Stinky Herb Brings Insomnia Relief
I would not have believed it, but one of the stinkiest herbs I have ever smelled is also very effective as a cure for insomnia.
The Valerian Root herb has been used to treat insomnia for a very long time – according to some records, it was used as early as Hippocrates in 460BC. It was also noted back then that it has a rather unpleasant smell.
Recent analysis (1) have proven that Valerian treats insomnia, and is particularly effective for insomina associated with menopause. In addition, it can help with the relief of headaches, nervousness and restlessness.
It seems that Valerian is most suited to treating chronic insomnia over shorter term sleeplessness – ie you need to take it for a few weeks before you will start to really see its impacts. But, it has a huge advantage over tranquilizers - it won’t cause that ‘hungover’ feeling that tranquilizers can. And, it can still help you sleep.
As with all herbal supplements, valerian is not evaluated by the FDA, so if you are taking any other medication, you should seek further information to determine if this is the right approach for you.
Valerian is used in a number of herbal mixtures and over the counter remedies for insomnia, but if you’re keen to try the most pure form of valerian root, then you’ll want to find a single herb in a capsule. Mountain Rose Herbs produce a single capsule, as well as a freeze-dried version that is combined with Passionflower.
(1): Bent S, Padula A, Moore D, Patterson M, Mehling W (December 2006). “Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis“. Am. J. Med. 119 (12): 1005–12
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