Valerian is a herb found growing throughout Europe. It thrives in marshy ground and along riverbanks. It has pinky coloured flowers and a strong, somewhat unpleasant smell.

The root is used medicinally and was used by Hippocrates as a soothing remedy and has remained popular ever since for treating nervous conditions and sleep disorders, including emotional exhaustion. Its historical uses cover many symptoms that are due to nervous tension, such as headaches, muscle cramps, and digestive disorders and restlessness caused by nervous disorder.

Valerian is most famous for its ability to calm you and help put you to sleep, but is this true?

The Facts of Valerian

Fresh Valerian root contains volatile oils including valerenic acid, which has a calming effect on the nervous system. Taking an extract of fresh valerian root can therefore help people who find it hard to switch off at night or after a day at the office.

Other Volatile oils found in Valerian have a direct action on smooth muscle, releasing muscle tension, and relaxing over-contracted muscles. 

The combination of physical and emotional relaxation and calming is behind valerians use as a sedative remedy, so this is not just a myth Valerian really can help you sleep!

The different ways of taking Valerian.

When Valerian is taken in small doses it can help calm and soothes an over-anxious mind, relaxing tense muscles and reducing many of the disagreeable symptoms of stress. This may aid a better transition into a peaceful sleep at night time, but a stronger dose of valerian when mixed with other sedative herbs such as hops, is better indicated for those keen on improving their sleep quality.  In fact a herbal formula containing hops and valerian was found to be as effective as a benzodiazepine which is a class of minor tranquilizers for patients suffering from non-chronic and non-psychiatric sleep disorders.  

If you have used Valerian to help aid your sleep or unwind after a stressful day let us know how you have found it by adding a comment to this article.

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