Its nickname, “heal-all” or “all-heal”, says it all on its many health benefits and high therapeutic value.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a medicinal perennial herbbelonging to the Valerianaceae family, very common in Europe, Asia and America, often found in the underbrush of damp woods.
Important note: Medicinal valerian is the main plant in the Valeriana family. An active compound that appears in all plants of the family is valproic acid, a relaxing agent. If you take some during pregnancy, notably during the first trimester, your child is at higher risk of birth defects (1 to 2% more) than other children. Such defects include spina bifida, hypospadias (an abnormality in the urethra in boys), atrial septal defect (hole in the walls of the heart), polydactyly (having extra fingers/toes), craniosynostosis and cleft palate. Do not use this herb while pregnant or if there’s a chance you might conceive!
Valerian likes growing in rocky ground, in full sun, but in dry and well-drained soil.
After settling in, valerian requires strictly no care, not even watering.
When it pleases itself in a given location, it tends to spread and sometimes becomes outright invasive, all the more so that it seeds itself easily. Take note of this!
Herbal tea, infusion, decoction, essential oil, tincture and gelcaps: valerian is used in many forms for its therapeutic benefits, but it hasn’t yet made it to becoming an ingredient in an everyday recipe… Who shall create this legacy?
