Valerian

Buy Valerian Herb
Buy Valerian Essential Oil

Scientific Name:  Valeriana officinalis

Parts Used:  Root, Essential Oil

Cautions:

• Attracts cats in the garden.
• Valerian can have an adverse effect on some people (restlessness, etc).
  
• Large doses can cause vomiting, dizziness and depression.
  
• Should be used occassionally, not permanently, as it can create dependancy.
  

Healing Properties

• Warming sedative, antispasmodic, nervine, carminative.
  
• A good sedative that relaxes the muscles and induces dreaming and good REM sleep.
  
• Used for high blood pressure, insomnia, headaches, anxiety, muscle cramps and migraines.
  
• Sometimes used to help with epilepsy.
  
• Used to treat various heart conditions, menopausal symptoms, bronchial issues
  
• Good for dry coughs, smoker's coughs, coughs that linger and coughs that get worse at night
  
• Fresh plant has more sedating effects; Dried plant has more anti-tumor effects.
  

How to Use: 

• Add fresh or dried herb to food and beverages.
• Can be taken in store-bought capsule or extract form.
• Tea/Infusion (best consumed immediately, but can be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours):
  • Cover 1/4 cup fresh herb with boiling water.  Let steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain & drink.
  • Cover 1 Tablespoon dried herb with boiling water.  Let steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain & drink.
• Essential Oils: Apply externally
• Syrup (Can be stored longer - up to 2 weeks in the fridge, or frozen indefinitely): 
  • Make 2 cups of the tea.  Add to cast iron or stainless-steel pan.  Add 2 cups sugar or honey and heat the mixture on med-low heat until the sugar/honey is dissolved and it thickens into a light syrup.  Remove from heat and let it cool.  Store in a glass bottle (cork top, not screw, because syrups can ferment and explode if sealed too tightly).  Take in 1-2 teaspoon doses every 3-4 hours. 
• Tincture (Can be stored longer - generally last for 2+ years and some say potency increases with age):
  • Add 2 cups water to 1 quart of vodka or rum that is approximately 37.5% alcohol).  Put this in a clean bottle, clearly labeled (not all will be used for the tincture and you can use the remaining for additional batches).  Put 1/4 pound of dried herb (or 3/4 pound fresh) into a large wide-mouthed glass jar.  Add 2 cups of the diluted alcohol mixture to the jar, screw lid on tight and shake well.  Leave jar in a cool dark place for 2 weeks, shaking well every couple of days.  After 2 weeks, strain the mixture and store the liquid in a clean, dark glass bottle.  Add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon tincture to juice or warm water  3-4 times daily.  
• Oil Infusions (Can be stored longer - generally will last for at least a year, often longer): 
  • Hot Infusion:  Use a large double boiler.  Fill lower pan with water and put 1/4 pound dried herb (or 1/3 pound fresh) and 2 cups of base oil (sunflower or similar) to the top pan.  Heat on medium-low heat for 3 hours (check water level of bottom pan often and add boiling water as needed). Strain the oil into a pitcher.  Cool completely, then pour oil into glass bottles and store in a cool dark place.
  • Cold Infusion: Pack a medium sized jar with dried or fresh herb (1 inch from the top).  Cover herb with safflower or walnut oil.  Leave the jar in a sunny indoor location for at least 3 weeks.  Strain the mixture and repeat process again using more herb and the oil from the first infusion.  Leave it in a sunny indoor location again for an additional 2-3 weeks.  Strain the oil again, place in glass bottles and store in a cool dark place. ​

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Grow/Harvest Yourself: 

• Buy Valerian Seeds
• Harvest in late fall or early spring before the shoots come up
• Hardy to zone 4
• Soil pH: any
• Rich, moist soil
• Full sun to partial shade

*I am not a doctor.  The information on this platform is not a claim to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any illness.  These remedies are intended to aid the healing process within your body (in correlation with existing traditional treatments).  Please talk to your family doctor before trying any natural remedies (especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or on prescription medication).  ​