Common Names--valerian, all-heal, garden heliotrope

Latin Names--Valeriana officinalis

What Valerian Is Used For Valerian has long been used for sleep disorders and anxiety. Valerian has also been used for other conditions, such as headaches, depression, irregular heartbeat, and trembling. Try our Herbal Remedy and Herbal Medicine: Serenite-LT Treat the underlying causes of chronic insomnia Restore your sleep cycle and induce regular deep and satisfying sleep Treat depression, anxiety and insomnia without the side effects of prescription drugs Balance serotonin levels naturally Relieve both sleep maintenance and sleep onset insomnia Prevent morning 'grogginess' associated with prescription and OTC sleeping tablets Avoid addiction caused by prescription sleeping medication How Valerian Is Used The roots and rhizomes (underground stems) of valerian are typically used to make supplements, including capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts, as well as teas. What the Science Says about Valerian Research suggests that valerian may be helpful for insomnia, but there is not enough evidence from well-designed studies to confirm this. There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whether valerian works for anxiety or for other conditions, such as depression and headaches. NCCAM is funding a study to look at the effects of valerian on sleep in healthy older adults and in people with Parkinson's disease. Side Effects and Cautions of Valerian Studies suggest that valerian is generally safe to use for short periods of time (for example, 4 to 6 weeks). No information is available about the long-term safety of valerian. Valerian can cause mild side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, and tiredness the morning after its use. Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including valerian. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Why should I use herbal products?

The decision to use herbs to improve your health is, as with all health decisions, a personal one. There are, however, many good reasons to consider herbal products to  complement your own health care methods. One of the best reason, however, may be the fact that herbs and herbal products, continue to provide real health benefits while maintaining a remarkable safety profile. Readily available natural substances were the first medicines used by humans. Primitive and ancient civilizations as well as contemporary cultures throughout the world have always relied on herbs to provide the benefits that have been observed with their use. In fact, the World Health Organization has estimated that 80 percent of the world's population continues to use traditional therapies, a major part of which are derived from plants, as their primary health care tools. In our own time and culture, most herbs are available in the form of "herbal supplements." These products are found in the form of teas, tablets, capsules, liquid extracts, and others. We now have ready access to products that bring the herbal traditions from all over the world in a variety of convenient forms. In addition, scientific inquiries continue to develop our knowledge of the benefits of plants, and often validate the observations made over the past centuries.