Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) Nature’s Valium

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is an herb native to Asia and Europe that now grows wild in many other areas of the world, including the United States & Canada. Valerian is an herb that’s commonly used as an ingredient in sleep aid supplements as a result of its calming properties. This perennial plant has been used  as a natural medicine since as far back as the time of ancient Greece and Rome. 

This herb is often referred to as “nature’s Valium,” and people have used it since the Middle Ages to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia. Valerian also helps you to relax & helps aid with anxiety & stress & other similar symptoms.

Valerian’s synergistic actions of compounds includes valepotriates, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and carboxylic compounds, also lignans, flavonoids & low levels of gamma aminobutyric acid also known as (GABA). GABA is a chemical messenger that helps regulate nerve impulses in your nervous system.

Certain compounds in valerian, called valerenic acid & valerenol, can act on GABA receptors in the body.

It’s one of the main neurotransmitters responsible for sleep regulation, and increasing the amount of GABA available in your body has sedative effects.

Valerenic acid and valerenol can modulate GABA receptors and increase the amount of GABA available in the central nervous system. What’s more, research has shown that valerenic acid inhibits an enzyme that destroys GABA 

It contains Compounds that may  interact with receptors for  serotonin & adenosine, which are chemicals that are vital within the regulation of sleep, & mood.

It’s compounds give valerian its characteristic pungent smell may have anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects in the body.