Valerian Herbarium
Latin Name: Valeriana officinalis (L.)
Family: Valerianaceae
Descriptive Characteristics: Chevallier (2016) says this perennial grows to around 4 feet, pinnate divided leaves with what looks like clusters of pink flowers (I’m forgetting the botanical term at the moment) (p. 148). Heinerman (1996) says this grows 2-4 feet high. He said the stem has 7-10 pairs of leaflets, each being lance-shaped (p. 458).
Part of the plant used: The root and rhizome of this plant are used after it is at least 2 years old. I used my entire sample on my tincture and apparently forgot to fill out this section before doing so. I’m going to have to use the picture I took to try to remember all this data.
Texture: it felt like wooden splinters
Color: tan
Aroma: it actually smells a bit sweet. This is based on the tincture, though, not the raw sample. I found a note in my tincture log. The dried herb smelled like dried perfumed manure.
Flavor: bitter. I can get the tincture in my by putting it in a cup of 4 ounces of water.
Constituents: Valerian has a small amount of volatile oil that contains esters like bornyl acetate, bornyl formate, bornyl isovalerianate, and valerianic ester. The bornyl acetate is what contributes to the sedative and antiseptic affects. It also contains formic acid and acetic acid. Valerenic acid is soporific and antispasmodic and causes body odor through underarm secretion. Methyl ketone is a mild anesthetic. Alkaloids present include valerianeine, chatarine, actinidine, valerene, and glycoside. Valepotriates provide a sedative effect on the central nervous system. Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid are also present as well as manganese and sulfur (Petersen, 2018, p. 226). Chevallier (2016) says volatile oil (bornyl acetate, beta-caryphyllene), iridoids (valepotriates, valtrate, isovaltrate), and alkaloids (p. 148). Weiss & Fintelmann (2000) says valepotriates, baldrinals, volatile oils (sesquiterpenes – valerianone, valerenal, valerenic acid) (p. 262-3). Mills & Bone (2010) says essential oil contains monoterpenes (camphene, pinenes) and sesquiterpenes (Carbolic acids – valerenic acid and derivaties, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)), valepotriates, baldrinals, hydroxypinoresinol (a lignan) (p. 616). Heinerman (1996) adds butyl isovalerate and eremophilene as well as valepotriates (p. 458).
Therapeutic Actions: Analgesic, anesthetic, anodyne, antispasmodic, aromatic, cardiac stimulant, carminative, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic (lithotriptic), hypotensor, nervine (sedative), stimulant and tonic. Sedatives provide a calming effect when stressed which also can reduce blood pressure (Petersen, 2018, p. 227). Chevallier (2016) says sedative, relaxant, muscle spasms, anxiety, and lowers blood pressure (p. 148). Weiss & Fintelmann (2000) says sedative. Mills & Bone (2010) say mild sedative, anxiolytic, spasmolytic, and hypnotic (p. 616),
Indications: Petersen (2018) says cardiac palpitations, cough w/ fever, cramps, digestive troubles, dysmenorrhea, epilepsy, fatigue, flatulence, headache, high blood pressure (stress), influenza, insomnia (nervous conditions), mental strain, migraines, nervous irritation, pain, spasms, stress, traumatic injuries w/ pain (p. 227). Chevallier (2016) says reduces mental over activity/nervous excitability, calming instead of being a sedative which makes it great for anxiety, tremors, panic, palpitations, sweating, insomnia, tension-related muscle pain, asthma, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual cramps/muscle spasms, and stress-induced high blood pressure (p. 148). Weiss & Fintelmann (2000) nervous agitation, nervous sleep disorders, and nervous heart complaints (p. 263). Mills & Bone (2010) say insomnia, nervous tension, excitability, cramping, and migraine (p. 616).
