension in the blood vessels that could contribute to changes in blood pressure.

It is a herb with a special affinity for people with high levels of stress and anxiety. Valerian extract can help them to calm down and release some of this pent up stress. It is also a warming herb that is slightly bitter – this means that it can help improve circulation and stimulate digestion.

The many properties of valerian all work together to bring the body into a parasympathetic nervous state. The parasympathetic state is when the body is in a relaxed state.

Valerian Side Effects 

While valerian is very beneficial in insomnia because of its sedative effects, on some people it can have a paradoxical impact. This means that instead of calming people down it can stimulate them.

This is often mitigated if it is used in combination with a dietary supplement or capsule with other calming herbs.

Valerian root should not be used with other sedating pharmaceuticals due to its calming impacts, as it could theoretically potentiate the pharmaceutical's impacts and cause adverse effects.

In addition, the calming impacts of valerian extract may lead to decreases in blood pressure. These are usually very mild, but caution should be taken in those with low blood pressure.

As with all herbal medicine, valerian should not be used in pregnancy or breast-feeding especially without consulting a health care practitioner to avoid any adverse effects or side effects.

Pascoe Products that contain Valerian:

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Disclaimer

Pascoe Canada does not offer health or medical advice as we are not a healthcare practitioner. Please speak with your healthcare practitioner before beginning any program related to nutrition, diet, exercise, fitness, medical, and/or wellness. All content published by Pascoe Canada is developed through collaborating with licensed medical professionals and contributors. This includes text, graphics, images, and other material on the website, newsletter, and products (“Content”). This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content does not substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always do your own research on whether this is for you along with your healthcare practitioner advice. Always consult your healthcare practitioner prior to use specific herbs because you might have underlined conditions needs professional care. The content is general in nature and are subject to change. It is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.