Valeriana officinalis
(Valerian)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Anodyne
• Antidiuretic
• Antimicrobial to gram positive bacteria
• Antispasmodic
• Decreases blood pressure
• Increases bile flow
• Normalization of the central nervous system
• Sedative - binds to the same brain receptors as Valium and other benzodiazepine drugs but does not appear to have side effects (impaired mental function, morning hangover, dependency)

Clinical Indications:

• Depression
• Dysmenorrhea
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• PMS
• Migraine headache

Contraindications:

• Occasionally has opposite effect, stimulating instead of sedating
• Thyroid dysfunction

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Aqueous alkaline extract enhances sleeping time of thiopental
• Ethanol extract prolonged thiopental anaesthesia
• Valerenic acid enhances sleeping time of pentobarbital
• Valepotriate-containing valerian substances may be used for benzodiazepine drug withdrawal
• Valerian increases sedative effects of hypnotic drugs

Chemical Constituents:

• a-Kessyl alcohol
• Alkaloids:
  
  Actinidine
  Valerine
  Valerianine
  Chatinine
• Bornyl acetate
• Bornyl isovalerate
• Choline
• Citronellyl isovalerate
• Eugenyl and esoeugenyl isovalerate
• Faurinone
• Faurinols
• Flavonoids
• Hydroxyvalerenic acid
• Iridoids known as valepotriates:
  
  Acevaltrate
  Deacetylisovaltrate
  Didrovaltrate
  Homodivaltrate
  Homovaltrate
  Isovaltrate
  Valechlorine
  Valeridine
  Valtrate
• Isovaleric acid
• Sterols
• Tannins
• Valerenal
• Valerenone
• Volatile oil containing:
  
  Valerenic acid

Toxicity:

• Toxic overdose produces:
  
  Agitation
  Central paralysis
  Decreased sensibility, motility and reflex excitability
  Giddiness
  Headache
  Nausea
  Perverted vision
  Restlessness

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).