Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis):Valerian is a commonly used herb and is a shining example of why we need to consider plant energetics and individual constitutions as opposed to the “this herb for this condition” mentality. But before we talk about herbal energetics let’s learn a little about this aromatic plant. Valerian grows readily in gardens and in the wilderness of North America. If you’ve ever been around fresh valerian roots you’ll probably never forget that smell.
   Some despise it, likening it to gym socks that haven’t been washed in months. Others, like myself, adore the smell, pungent and vibrant. The smell of the roots

can be a first step in matching this plant to a particular person. Many herbalists agree: if you don’t like the smell, this plant probably isn’t for you.
   Valerian is used extensively for nervousness, insomnia, and muscle spasms, including menstrual cramping. Valerian, however, is not a plant well suited to all people. Rather than relieving nervousness, anxiety, and promoting restful sleep, valerian has been known to stimulate and increase hyperactivity in certain persons.
     Michael Moore, in his book Plants of the Pacific Northwest, gives a detailed description of who this plant works best for, and who it doesn’t work for. He explains that because of its tendency to stimulate digestion, lungs, and heart function, it can have adverse effects on people who do not need these systems stimulated. In The Earthwise Herbal, Matthew Wood gives indications for valerian as cold pallid skin, anemic, and nervous. Lesley Tierra sums it up  simply in her book Healing with the Herbs of Life: valerian is a distinctly warming herb, great for those people who suffer from nervousness, insomnia, and muscle spasms due to a cold condition.
  Valerian is a great herb to promote restful sleeping and does not produce a long list of symptoms common to prescription sedatives. It’s relaxing, yet allows for REM sleep and leaves you feeling refreshed in the morning without grogginess. Of course the effectiveness of valerian, as with all plants, is dependent on the herb matching the person, rather than the condition.
I keep a fresh root tincture of valerian at my bedside for those  nights when I can’t seem to keep my mind from racing to a thousand different thoughts.

Valerian Tincture (folk method):
• Prepare the fresh roots by mincing them finely and placing them firmly but gently packed into a jar.
• Cover the roots with an alcohol. 50% proof vodka works fine. I like to use ¾ everclear (or, even better, organic grape alcohol) and ¼ water.
• Label the jar with date, alcohol used, where the plant was  collected, and any other information that may be useful.
• Keep the jar in a dark place, shaking it daily with healing thoughts.
Monitor the level of alcohol in the jar, as you may need to top it off occasionally.
• After 2 – 6 weeks strain off the plant material and compost.