Ayurvedic Herb
Valerian is best known for its calming effect, making it popular for sleep troubles and anxiety.
Benefits of Valerian Extract
- natural sleep aid
- stress and anxiety
- menstrual cramps
- headaches
- muscle spasms
- nervous restlessness
- stress-related digestive disorders.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a hardy perennial flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. The flowers are in bloom in the northern hemisphere from June to September.
The chief constituent of Valerian is a yellowish-green to brownish-yellow which is present in the dried root varying from 0.5 to 2 percent though an average yield rarely exceeds 0.8 percent. This variation in quantity is partly explained by location: a dry, stony soil, yielding a root richer in oil than one that is moist and fertile.
The volatile oils that form the active ingredient are extremely pungent, somewhat reminiscent of well-matured cheese. However, Valerian was used as a perfume in the sixteenth century.
Valerian tea should not be prepared with boiling water, as this may drive off the lighter oils. |
