Valerian(Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial flowering plant whose root is often used in herbal therapeutic blends.
Other names: garden valerian, garden helioptrope, all-heal
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Valerianaceae
Genus: Valeriana
Species: Valeriana officinalis
Description
Valerian(Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial flowering plant whose root is often used in herbal therapeutic blends.
Traditional usage
This list reflects the "traditional usage" of valerian root, which should be considered folklore unless supported by a scientific study. Studies, where available, are quoted and referenced. See the Disclaimer below.
Anxiety - valerian root is thought to relieve anxiety through its sedative properties, though no studies were reviewed to confirm this.
Epilepsy - valerian root was once recommended for treatment of epilepsy, although no studies have confirmed this.
Insomnia - valerian root is thought to relieve insomnia through its sedative properties, though no studies were reviewed to confirm this.
Pain - valerian root is thought to relieve pain through its sedative properties, though no studies were reviewed to confirm this.
Ref: [2]
Side effects
This list reflects the common wisdom or folklore regarding side effects of valerian root as well as the result of scientific studies. See the Disclaimer below.
Addiction - folklore indicates withdrawal symptons may occur if taken in heavy doses for long periods of time.
Headaches - folklore indicates that headaches may occur if taken in heavy doses for long periods of time.
Ref: [2]
Tea blends
Valerian root can be used alone as a tea or blended with other herbals. Common blends include:
Valerian root/Mint - valerian root is often blended with either peppermint or spearmint to take the edge off its somewhat unpleasant flavor as well as complementing its relaxing properties.
Valerian root/Lemon balm - these herbs are often blended together for their relaxation properties.
Note: the above combinations of herbs and their effects should be considered "folklore" and are not based on clinical studies. See the Disclaimer below.
Chemical makeup
This list of chemicals represents the root
material only, where possible, and is not
comprehensive.
Acetic-acid
Acevaltrate
Actinidine
Alloaromadendrene
Aluminum
Ascorbic-acid
Ash
Azulene
Baldrianic-acid
Beta-bisabolene
Borneol
Bornyl-acetate
Bornyl-butyrate
Bornyl-formate
Bornyl-isovalerianate
Delta-cadinene
Calcium
Camphene
Carbohydrates
Caryophyllene
Chatinene
Chlorogenic-acid
Choline
Chromium
Cobalt
P-cymol
Deacetylisolavtrate
Didrovaltrate
Essential oils
Eremophilene eugenyl-isovalerate
Fat
Faurinol
Faurinone
Alpha-fenchene
Fiber
Formic-acid
Fructose
Glucose
Gum
Homodivaltrate
Homovaltrate
Hydroxyvalerinic-acid
Beta-ionone
Iron
Isoeugenyl-isovalerate
Isovalerianic-acid
|
Isovaleric-acid
Isovaleroxy-hydroxy-didrovaltrate
Alpha-kerzylalcohol
Ledol
Limonene
Magnesium
Manganese
Myrtenyl-isovalerianate
Niacin
Phosphorus
Beta-pinene
Potassium
Protein
Raffinose
Resin
Riboflavin
Selenium
Silicon
Beta-sitosterol
Beta-sitosterol-stearate
Sodium
Gamma-terpinene
Terpinolene
Thiamin
Tin
Tridecen-(1)-Pentain
Valechlorine
Alpha-valene
Beta-valene
Gamma-valene
Valenol
Valepotriates
Valerenic-acid
Valerenone
Valerianine
Valerianol
Valerianolic-acid
Valerianone
Valeric-acid
Valerine
Valerosidatum
Valeroside
Valtrate
Valtrate-isovaleroxyhydrin
Water
Zinc
|
Ref: [1]
Learn more
PubMed - Clinical studies of Valeriana officinalis
References
1. Duke, James A. Handbook of phytochemical
constituents of GRAS herbs and other economic
plants. 2000 Boca Raton, FL. CRC Press.
2. Wikipedia wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerian
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