IN HERBAL PREPARATIONS
HISTORY OF VALERIAN
by Melanie Purcell
Anxiety, depression, and insomnia are just a few of the countless disorders that are the consequences of a stressful lifestyle. Anyone suffering one of these illnesses knows of the negative results that usually accumulate from the stress. Nerves are tested to the point where relationships are challenged and personal well-being is sacrificed.
Countless amounts of money is being spent in the research and development of the pharmaceutical drugs that are meant to aid in such conditions. These drugs are most often prescribed by physicians to their patients. These patients suffer a broad range of symptoms ranging in intensity. Many people find that taking these drugs may cause severe side-effects and lead to physical and psychological dependence. Often, these patients are discovering that the medications that they have been prescribed do not fix their complaints.
People are becoming so fed up with their physicians and these pharmaceutical companies that they are turning their back on these allopathic medications. More and more people are discovering that nature provides the best healing tools, edible plants or herbs. Fantastic results are produced from using herbal remedies and by making lifestyle modifications and improvements. There are several herbs that produce promising results when used to aid nerve conditions. The powerful herb Valerian has had great success treating such anxiety disorders.
Valerian is an herb that has been documented for hundreds of years for having sedating medicinal qualities. The root of the plant is most commonly used for it’s medicinal value. The strong smell of the root makes it easy identifiable. Historic texts dating back to 460 B.C. refer to the unpleasant smell as phu. Variations of the word phu, have been referenced in medical vocabulary from the fifteenth century. These texts gave directions to harvest Valerian in August. Common in use since the age of Hippocrates, Valerian was used by Greeks for several common ailments. Dioscorides, the Greek physician, used Valerian for conditions with the liver, the urinary tract, and the digestive tract. Arab physicians even advocated the use of the herb to patients.
In addition to using the herb chiefly for medicinal purposes, Valerian has even been used by Eastern countries as a scent for one's bath water and as a perfume. Some people used the root to give scent to their clothing. It's hard to believe that anyone would care to use such a foul smelling root for pleasant aromatic purposes but there were and still are several species of Valerian whose roots smelled more appealing.
Before the herb was named Valerian, it was referred to as nard. The origin of Valerian's name is debated. Some say that it is derived from the Latin word meaning good health, valere. Others insist that the herb was named after it was used treating medical conditions by Valerius. Centuries ago Valerian was referred to as Amantilla and has consistently been referred to as “all-heal.”
Throughout history Valerian was used as a spice. A recipe from the 1500’s containing Valerian stated, “Men who begin to fight and when you wish to stop them, give to them the juice of Amantilla and peace will be made immediately.” [i] Anglo-Saxton recipes containing Valerian have also been found and it was often consumed in salads. People in many parts of Europe used the root as additive to stews. It continues to be added to edible dishes around the world.
Valerian has been used in folklore for spiritual purposes. Historically, it has been found as an ingredient in love spells and to bring fighting couples back together. Utilizing Valerian for these purposes was not nearly as common because it was used more effectively for it's medicinal qualities.
Use of medicinal herbs in old English folk medicine was vital. Valerian was effective and people continued to be use it during a time when blood letting was the most popular “healing” method in use. Though it was popular with the country people, physicians also used the herb because of it's effective healing ability.
Valerian is used across the world for the sedating and soothing medicinal qualities that it provides, especially for the nerves. People are not the only beneficiaries of Valerians properties, animals are recipients too. It is not unusual to see a cat instantly attracted to any Valerian plant with bruised leaves or stems. Their reaction is similar to the way they act when they encounter catnip. It is known that many of the historic apothecaries judged the quality of the Valerian they used by the way a cat reacted to it. Many have experienced success in catching rats with a Valerian laced trap. These vermin are enticed by the Valerian plant. It has even been suggested that the rat charmer, the Pied Piper scented his body with the herb.
Gardener’s may find that soil containing Valerian will contain greater amounts of earthworms. The herb will increase phosphorus levels and help to provide the soil with additional minerals. The presence of Valerian in a garden may keep animals away from other well loved plants because of their appeal to the strong smelling herb.
Valerian has long been cultivated across the world for the sedating medicinal qualities that it provides. French pharmacists maintained an inventory of herbs that was as impressive as the amount of drugs that were stocked. Phamacuetical companies in the mid-Nineteenth century found their drugs produced a higher quality of results when they added Valerian as an ingredient. Native Americans were known to use chewed Valerian in their ears to provide relief from earaches.
Despite the popularity of allopathic medicine in the early twentieth century, Valerian was still being sought after by many in the medical community in America. Herbal use was even accepted for treating soldiers in World War I. Europeans continued to use the herb during Word War II to help ease the stress of the active air raids that their country was experiencing. Valerian was accepted in the United States medical field for over a hundred years in the U.S. Pharmopoeia until 1942. It was also published in the National Formulary through the mid-twentieth century.
There are at least eighty, yes eighty, over-the-counter sleep medications that include Valerian as an ingredient. The herb is quite popular in Europe and many of these medications are manufactured there. Several countries still cultivate the herb to meet the demand for market use. These countries include: England, Belgium, Holland, India, China, and the United States. The Chinese continue to use it in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Valerian remains an active herb in Ayurvedic practice. The herb remains of the Food and Drug Administration's list of edible foods and even the World Health Organization recognizes the use of Valerian for relaxing the nerves.
It has been suggested that the prescription drug Valium may have derived it's name from Valerian. Perhaps there could be some truth to that...somewhere but the two are not chemically the same. The drug Valium does not contain Valerian. The herb, Valerian is much more safe to use the Valium.
[i] Mrs. M. Grieve, A Modern Herbal p.826
