Valeriaan

About this herb

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a European herb whose root has long had a fixed place within gentle evening and rest routines. You come across it as a tea, in capsules and as drops or a tincture. On this page you can read calmly and honestly what valerian is, how it is traditionally used, in which forms you will come across it and what to pay attention to. With valerian there is an explicit point of attention: it can give a calming, drowsy feeling and is therefore not simply to be combined with driving, operating machinery or certain medicines. So read the section on caution carefully. The information is intended for adults and does not replace medical advice or a healthy lifestyle.

What is valerian?

Valerian is the underground root with rhizome of the plant Valeriana officinalis, a herb that grows naturally in large parts of Europe and Asia. The plant has fine, pink-white flower clusters, but it is precisely the underground part, the root and the rootstock, that is traditionally used. To process it into tea, capsules or drops, this part of the plant is harvested, dried and cut or ground.

Characteristic is the strong, earthy and somewhat distinctive smell that the dried root gives off. Not everyone finds that smell pleasant, but it is a recognisable feature of genuine valerian root. In tea blends and mixes, valerian is therefore often combined with herbs such as hops, chamomile or passionflower, within routines aimed at a calm evening and relaxation.

Valerian has a long history within the European herbal tradition and is often discussed in relation to an evening routine and a moment of calm. It is good to look at this realistically: valerian can be part of a conscious routine, but it is not a medicine and not a replacement for medical care. Therefore always read the label and the warnings before using it.

Traditional use

Valerian has long been used within gentle evening and rest routines and is often discussed in relation to relaxation and a calm moment before going to sleep. In the European herbal tradition, the root has a long history as a herb that people give a fixed place at the end of the day, for example as a cup of tea or as part of an evening ritual.

These uses are traditional in nature and say nothing about a medicinal effect. It is important to keep that distinction clear: the fact that a herb has been used in a certain way for centuries does not mean that it treats sleep problems or prevents a condition. We therefore describe its use soberly, as part of a routine and not as a solution.

In older herbal books, valerian was often mentioned within the context of rest and evening routines. The way herbs were described back then, however, does not meet the standards we set for information today. We therefore look at it soberly: a traditional herb with a long history within calm routines, nothing more.

Nowadays people choose valerian mainly because of that traditional place within an evening routine. The herb fits into a broader habit of rest and regularity at the end of the day, a fixed tea moment or a calm ritual, not as a standalone solution for complaints.

What people look for this herb for

• I am looking for a calm moment at the end of the day
• I want to relax in my evening routine
• I am looking for a traditional herb for tea or drops
• I am curious about herbs that are discussed for a calm evening

These are reasons people search, not promises or diagnoses. Valerian is not a treatment for complaints and not a sleeping aid. If you sleep poorly for a longer period or have persistent complaints, consult a doctor instead of experimenting yourself.

How is valerian used?

Valerian comes in various forms, each with its own use:

• Tea: dried valerian root, infused with hot water, often in a blend with other calming herbs. The smell is pronounced and the taste earthy.
• Capsules: valerian as part of a supplement or herbal formula, where the amount is stated on the label.
• Drops or tincture: a liquid extract of the root, to be used according to the usage advice on the packaging.
• Herbal blend: combined with herbs such as hops, chamomile or passionflower within an evening blend.

Always follow the usage advice on the label and do not exceed the recommended amount. We deliberately do not mention dosages: these are stated on the packaging of the specific product and can vary per product. Do not use valerian in high amounts over a long period without expert advice. Bear in mind that valerian can cause drowsiness; therefore plan its use at a time when you no longer need to drive or operate machinery afterwards.

Why lifestyle remains important

Herbs such as valerian work best as part of a broader, healthy routine, not as a standalone solution. A herb can add something to your evening, but the foundation remains a balanced lifestyle and good sleep habits.

• A varied, fibre-rich diet
• Drinking enough water
• Enough sleep and rest
• Regular exercise
• Attention to stress balance

A food supplement is not a replacement for a varied diet, a healthy lifestyle or medical advice. Valerian fits within such a routine, but does not take over the role of regularity, relaxation and healthy habits around night-time rest.

When to be careful

Valerian is not suitable for everyone. Because valerian can give a calming, sometimes drowsy feeling, caution is precisely important around traffic, machinery and combining it with other substances. When in doubt, always consult a doctor or pharmacist first and do not start on your own initiative.

• Driving and operating machinery: valerian can cause drowsiness; do not drive and do not operate machinery as long as you notice that your reaction speed is reduced by it.
• Sedatives and sleep medication: do not combine valerian with sleeping aids or other sedative medicines without explicit advice from a doctor or pharmacist, because the effects can reinforce each other.
• Alcohol: do not combine valerian with alcohol.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: do not use valerian without consulting a doctor or midwife.
• Use of medication or a medical condition: consult a doctor or pharmacist first, so that they can think along about your situation.
• Around surgery: coordinate use with your practitioner and report it in advance.
• Children: not intended for children without advice.
• Allergy or hypersensitivity: stop with a skin rash, itching or other reactions and seek help if necessary.

If you develop complaints, stop and consult a doctor. A supplement does not replace medical advice. Persistent sleep problems belong with a doctor and not with experimenting with herbs yourself. If you doubt whether valerian suits your situation, then do not use it and seek expert advice first.

What valerian does not do

It is important to keep realistic expectations. Valerian is not a medicine, not a miracle cure and not a replacement for medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, and it is not a sleeping aid.

Valerian does not detoxify the body as a medical fact. The body has its own natural processes via the liver, kidneys and intestines. Herbs can at most fit within a conscious routine, but do not replace these processes and do not solve complaints. Therefore stick to a healthy lifestyle and good sleep habits, and seek medical advice with persistent complaints.

Valerian in supplements

In supplements and tea blends, valerian often appears as part of a broader herbal formula aimed at rest and an evening routine, for example together with hops, chamomile or passionflower. In these, valerian mainly contributes its traditional, earthy character within a calm blend. It is rarely the only ingredient; usually it forms a whole together with other herbs. The exact composition and amount are always stated on the label of the product in question.

Therefore always read the full list of ingredients and the warnings before choosing a product, especially because valerian can cause drowsiness and is not suitable for everyone. While doing so, also look at the other herbs in the blend, because they have their own points of attention. When in doubt or when using medication, consult a doctor or pharmacist first. Via our Herb Guide you can calmly compare which herbs are discussed for a calm evening routine, so that you make a conscious choice.