Botanical Index No. 1063

Valerian

valeriana officinalis

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Panic, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticomplementary, Anticonvulsant, Antidandruff, Antidiuretic, Antiperspirant, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Antiulcer, Anxiolytic, Calmative, Carminative, Cerebrostimulant, CNS Depressant, CNS Stimulant, Cytotoxic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, GABA-Genic, Hepatoprotective, Hypnotic, Hypotensive, Mutagenic, Myorelaxant, Narcotic, Peristaltic, Sedative, Stimulant, Thymoleptic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abscess Acne Anorexia Anthrax Anxiety Aposteme Ascarides Asthma Atherosclerosis Bacteria Cancer Candida Cardiopathy Catarrh Cerebrosis Cholera Chorea Cold Colitis Condyloma Conjunctivosis Convulsion Cough Cramp Dandruff Depression Dermatosis Despondency Diphtheria Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Eczema Enterosis Enuresis Epilepsy Fatigue Fever Flu Gas Gastrosis Gingivosis Headache Hemicrania Hepatosis High Blood Pressure Hyperactivity Hypochondria Hysteria Infection Inflammation Insomnia Lumbago Menopause Menstrual Cramp Migraine Myalgia Nausea Nervousness Nervous Tension Neurasthenia Neuropathy Neurosis Numbness OCD Ophthalmia Pain Palpitation Plague Polyp Restlessness Rheumatism Rhinosis Shell Shock Sore Sore Throat Spasm Stress Syncope Toothache Trauma Tumor Typhus Ulcer Uterosis Vaginosis Vertigo Water Retention Worm Wound Aperitif GABA-Sparing Nervine Tranquilizer Vermifuge Vulnerary

General Dosage

1 tsp root/cup water; 2–3 g root 1–3 ×/day; 2–3 g root/cup tea, 1 to several ×/day; 2–3 g root/150 ml water 1 ×/day; 0.3–1 g dry root, or in tea, 3 ×/day; 3–9 g dried root/day; 0.5–4 g powdered root; 2–4 ml concentrated root infusion; 0.3–1 ml liquid root extract; 3–5 ml root extract or tincture; 2–6 ml fluid root extract/day; 5–15 ml root tincture/day; 4–8 ml root tincture; 4–8 ml simple valerian root tincture, or 2–4 ml concentrated valerian root infusion; 0.5–1 tsp root tincture, 1 to several ×/day; 100 g for one full bath; 300–500 mg StX at bedtime; 300–400 mg StX day; 3 root capsules 3 ×/day or before bed; 3–6 capsules one-half hour before bed.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 1. None reported. None known. But Gruenwald mentions rare GI complaints, and even rarer contact allergies. He adds that long-term administration may occasionally cause cardiac disorders, headache, mydriasis, restless states, and sleeplessness, the latter two the main indications, now side effects of prolonged use. Full-body valerian baths should be monitored in cases of dermatosis, major skin injuries, cardiac insufficiency, or hypertonia. No contraindications, adverse effects, or interactions except for the effect of the tincture on driving ability. Ironically, “There is some concern about continual use, which may cause minor side effects, including headaches, excitability, and insomnia”. AHP minimizes published concern about toxicity of valepotriates, due to poor absorption and quick degradation into less toxic metabolites. If we accept this, we have to minimize medicinal potential of the valepotriates as well. CAN says, “There have been no reported side effects to valerian. The oil is unlikely to present any hazard in aromatherapy”. After all those kind words CAN says, “The safety of valerian during pregnancy and lactation has not been established and should, therefore, be avoided.” CNS depressant activity may potentiate pharmaceutical sedatives. For some 5% of people, valerian may be slightly stimulating.

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