Historical Uses: Chevallier (2016) says in the middle ages, valerian was used for epilepsy and that a man named Fabius Calumna published a book on the effectiveness with epilepsy in 1592 (p. 148). Heinermann (1996) says hysteria, high blood pressure, backache and migraines were treated in the Soviet Union with valerian (p. 458).
Formulary:
Petersen (2018, p. 158)
Calming evening blend: 1 oz each: lemon balm, hops, chamomile, valerian. Use 1t herb blend to 1 cup boiling water. Steep 10-15 minutes, covered. Strain. Use up to 4T, 3 /day and before bed.
Tranquil toner: 1oz each: hops, skullcap, passionflower, valerian. Mix extracts or tinctures. Use 5 drops of extract or 15 drops of tincture in water, 3-4 /day and just before bed. The dried herbs may also be used to make an infusion. 3-4 T of the infusion should be used as each dose (p. 230-1).
(p. 230)
Cough: Use hot infusion with cayenne pepper.
Cramps, digestive trouble, dysmenorrhea, fatigue, flatulence, headache, migraines, nervous trouble, pain, spasms, stress: Use extract, infusion, essential oil, powder, or tincture.
Nervous stress and emotional strain: infusion or essential oil added to bath water.
High blood pressure: Extract, tincture, or powder.
Painful injuries: Infusion or extract.
Palpitations and influenza with fever: juice from root, tincture or extract.
Nerve Tonic (p. 231): 1 oz valerian, 1 oz skullcap, ½ oz catnip, ½ T coriander seeds, ¼ t cayenne pepper. Mix and prepare as infusion. Use 4-6T warm, 3-4 /day and before bed.
Chevallier (2016)
Chronic Anxiety (p. 308): 10 drops of tincture in water every hour, up to 2 weeks.
Insomnia (p. 309): Valerian tablets is the option listed here.
Nervous Exhaustion (p. 309): mix ½ t tincture of valerian and vervain in water. Take up to 3/day.
Premenstrual Syndrome (p. 315): it says take tablets or use 20-40 drops of tincture with water up to 5/day.
Sleeplessness due to back ache (p. 313): 8g each of valerian, passionflower, and cramp bark. Make a decoction with 3 c water. Drink ¾ - 1 ¼ c at night.
Heinermann (1996)
Tea (p. 458): 1 ½ T of dried root to 1 pint boiling water, steep 30 min. Drink 1-2 c /day.
Insomnia/Nervousness (p. 276): Boil 2 pints water. Add 1 heaping T hops and valerian root. Cover, simmer 5 min. Remove from heat. Steep 45 more minutes. Strain. Sweeten with maple syrup. Drink 1 ½ c at a time.
Dosage:
Petersen (2018)
Fluid extract: 1-3 ml
Juice: 1-2 T
Powder: ½-1 t
Infusion: 4-6T
Essential oil: 4 drops in a bath
Tincture: 3-5ml
Chevallier (2016, p. 148)
Tablets: stress and anxiety, take according to bottle
Powder: 500mg, 1-2 doses per night, can be taken as capsule for insomnia.
Tincture: 20 drops in hot water, up to 5/day for anxiety.
Weiss & Fintelmann (2000)
Tea: 2 t herb to 1 c water.
Cold maceration: 2 t root, 1 glass of water poured over the top. Infuse 8-10 hours.
Infusion and maceration: 2 t root, 1 c boiling water poured over the top. Steep 12 hours. Drink cold.
Tincture: 1-2 t per dose
Mills & Bone (2010)
Dried root or infusion: 3-9g/day
Liquid extract/tablet/capsule: 2-6ml/day
1:5 Tincture: 9-15ml/day
Safety/Contraindication: Valerian root can inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzyme. Exceeding the recommendations can cause stupor, drowsiness, severe headaches, restless state, sleeplessness, cardiac disfunction and vomiting. The American Herbal Products Association classifies this herb as safe as long as the doses are respected (Petersen, 2018, p. 227, 229). Mills & Bone (2010) says no safety issues were indicated. It is safe to use while lactating but it’s best to use caution (p. 616).
