Valerian Pictures

Valerian, also known as valerian, deer seed grass, sweet osmanthus, cat food vegetable, mountain fragrance, etc., is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that is distributed in Heilongjiang Province, Jilin Province and Liaoning Province in China. It has the effects of soothing the mind, removing rheumatism, promoting blood circulation and relieving pain. It is often used to treat symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, insomnia, madness, and mania. So, what should we pay attention to about valerian? Let's take a detailed look with the editor below.

The shape characteristics of valerian

A tall perennial herb, reaching a height of 100-150 cm; the rhizome is short and thick and capitate, and the roots are lanceolate; the stem is hollow, with longitudinal ridges, and covered with stiff hairs, especially at the nodes, and becomes less hairy when old. The creeping branches, basal leaves and tip leaves often wither during flowering. Stem leaves ovate to broadly ovate, deeply palmately divided, with 7-11 lobes; central lobe is nearly the same size as the lateral lobes, but sometimes merges with the first and second lateral lobes to form 3 lobes, lobes lanceolate or linear, gradually narrowing at the apex, with the tip decurrent, entire or sparsely serrate, and both sides and the petiole are more or less hairy. The head inflorescence is terminal, forming a corymbose ternate panicle; the bracts are papery in the center, membranous on both sides, oblate-oblong-circular, oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate, with an awn-like point at the apex and more or less coarse cilia on the edges. Corolla is light purple or milky white, 4-5(-6)mm long, the lobes of Corolla are oval, and the pistil is about the same length as the Corolla. Achenes are long ovate, about 4-5mm long, nearly truncate at the tip, bald or hairy on both sides. The flowering period is from May to July, and the fruiting period is from June to October.

The effects and benefits of valerian

It is used to treat restlessness, weak stomach, low back pain, irregular menstruation, and bruises.

Planting "Scientific Folk Herbs": "For neurasthenia and mental restlessness."

Organization "Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine": "Treats female liver depression and kidney deficiency, and difficult menstruation."

Enteroscope "Sichuan Chinese Medicine Records": "Treats central nervous system, heart and stomach failure, diffuse neurasthenia and diabetes insipidus."

Tumor "Shaanxi Chinese Medicine Records": "Treats palpitations and low back pain."

Gastroscopy "Shaanxi Chinese Herbal Medicine": "It can calm the mind, help sleep, dispel wind and relieve spasms, remove toxins and activate blood circulation, and relieve pain. It can treat hysteria, Keshan disease, heart disease (myocarditis, heart disease after childbirth, rheumatoid heart disease combined with heart failure), back and leg pain, gastrointestinal spasm, arthritis, bruises, and bleeding from trauma."

How to use valerian root

Oral administration: decoction, 3-9g, or grind into powder; or soak in wine. External application: Grind into powder and apply appropriately.

Contraindications of taking valerian

"Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Annals": "People with weak constitutions and yin deficiency should use with caution."

Is valerian poisonous?

Non-toxic.

Valerian Recipe

1. For neurasthenia and palpitations: 6g of valerian, decocted in water; or 30g of valerian, soaked in 150ml of pure grain wine, divided into doses after 48 hours (one week's dose for my side). (Selected Chinese Herbal Medicines from Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai)

2. Treat neurasthenia and insomnia: 9g of valerian, soak and drink. Or 9g each of valerian, julibrissin bark, and calamus. Take it by soaking. (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine)

3. Treatment of hysteria: Plant 9g of valerian and 30g of Poria cocos. Decoction in water. (Selected Chinese Herbal Medicines of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai) 9g each of valerian and licorice, 5 red dates. Take it by soaking. (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine)

4. Treatment of gastric neurosis: 6g each of valerian, nard, and evodia rutaecarpa. Take it by soaking (Anhui Chinese Herbal Medicine)

5. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: valerian 9g, angelica pubescens 9g, siler 9g, ligusticum 9g, cassia twig 6g. Decoction in water. (Handbook of Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicines in Qinghai)

Valerian itself is non-toxic, but it is not suitable for everyone to take. Experts say that people like the weak and sick with kidney yin deficiency need to use it with caution, otherwise it may aggravate the patient's symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended that you use it under the guidance of a specialist to ensure it is reliable. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the standard recipe requirements for medicinal value. I hope the editor’s introduction in the original article will be of some help to everyone.