V
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 disor-
ders, 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 contraindica-
tions, 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