Lab, Notes And Media:
I made my tincture using Wisper’s 1:5 60% even though the class lesson said 55%. yet but I plan to use the recipe 1:5 55%. I chose this as my bitter challenge but also as an attempt to deal with the stress my current pressures cause. My blood pressure isn’t up but I do notice myself panicking about not being able to get everything done for school on time which makes me lose time and creates even more stress. My goal is to see if a tincture, taken once daily, will help with this stress. I’m choosing this methodology because I know I would never be able to drink it. I really detest the bitter flavor and I don’t want to have to add anything to it to consume it. By making a tincture, it’s much less to ingest each day so I think it would be easier to get in me. I had 28g of herb I had to use a menstruum of 140ml. Since I used 60% alcohol, it was all alcohol, no dilution. It took 4 weeks to make. My yield was 75ml.While this tincture did help me relax and get some sleep, it also caused flatulence.
Research:
Choi et al. (2017) conducted a study to see if valerian and hops were both an effective sedative to use as a treatment for insomnia. Both herbs were quite effective but at lower doses. The higher doses had an opposite affect.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 148.
Choi, H. S., Soo-KO, B., Kim, H, D., Hong, K. B., and Suh, H. J. (2017) Effect of Valerian/Hop Mixture on Sleep-Related Behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 40(7):1101–1110.
Heinerman, J. (1996). Healing Herbs and Spices, Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of. Reward Books. p. 458-9.
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. p. 616-19.
Petersen, D. (2018). Herb 503: Advanced Herbal Materica Medica II. American College of Healthcare Sciences.
Weiss, R. F. & Fintelmann, V. (2000). Herbal Medicine. Theime. P. 261-4.
Wisper, T. (2014). Making Tinctures: Beyond the folk method. Thyme Whisper Herb Shop, Inc.
Family: Valerianaceae
Descriptive Characteristics: Chevallier (2016) says this perennial grows to around 4 feet, pinnate divided leaves with what looks like clusters of pink flowers (I’m forgetting the botanical term at the moment) (p. 148). Heinerman (1996) says this grows 2-4 feet high. He said the stem has 7-10 pairs of leaflets, each being lance-shaped (p. 458).
Part of the plant used: The root and rhizome of this plant are used after it is at least 2 years old. I used my entire sample on my tincture and apparently forgot to fill out this section before doing so. I’m going to have to use the picture I took to try to remember all this data.
Texture: it felt like wooden splinters
Color: tan
Aroma: it actually smells a bit sweet. This is based on the tincture, though, not the raw sample. I found a note in my tincture log. The dried herb smelled like dried perfumed manure.
Flavor: bitter. I can get the tincture in my by putting it in a cup of 4 ounces of water.
Constituents: Valerian has a small amount of volatile oil that contains esters like bornyl acetate, bornyl formate, bornyl isovalerianate, and valerianic ester. The bornyl acetate is what contributes to the sedative and antiseptic affects. It also contains formic acid and acetic acid. Valerenic acid is soporific and antispasmodic and causes body odor through underarm secretion. Methyl ketone is a mild anesthetic. Alkaloids present include valerianeine, chatarine, actinidine, valerene, and glycoside. Valepotriates provide a sedative effect on the central nervous system. Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid are also present as well as manganese and sulfur (Petersen, 2018, p. 226). Chevallier (2016) says volatile oil (bornyl acetate, beta-caryphyllene), iridoids (valepotriates, valtrate, isovaltrate), and alkaloids (p. 148). Weiss & Fintelmann (2000) says valepotriates, baldrinals, volatile oils (sesquiterpenes – valerianone, valerenal, valerenic acid) (p. 262-3). Mills & Bone (2010) says essential oil contains monoterpenes (camphene, pinenes) and sesquiterpenes (Carbolic acids – valerenic acid and derivaties, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)), valepotriates, baldrinals, hydroxypinoresinol (a lignan) (p. 616). Heinerman (1996) adds butyl isovalerate and eremophilene as well as valepotriates (p. 458).
