| Home > Site Map > Recommendations > V > Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) |
| A sedative, digestive bitter, and appetite stimulant, valerian is a tall, perennial plant that grows widely in North America, Europe, and Asia. The Greek physician Galen recommended valerian for insomnia in the second century A.D., and after falling out of common use for some time it became popular again from the sixteenth century on as a sedative, with wide usage in Europe and the United States. Until 1950, the U.S. National Formulary listed valerian as a sleep aid and antianxiety treatment. Now we're not sure exactly which ingredients in valerian are most important. Dosage Valerian is typically taken in tincture, capsule, or tea form, 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. Tablets, capsules, and dry extracts are usually taken at a dose of 150 to 600mg, depending on the formulation. As with any herb, a good guideline is to start with the smallest dosage first and increase only if needed. |
| IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) Insomnia |