Search herbs
health diet weight loss nutrition

Links to Content

Vitamins
Minerals
Supplements

Weight Loss
Fitness
Nutrition
Skin Care

Allergies
Blog
Buy Wholesale

Product Resources
Minerals
Mineral Calcium
Mineral Chromium
Mineral Iron
Mineral Magnesium
Mineral Phosphorus
Mineral Potassium
Mineral Selenium
Mineral Zinc
Supplements
Bee Pollen
Beta Carotene
Coenzyme Q 10
DHEA
Pycnogenol
Vitamins
Vitamin A
Vitamin B-1
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-2
Vitamin B-3
Vitamin B-5
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin C
Vitamin Choline
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin Folic Acid
Vitamin K

A Brief History

Saftey
Gathering
Storing
Traditional Uses

Therapeutic Reference
List of Herbs
Acacia
Agrimony
Alfalfa
Allspice
Aloe Vera
Amaranth
Angelica
Anise
Apple
Arnica
Astragalus
Barberry
Barley Grass
Basil
Bay Laurel
Bayberry
Bearberry
Beech
Bergamot
Bilberry
Bistort
Black Cohosh
Black Haw
Blackberry
Blessed Thistle
Bloodroot
Blue Cohosh
Boneset
Borage
Broom
Buckthorn
Burdock
Calendula
Caraway
Cascara Sagrada
Catnip
Cat's Claw
Cayenne
Cedar
Chamomile
Chaparral
Chickweed
Cinnamon
Clover
Cloves
Coltsfoot
Comfrey
Conflower
Cramp Bark
Cranberry
Damiana
Dandelion
Devil's Claw
Dill
Dong Quai
Dragon's Blood
Echinacea
Elder
Elderberry
Elecampane
Eleuthero
Ephedra
Eucalyptus
Evening Primrose
Eyebright
False Unicorn
Fennel
Fenugreek
Feverfew
Flax
Fo Ti
Frankincense
Garlic
Gentian
Ginger
Ginko
Ginseng
Goldenrod
Goldenseal
Gotu Kola
Green Tea
Hawthorn
Hazel
Heather
Henbane
Holly
Hops
Horehound
Horse Chestnut
Horseradish
Horsetail
Hyssop
Iceland Moss
Irish Moss
Ivy
Jasmine
Jojoba
Juniper
Kava Kava
Kelp
Ladys Mantle
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Lemongrass
Licorice
Lobelia
Lovage
Mandrake
Marigold
Marjoram
Marshmallow
Meadowsweet
Milk Thistle
Motherwort
Mugwort
Mullein
Myrrh
Myrtle
Neem
Nettle
Nutmeg
Oak
Oats
Onion
Orange
Oregano
Oregon Grape Root
Orris
Parsley
Passionflower
Patchouli
Pau d' Arco
Pennyroyal
Peony
Peppermint
Periwinkle
Pipsissewa
Plantain
Poppy
Psyllium
Quassia
Queen Anne's Lace
Raspberry
Red Clover
Reishi
Rose
Rosemary
Rue
Safflower
Saffron
Sage
St. John's Wort
Sandalwood
Sarsaparilla
Sassafras
Saw Palmetto
Senna
Sheep Sorrel
Shepherds Purse
Skullcap
Slippery Elm
Solomon's Seal
Spearmint
Spikenard
Squawvine
Stinging Nettle
Sweet Woodruff
Taheebo
Tansy
Tarragon
Tea Tree
Thyme
Turmeric
Uva Ursi
Valerian
Verbena
Vervain
Violet
Vitex
Wahoo
Walnut
Wild Cherry
Wild Yam
Willow
Witch Hazel
Wood Betony
Wormwood
Yarrow
Yellow Dock
Yerba Mate
Yerba Santa
Yohimbe Bark
Yucca Root
Click Here for More Information!
FREE Musical Cards
Quote of the Moment

Wishes cost nothing--unless you want them to come true. - Frank Tyger




Introduction to herbs

Valerian
Valeriana officinalis

Source
Valerian is the root of a perennial member of the valerian family found in eastern, southeastern, and eastcentral Europe, to south Sweden and the southern Alps. It escaped from cultivation in the northeastern United States and is commercially grown in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere.

Traditional Use
Valerian, not a major medicinal plant of the ancient classical authors, was best known to them as a diuretic and treatment for menstrual difficulties. The Greek physician Galen used it for epilepsy in children and adults. An Italian nobleman, Fabio Colonna, born in 1567, suffered from epilepsy and found Galen's reference. He took valerian himself and claimed it completely restored his health. His words stimulated interest in the plant as a sedative. Use of valerian to relieve spasms and as a sleep aid evolved in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Valerian was an official remedy in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1936.

Current Status
Valerian is widely used in Europe as a mild nerve sedative and sleep aid for insomnia, excitability, and exhaustion. Experimental studies have shown that it depresses the central nervous system and relieves muscle spasms. Its sedative action is attributed to a number of chemical fractions, with no single compound emerging as the active principle.

In the 1980s Swiss researchers studied the effects of valerian water extracts on sleep patterns. Sleep quality was assessed by the patients and by laboratory measures. The time taken to fall asleep was reduced, especially in older patients and insomniacs. Dream recall and nocturnal movement were apparently not affected. No hangover effect, a common complaint among users of synthetic sedatives, was reported the following morning. German health authorities allow use of valerian in sedative and sleep-inducing preparations for states of excitation and for difficulty in falling asleep due to nervousness.

Preparations
Dried valerian root is available in whole, cut-and-sifted, and powdered form for teas, capsules, tablets, tinctures, extracts, and other preparations. Some products are standardized to contain at least 0.5 percent essential oils.

Cautions
Some individuals may experience temporary stomach upset. Compounds called valepotriates have been shown to destroy and cause mutations in animal cells. Despite these findings, valerian is generally considered safe. Although official texts do not caution against using valerian during pregnancy, avoid it to be on the safe side.

Symptoms
Anxiety
Insomnia

Actions
Sedative, mild

NOTE: The information contained within the web site is for educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for seeking the advice of a qualified physician and/or naturopathic doctor, and the information given within is not meant to replace modern medicines or established medical treatments without the proper guidance of a qualified health practitioner. It is only meant for educational purposes. AllNatural.net and its representatives make no claims as to the ability of plants and their derivitives to cure you or treat you of any ailment known to man. Before using any plants and their derivitives you should seek the advice and training of a qualified professional and your personal physician. DO seek guidance if you do not know how to use these plants and their derivitives properly. AllNatural.net and its representatives will not be held responsible for the improper ingestion or other improper uses of plants and their derivitives. By use of this web site and the information contained herein you agree to hold harmless AllNatural.Net and its suppliers, heirs, employees and affiliates and you agree to the terms contained within the privacy and site use policy.

E-mail

All Natural.Net
Your Online Reference to Health, Diet, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Vitamins, Minerals & Chinese Herbs

Dotted Line

Website Design created by:
IMCD Web Design

Copyright © 1998 All Rights Reserved