Therapeutic Actions: Analgesic, anesthetic, anodyne, antispasmodic, aromatic, cardiac stimulant, carminative, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic (lithotriptic), hypotensor, nervine (sedative), stimulant and tonic. Sedatives provide a calming effect when stressed which also can reduce blood pressure (Petersen, 2018, p. 227). Chevallier (2016) says sedative, relaxant, muscle spasms, anxiety, and lowers blood pressure (p. 148). Weiss & Fintelmann (2000) says sedative. Mills & Bone (2010) say mild sedative, anxiolytic, spasmolytic, and hypnotic (p. 616),
Indications: Petersen (2018) says cardiac palpitations, cough w/ fever, cramps, digestive troubles, dysmenorrhea, epilepsy, fatigue, flatulence, headache, high blood pressure (stress), influenza, insomnia (nervous conditions), mental strain, migraines, nervous irritation, pain, spasms, stress, traumatic injuries w/ pain (p. 227). Chevallier (2016) says reduces mental over activity/nervous excitability, calming instead of being a sedative which makes it great for anxiety, tremors, panic, palpitations, sweating, insomnia, tension-related muscle pain, asthma, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, menstrual cramps/muscle spasms, and stress-induced high blood pressure (p. 148). Weiss & Fintelmann (2000) nervous agitation, nervous sleep disorders, and nervous heart complaints (p. 263). Mills & Bone (2010) say insomnia, nervous tension, excitability, cramping, and migraine (p. 616).
Historical Uses: Chevallier (2016) says in the middle ages, valerian was used for epilepsy and that a man named Fabius Calumna published a book on the effectiveness with epilepsy in 1592 (p. 148). Heinermann (1996) says hysteria, high blood pressure, backache and migraines were treated in the Soviet Union with valerian (p. 458).
Formulary:
Petersen (2018, p. 158)
Calming evening blend: 1 oz each: lemon balm, hops, chamomile, valerian. Use 1t herb blend to 1 cup boiling water. Steep 10-15 minutes, covered. Strain. Use up to 4T, 3 /day and before bed.
Tranquil toner: 1oz each: hops, skullcap, passionflower, valerian. Mix extracts or tinctures. Use 5 drops of extract or 15 drops of tincture in water, 3-4 /day and just before bed. The dried herbs may also be used to make an infusion. 3-4 T of the infusion should be used as each dose (p. 230-1).
(p. 230)
Cough: Use hot infusion with cayenne pepper.
Cramps, digestive trouble, dysmenorrhea, fatigue, flatulence, headache, migraines, nervous trouble, pain, spasms, stress: Use extract, infusion, essential oil, powder, or tincture.
Nervous stress and emotional strain: infusion or essential oil added to bath water.
High blood pressure: Extract, tincture, or powder.
Painful injuries: Infusion or extract.
Palpitations and influenza with fever: juice from root, tincture or extract.
Nerve Tonic (p. 231): 1 oz valerian, 1 oz skullcap, ½ oz catnip, ½ T coriander seeds, ¼ t cayenne pepper. Mix and prepare as infusion. Use 4-6T warm, 3-4 /day and before bed.
Chevallier (2016)
Chronic Anxiety (p. 308): 10 drops of tincture in water every hour, up to 2 weeks.
Insomnia (p. 309): Valerian tablets is the option listed here.
Nervous Exhaustion (p. 309): mix ½ t tincture of valerian and vervain in water. Take up to 3/day.
Premenstrual Syndrome (p. 315): it says take tablets or use 20-40 drops of tincture with water up to 5/day.
Sleeplessness due to back ache (p. 313): 8g each of valerian, passionflower, and cramp bark. Make a decoction with 3 c water. Drink ¾ - 1 ¼ c at night.
