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Valerian: what is it
Valeriana officinalis is a wild perennial plant that can be recognized by its small pink or white flowers. Grows on wet meadows and river banks of North America, Europe, Asia. It is a frequent inhabitant of ornamental gardens. The second name is “cat grass”.
Ancient Chinese records speak of the use of valerian for medicinal purposes. But in ancient times, the Greeks and Romans paid much more attention to it. Thus, Galen, a XNUMXnd century Greek physician, attributed valerian to the relief of insomnia.
During the Middle Ages, Roman and Greek doctors used this herb to relieve anxiety, anxiety, and tremors. As a sedative, it was popular in Europe in the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries. In Russia under Peter I, the plant was harvested for hospitals.
Valerian: chemical composition
Valerian root is rich in active ingredients, so it is used to obtain medications. Valerian root contains iridoids, the important of which are valepotriates, followed by volatile oils (valerenal and valeric acid), lignans and alkaloids.
At the root there are free amino acids: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), tyrosine, arginine and glutamine. Tannins are present.
Valerian herb: medicinal properties, application
The plant has a weak choleretic effect, increases the secretion of the gastrointestinal tract, dilates the coronary vessels. Apply:
- with nervous excitability;
- cardiac neuroses;
- hysteria;
- hyperthyroidism;
- migraine and hypertension;
- esophageal spasm;
- renal, hepatic colic;
- Thyroid gland diseases;
- itching;
- menopause period in women;
- epilepsy (in combination with medications).
Valerian: side effects
Preparations based on this plant belong to the group of hypnotics and sedatives that cause:
- decrease in working capacity;
- drowsiness;
- depression
- constipation with prolonged use;
- during pregnancy it is not worth the risk! This is dangerous.
Insomnia treatment
Insomnia affects up to a third of the adult population and significantly reduces the quality of life with hectic days. In addition, valerian has been clinically proven to help you fall asleep and maintain normal sleep quality.
There are several placebo-controlled studies that are considered important evidence for the effectiveness of valerian in the treatment of insomnia. Among them, Vorbach stands out, which included 121 respondents and lasted 28 days.
Half of the subjects received 600 mg of an alcoholic extract of valerian one hour before bedtime, the rest took a placebo. At the end of the study, 66% of subjects taking valerian had better sleep quality compared to 29% of subjects in the placebo group.
Additional evidence comes from a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials published in 2006 in The American Journal of Medicine, which analyzed 16 studies involving a total of 1093 people.
The author concludes that valerian can improve sleep without negative side effects. Another meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials suggests the hypnotic effects of valerian drugs.
Eighteen studies were analyzed and found that valerian is effective in subjectively improving insomnia.
Menopause period
Insomnia is known to be a frequent companion to menopause. Valerian supplements may be helpful here, points out a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial published in 2011 in the journal Menopause.
The study involved one hundred postmenopausal women aged 50 to 60 years with insomnia. The women were randomly divided into two groups. They received either 530 mg of valerian extract or a placebo twice a day for a month.
At the end of the study, women who received valerian showed a statistically significant improvement in sleep quality compared to placebo. This has contributed to some of the evidence for the effectiveness of valerian in the clinical treatment of insomnia.
Preliminary research has previously suggested that valerian extract relieves anxiety in a manner similar to diazepam. A recent study showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety in rats treated with valeric acid extract compared to a control group.
The anxiolytic effect was similar to that of diazepam. Valerian may be helpful in avoiding benzodiazepines, which are addictive for long-term use. Lopez-Peig and his colleagues conducted a study with 51 people who took these anxiolytics for 6 months.
The drug doses in the subjects were gradually reduced with valerian or hydroxyzine. After a year, 2/3 of the subjects stopped taking anxiolytics, partly with valerian preparations.
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