VALERIAN VALERIANA OFFICINALIS

VALERIAN (Valeriana officinalis L.) +++

Activities (Valerian) :
Analgesic (f; CAN; CRC; MAD; PED; WHO); Antibacterial (1; APA; FAD; PED; WOI); Anticomplementary (1; CAN); Anticonvulsant (1; APA; BGB; MAB); Antidandruff (f; CRC); Antidiuretic (1; CRC; FAD; PED); Antiperspirant (f; WHO); Antiseptic (1; WOI); Antispasmodic (2; PH2; WAM; WHO); Antitumor (1; PNC); Antiulcer (1; PH2); Anxiolytic (1; MAB; PH2); Aperitif (1; BGB; CAN); Calmative (f; HAD); Carminative (f; CRC; MAB; PED); Cerebrostimulant (f; MAB); CNS Depressant (1; FAD; PED; PH2; WHO); CNS Stimulant (1; FAD); Cytotoxic (1; CAN); Digestive (f; WHO); Diuretic (f; MAD; WHO); Emmenagogue (f; MAD; WHO); Digestive (f; WHO); GABA-Genic (1; PH2; WHO); GABA-Sparing (1; PH2; PNC); Hepatoprotective (1; APA; CRC; FAD); Hypnotic (3; BGB; CAN; MAB); Hypotensive (1; APA; CAN; CRC); Mutagenic (1; CAN; MAB); Myorelaxant (2; MAB; PHR; PH2; WHO); Narcotic (f; CRC; WOI); Nervine (1; FAD; MAD; PNC); Peristaltic (f; PED); Sedative (3; KOM; PH2; WAM; WHO); Stimulant (f; CRC); Thymoleptic (1; MAB); Tranquilizer (2; APA; BRU; FAD); Vermifuge (f; MAD); Vulnerary (f; MAD).

Indications (Valerian) :
Abscess (f; JLH); Acne (1; APA); Anorexia (1; BGB; CAN); Anthrax (f; MAD); Anxiety (2; KOM; MAB; PH2; WAM; WHO); Aposteme (f; JLH); Ascarides (f; MAD); Asthma (f; MAD); Atherosclerosis (f; MAD); Bacteria (1; APA; FAD; PED; WOI); Cancer (1; JLH; PNC); Candida (f; WHO); Cardiopathy (f; PH2); Catarrh (f; CRC); Cerebrosis (f; FEL); Cholera (f; CRC; MAB); Chorea (f; FEL; MAB; MAD); Cold (f; CRC); Colic (f; CAN; MAD; PH2); Colitis (f; WHO); Condyloma (f; JLH); Conjunctivosis (f; MAD); Convulsion (1; APA; BGB; CRC; MAB; WOI); Cough (f; MAD); Cramp (2; APA; CAN; FAD; MAD; PH2; WAM; WHO); Dandruff (f; CRC); Depression (1; FAD; FEL; MAB; PED); Dermatosis (f; APA); Despondency (f; FAD; FEL); Diphtheria (f; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; CAN; CRC; PH2); Dyspepsia (f; CRC; MAB); Eczema (f; PNC); Enterosis (f; APA; CAN; MAD); Enuresis (f; MAD); Epilepsy (1; APA; FEL; PED; PH2; WHO); Fatigue (1; CRC; FAD; PNC); Fever (f; FEL; MAB); Flu (f; CRC); Gas (f; CRC; MAB; PED); Gastrosis (f; MAD); Gingivosis (f; WHO); Headache (f; FAD; PED; PH2; WHO); Hemicrania (f; FEL); Hepatosis (1; APA; CRC; FAD); High Blood Pressure (1; APA; CAN; CRC); Hyperactivity (1; WAM); Hypochondria (f; CAN; CRC; FEL; FAD); Hysteria (f; CAN; CRC; FEL; MAB; MAD; PH2); Infection (1; WOI); Inflammation (f; CRC; WHO); Insomnia (3; CAN; KOM; PH2; WAM; WHO); Lumbago (f; MAD); Menopause (f; MAD; PH2); Menstrual Cramp (f; APA; CAN); Migraine (f; CAN); Myalgia (f; MAD); Nausea (f; WHO); Nervousness (3; APA; BRU; FAD; KOM; PH2; WAM; WHO); Nervous Tension (3; APA; BRU; FAD; KOM; PH2; WAM; WHO); Neurasthenia (f; CRC; PH2); Neuropathy (f; CRC; MAB; PH2); Neurosis (f; MAB); Numbness (f; CRC); OCD (1; WAF); Ophthalmia (f; CRC); Pain (f; CAN; CRC; MAB; MAD; PED; WHO); Palpitation (f; CRC); Panic (f; APA); Plague (f; APA); Polyp (f; CRC; JLH); Restlessness (2; APA; KOM); Rheumatism (f; CAN; CRC; MAD); Rhinosis (f; JLH); Shell Shock (f; MAB); Sore (f; APA; CRC); Sore Throat (f; WHO); Spasm (f; CRC); Stress (2; MAB; PED); Syncope (f; MAD; PH2); Toothache (f; CRC); Trauma (f; CRC); Tumor (1; JLH; PNC); Typhus (f; MAD); Ulcer (1; PH2); Uterosis (f; PH2); Vaginosis (f; WHO); Vertigo (f; MAD); Water Retention (f; MAD; WHO); Worm (f; CRC; MAD); Wound (f; CRC).

