What is Valeriana officinalis used for?

Valerian is an herbal supplement used in treatment for insomnia/sleep disorders, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depression, epilepsy, infantile convulsions, menopausal symptoms, menstrual cramps, restlessness, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and tremors.

Is Valeriana officinalis safe?

Although valerian is thought to be fairly safe, side effects such as headache, dizziness, stomach problems or sleeplessness may occur. Valerian may not be safe if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.

What are the benefits of valerian root?

Valerian is an herb that may help improve sleep, promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. It appears to be safe and non-habit forming when taken at the recommended dosage. In some cases, it may be able to replace benzodiazepines and similar drugs.

Is it OK to take valerian root everyday?

Though not guaranteed, anxiety and insomnia sufferers may benefit from taking valerian root extract daily. It also may result in fewer side effects than traditional medications for anxiety or insomnia, making it a suitable potential treatment for many people.

Is valerian root bad for your heart?

As such, human studies are needed to verify its potential effects. Some people claim that valerian root causes heart palpitations or increased heart rate, but the evidence for this is mostly anecdotal.

Is valerian safe for kidneys?

According to a study on valerian, different doses of this medication could cause no increase in blood urine nitrogen and creatinine (compared to sham group). Therefore, the extract of this herb was not likely to have toxic effects on rat kidneys [37]. Scientific studies on valerian have begun on humans since 1970 [33].

Does valerian root increase estrogen?

Valerian is also thought to have estrogenic activities (17) (28), but this was not observed in vitro (29).

Can valerian tea get you high?

Long-term use of the herb has been shown to have addictive properties, but there is no evidence that its use — whether in tea or capsule form — would cause someone to return to drug addiction.

How long does it take for valerian root to work?

For insomnia, valerian may be taken 1 to 2 hours before bedtime, or up to 3 times in the course of the day, with the last dose near bedtime. It may take a few weeks before the effects are felt.

Is valerian root hard on the liver?

Hepatotoxicity. Valerian has been implicated in a small number of cases of clinically apparent liver injury, but usually in combination with other botanicals such as skullcap or black cohosh. In view of its wide scale use, valerian has to be considered a very rare cause of hepatic injury.

Does valerian calm the heart?

Historical reports suggest that valerian root was used to treat heart palpitations as far back as the 16th century. Ironically, some people have experienced heart palpitations as a side effect of using or discontinuing valerian root. However, these reports are anecdotal and not based on research ( 8 ).

Is valerian root good for anxiety?

People use valerian to relieve anxiety, depression, and poor sleep, and also to ease menstrual and stomach cramps. Valerian has a mild calming effect that does not usually result in sleepiness the next day.

What does Valeriana officinalis root do for You?

Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular and widely available herbal supplement, primarily used to treat insomnia and anxiety. Until recently, its mechanism of action has remained unknown. Neurobiological research has begun to show that the herb, with its active valerenic acid, interacts w …

What is the generic name for Valerian root?

Valerian Root. Generic Name: valerian (vah LEH ree un) Brand Name: Valerian, Valerian Root. Medically reviewed on Oct 9, 2018. Valerian is a flowering plant, the root of which is dried and used as an herbal remedy. Valerian has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating sleep problems (insomnia).

Can a Valerian root extract help with insomnia?

Valeriana officinalis root extracts have potent anxiolytic effects in laboratory rats Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular and widely available herbal supplement, primarily used to treat insomnia and anxiety. Until recently, its mechanism of action has remained unknown.

Is there essential oil in valerian root extract?

Valerian root extract consists of the subterranean organs of Valeriana officinalis L.,including the rhizome, roots and stolons, carefully dried at a temperature below 40°C. It contains not less than 0.5 % V/mof essential oil. The material complies with the European Pharmacopoeia [13, 14].