Valerian As Herbal ‘Valium’
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Janet
Posted on: May 18, 1998
I thought I read somewhere that Valerian Root is a natural Valium, or that Valium is from Valerian Root. Is this true? Also, what is Valerian Root used for?
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root is a non-addictive relaxant that is excellent for calming tension, anxiety and relieving pain. It is also used in insomnia due to anxiety or tension, and to relieve migraine and tension headaches. It has been used for these purposes for over 2000 years. There are no side effects with Valerian. It is not related to Valium, which is a trademark for diazepam, a synthetic drug used for anxiety and tension, but which is habit forming and does have side effects such as drowsiness or dizziness.
For more information on Valerian, see the book "Valerian, The Relaxing Sleep Herb" by Christopher Hobbs (available at Richters).
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