Talk:Valerian (plant)

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I just read that Kierkegaard (the Danish philosopher) took Valerian late in his life, while he was hospitalized: http://www.newyorker.com/critics/books/articles/050328crbo_books

Contents 1 strangeness 2 No real effect 3 Valium 4 St. Valerian 5 Effects on Cats and Rats

[edit] strangeness

An anon keeps putting the following phrase into the article:

May produce sensations of "strangeness" in some individuals. These persons should not use valerian.

This statement is also found on several other non-wikipedia websites, word for word or nearly so. Questions and Answers About Valerian for Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders Office of Dietary Supplements * National Institutes of Health notes that problems have been reported in clinical trials, but not confirmed as being due to valerian. A very old reference, A Compend of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Prescription Writing by Sam'l O. L. Potter, M.D., M.R.C.P.L., 1902., notes that it can cause "mental disturbance" which can "proceed even to delirium, while hallucinations and excitement are usually produced, together with great restlessness and spasmodic movements of the limbs." -- WormRunner | Talk 20:47, 24 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] No real effect

Most individuals will find Valerian has little/no effect. It is mainly placebo.

Useful how that doesnt have a source.. also, why does it say it isn't linked to Valium? By that standard should it also say that it isn't related to every other drug or herb that it isn't related to? I'm sure the average user isn't going to make a semantic link between them... He who says zonk 14:23, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

The idea that valerian is a placebo is ridiculous. The valium/valerian semantic link however is a common mistake among beginner gardeners/herbalists in my experience. -- WormRunner | Talk 19:53, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

I have to say that I always thought that. Calming herb beginning val-, calming drug beginning val-, surely that couldn't be a coincidence? So I think it's worth specifying that it is. Daibhid C 16:28, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

Valerian root does have verifiable sedative properties. My own anecdotal experience confirms this, and it also has a tendency to induce vivid dreams.

I'd have to say that the statement "it's just a placebo" is false. I use it to get to sleep when I am stressed out and it's a great alternative to to using Xanax for panic attacks. However when I use Valerian or any other drug/supplement to get me to sleep, I usually don't have or can't remember my dreams, unlike the person who posted above me.

[edit] Valium

Any reason for the anti-confusion Valium note? I really can't see anyone making this connection, any more than thinking the drug is called "Valium" because it's a good "value". Any objections to removing it? Alvis 02:33, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

I object. Just because you can't see anyone making that connection does not mean it has not been made. I have corrected people confused on this point more than a few times. -- WormRunner 03:16, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

Fair enough. I've never ran into anyone who's made that confusion, but if they're out there, then let's leave it in. Alvis 05:07, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

I took it for the first time last night (9-4-06) on the advice of my mother-in-law. I can confirm the anecdotal report of vivid dreams. The most vivid of my life, the scariest of my life and the first "wet dream" since my adolescent days. I will never take it again as I am still anxious 3 hours after waking.

Was that valium or valerian that caused the dreams and the errr accident?--I don't like football 03:45, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] St. Valerian

Is it named after St. Valerian (perhaps because of when it blooms, like St. John's Wort)? That would be a good thing to add to the Valerian/Valium note. Also, the St. Valerian article is a major stub. Snowboardpunk

[edit] Effects on Cats and Rats

Its a small thing I know but i cringe every time I see or hear 'so much so...' as in _{"Valerian is also very attractive to rats, so much so that it has been used to bait traps."} its just sounds like the author (no discredit to you) just couldn't think up the best words to express the sentence. Perhaps _{' Rats are highly attracted to it, to the extent that it has been used as rat trap bait'} or somthing along those lines maybe. --I don't like football 03:42, 9 January 2007 (UTC) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

My Personal experience with this,

I took it for the first time Sunday, and again today, the calming effect came on smooth and subtle, and faded away a few hours later just the same. I am not taking this to help me sleep, I am taking it to try to prevent another panic/anxiety attack from occuring. which I had went to the ER for a few weeks ago. I want to try an herbal route before I end up having to take some prescription pill like atavan every day for the rest of my life. I dont want that, and I would rather have tried everything else first.

Valerian root , and valium, have NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER, chemically or otherwise. The only thing similar between the 2 is the letters VAL in the names. thats it.

I'm only on day 2 of this stuff, (500mg Sundown Brand, capsules ) It could be in my head, or it could be physical, but I did feel pretty relaxed about 45 minutes after taking one pill. not to the point of laying down, just ..relaxed.. peaceful. I felt good. Again, it could be in my head, it could be from the pill. A few more days and I will have a better idea if Valerian Root is a joke or has some real effects.

John L