Dosages (Valerian) :
1 tsp (2–3 g) root/cup water (APA); 2–3 g root 1–3 ×/day (APA); 2–3 g root/cup tea, 1 to several ×/day (KOM); 2–3 g root/150 ml water 1 ×/day (PIP); 0.3–1 g dry root, or in tea, 3 ×/day (CAN); 3–9 g dried root/day (MAB); 0.5–4 g powdered root (MAD); 2–4 ml concentrated root infusion (PNC); 0.3–1 ml liquid root extract (CAN; PNC); 3–5 ml (0.5–1 tsp) root extract or tincture (APA); 2–6 ml fluid root extract (1:2)/day (MAB); 5–15 ml root tincture (1:5)/day (MAB); 4–8 ml root tincture (PNC; SKY); 4–8 ml simple valerian root tincture, or 2–4 ml concentrated valerian root infusion (CAN); 0.5–1 tsp (1–3 ml) root tincture, 1 to several ×/day (KOM); 100 g for one full bath (KOM); 300–500 mg StX at bedtime (SKY); 300–400 mg StX (0.5% EO) day; 3 (475 mg) root capsules 3 ×/day or before bed (APA); 3–6 (475 mg) capsules one-half hour before bed (JAD).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Valerian) :
Class 1 (AHP). None reported (PIP). None known (KOM). But Gruenwald (PHR) mentions rare GI complaints, and even rarer contact allergies. He adds that long-term administration may occasionally cause cardiac disorders, headache, mydriasis, restless states, and sleeplessness, the latter two the main indications, now side effects of prolonged use. Full-body valerian baths should be monitored in cases of dermatosis, major skin injuries, cardiac insufficiency, or hypertonia (PHR). No contraindications, adverse effects, or interactions except for the effect of the tincture on driving ability (AEH). Ironically, “There is some concern about continual use, which may cause minor side effects, including headaches, excitability, and insomnia” (Morazzoni & Bombardelli, 1995). AHP minimizes published concern about toxicity of valepotriates, due to poor absorption and quick degradation into less toxic metabolites. If we accept this, we have to minimize medicinal potential of the valepotriates as well. CAN says, “There have been no reported side effects to valerian. The oil is unlikely to present any hazard in aromatherapy” (CAN). After all those kind words CAN says, “The safety of valerian during pregnancy and lactation has not been established and should, therefore, be avoided.” CNS depressant activity may potentiate pharmaceutical sedatives (CAN). For some 5% of people (maybe even hyperactives? JAD), valerian may be slightly stimulating (WAM).

Extracts (Valerian) :
Valerenic acid causes ataxia at 50 mg/kg ipr mus, CNS depressant 100 mg/kg ipr mus, but 400 mg kg was antispasmodic, convulsant, and fatal (CAN). Valepotriate fractions exhibit antiarrhythymic, anticomplement, anticonvulsant, coronadilating, cytotoxic, mutagenic, myorelaxant, and vasodilating activities. Valerian, in combo with Hypericum, in a double blind 2-week trial of 100 patients, was more effective than diazepam in treating symptoms of anxiety (CAN). Baldrinal is mutagenic to Salmonella (CAN). Alkaloids are antibacterial, antidiuretic, and may help prevent liver necrosis (PED). Valerian, valerenic acid, and the eugenyl and isoeugenyl esters are antispasmodic. Valerenic acid and derivatives inhibit GABA. (PNC). LDlo for acevaltrate, didrovaltrate, and valtrate = >4600 mg/kg orl mus (MAB)