Insomnia sleep disorder is as old as time itself and affects the lives of literally millions of people from just about every country causing modest irritation to some and seriously affecting the quality of life for a substantial proportion of us.
Curing insomnia and returning to night after night of natural sleep can be difficult but, for many individuals, the answer lies in using time-honored traditional herbal remedies like valerian root.
Valerian, a hardy perennial flowering plant with sweet smelling pink or white flowers, occurs in several parts of Europe and Asia and now also grows naturally in areas of the USA. Other names frequently used for valerian include: garden valerian, and garden heliotrope (not related to Heliotrope - Heliotropum).
Valerian is also referred to by various folk names: Bloody Butcher, Cat's Valerian, English Valerian, Fragrant Valerian, Phu, Amantilla, Red Valerian, Sets Wale, Capon's Trailer, St. George's Herb, All-Heal, , and Set Well.
The chief components used for medicinal purposes are the roots, rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (horizontal stems). Commonly harvested in September, the dried roots can be used to prepare teas and tinctures, while the dried plant materials ordinarily find their way into pills or capsules.
There is reference to the use of valerian as a medicinal herb as far back as the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. The 16th century saw it used to treat trembling, heart palpitations, headaches, and nervousness. In the mid-19th century, many considered valerian a stimulant which induced several of the complaints it was thought to treat and held it in low regard. During World War II the British used it to relieve the stress of air raids.
Unlike many other natural herbal sleep aids, to gain the maximum benefit from valerian it should be taken on a regular basis, with the full effects coming slowly and steadily over time.
Results will normally appear after about one month and regular use promotes natural sleep and deep relaxation. Several studies suggest valerian as far and away the best natural solution for insomnia and general sleeplessness for many individuals.
Research carried out at the Nestlé Research Laboratories in Switzerland revealed that 450 mg of valerian in an aqueous extract is the optimal dose as an insomnia treatment. A larger dose normally results in grogginess without increasing effectiveness, and so care should be exercised when administering that valerian is a treatment for insomnia.
Furthermore, a double-blind crossover study of 128 people conducted in 1982, found valerian root to be not only effective as a sedative for insomnia, but also to be of assistance in raising the overall quality of sleep in the test subjects.
Typically prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian also plays a helpful role in taking care of anxiety-related sleeping difficulties.
Unlike other generally prescribed sleep medicines, valerian is not toxic, doesn't impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery and doesn't heighten the effects of alcohol.
It has been reported that valerian can act as a delayed stimulant for some individuals dependant on body chemistry. With certain metabolic conditions, the effect is one of at first calming you down only to induce a surge of energy a few hours later - not an effect desired by individuals interested in using valerian as a nighttime sleeping remedy.
Several professional herbalists recommend taking fresh valerian root extract rather than an extract of dried valerian, as this is less likely to stimulate such a reaction.
Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including Help Me To Sleep - A Guide to Natural Sleep Remedies. To find out more about the use of herbs to promote
natural sleep and
sleep disorders in general visit HelpMeToSleep.com today.