Heinermann (1996)
Tea (p. 458): 1 ½ T of dried root to 1 pint boiling water, steep 30 min. Drink 1-2 c /day.
Insomnia/Nervousness (p. 276): Boil 2 pints water. Add 1 heaping T hops and valerian root. Cover, simmer 5 min. Remove from heat. Steep 45 more minutes. Strain. Sweeten with maple syrup. Drink 1 ½ c at a time.
Dosage:
Petersen (2018)
Fluid extract: 1-3 ml
Juice: 1-2 T
Powder: ½-1 t
Infusion: 4-6T
Essential oil: 4 drops in a bath
Tincture: 3-5ml
Chevallier (2016, p. 148)
Tablets: stress and anxiety, take according to bottle
Powder: 500mg, 1-2 doses per night, can be taken as capsule for insomnia.
Tincture: 20 drops in hot water, up to 5/day for anxiety.
Weiss & Fintelmann (2000)
Tea: 2 t herb to 1 c water.
Cold maceration: 2 t root, 1 glass of water poured over the top. Infuse 8-10 hours.
Infusion and maceration: 2 t root, 1 c boiling water poured over the top. Steep 12 hours. Drink cold.
Tincture: 1-2 t per dose
Mills & Bone (2010)
Dried root or infusion: 3-9g/day
Liquid extract/tablet/capsule: 2-6ml/day
1:5 Tincture: 9-15ml/day
Safety/Contraindication: Valerian root can inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzyme. Exceeding the recommendations can cause stupor, drowsiness, severe headaches, restless state, sleeplessness, cardiac disfunction and vomiting. The American Herbal Products Association classifies this herb as safe as long as the doses are respected (Petersen, 2018, p. 227, 229). Mills & Bone (2010) says no safety issues were indicated. It is safe to use while lactating but it’s best to use caution (p. 616).
Lab, Notes And Media:
I made my tincture using Wisper’s 1:5 60% even though the class lesson said 55%. yet but I plan to use the recipe 1:5 55%. I chose this as my bitter challenge but also as an attempt to deal with the stress my current pressures cause. My blood pressure isn’t up but I do notice myself panicking about not being able to get everything done for school on time which makes me lose time and creates even more stress. My goal is to see if a tincture, taken once daily, will help with this stress. I’m choosing this methodology because I know I would never be able to drink it. I really detest the bitter flavor and I don’t want to have to add anything to it to consume it. By making a tincture, it’s much less to ingest each day so I think it would be easier to get in me. I had 28g of herb I had to use a menstruum of 140ml. Since I used 60% alcohol, it was all alcohol, no dilution. It took 4 weeks to make. My yield was 75ml.While this tincture did help me relax and get some sleep, it also caused flatulence.
Research:
Choi et al. (2017) conducted a study to see if valerian and hops were both an effective sedative to use as a treatment for insomnia. Both herbs were quite effective but at lower doses. The higher doses had an opposite affect.
References
Chevallier, A. (2016). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: 550 Herbs and Remedies for common Ailments. New York, NY: DK, a Division of Penguin Random House, LLC. p. 148.
Choi, H. S., Soo-KO, B., Kim, H, D., Hong, K. B., and Suh, H. J. (2017) Effect of Valerian/Hop Mixture on Sleep-Related Behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 40(7):1101–1110.
Heinerman, J. (1996). Healing Herbs and Spices, Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of. Reward Books. p. 458-9.
Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2010). The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. Elsevier Limited. p. 616-19.
Petersen, D. (2018). Herb 503: Advanced Herbal Materica Medica II. American College of Healthcare Sciences.
Weiss, R. F. & Fintelmann, V. (2000). Herbal Medicine. Theime. P. 261-4.
Wisper, T. (2014). Making Tinctures: Beyond the folk method. Thyme Whisper Herb Shop, Inc.
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