Practical
Plants

Valeriana officinalis

Valerian

a perennial member of the Valeriana genus in the family Valerianaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.5 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees, Flies, Beetles
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies, Beetles

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

It is said that prolonged medicinal use of this plant can lead to addiction[29]. A course of treatment should not exceed 3 months.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed[7]. No further details are given but the seeds of other members of this genus are parched and then eaten. An essential oil from the leaves and root is used as a flavouring in ice cream, baked goods, condiments etc[9]. It is especially important in apple flavours[19]. The leaves can also be used as a condiment[27]. The plant is used in moderation as a herbal tea[9].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Valerian is a well-known and frequently used medicinal herb that has a long and proven history of efficacy. It is noted especially for its effect as a tranquilliser and nervine, particularly for those people suffering from nervous overstrain[24][17]. Valerian has been shown to encourage sleep, improve sleep quality and reduce blood pressure[22]. It is also used internally in the treatment of painful menstruation, cramps, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome etc[19][22]. It should not be prescribed for patients with liver problems[19]. Externally, it is used to treat eczema, ulcers and minor injuries[19]. The root is antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, hypnotic, powerfully nervine, sedative and stimulant[24][28][29][3][15][25][4][5][10][16]. The active ingredients are called valepotriates, research has confirmed that these have a calming effect on agitated people, but are also a stimulant in cases of fatigue[17]. The roots of 2 year old plants are harvested in the autumn once the leaves have died down and are used fresh or dried[24][29][19]. The fresh root is about 3 times as effective as roots dried at 40° (the report does not specify if this is centigrade or fahrenheit), whilst temperatures above 82° destroy the active principle in the root[20]. Use with caution[15][19], see the notes above on toxicity.

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Nervine
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant yields about 1% of an essential oil from the roots[28][19]. It is used in perfumery to provide a 'mossy' aroma[26][27][19], though the scent is considered to be disagreeable by many people[14]. The dried roots are also placed in linen cupboards and clothes drawers in order to scent the clothes[24]. The dried root attracts rats and cats, it can be used as a bait to lure them away from other areas[2]. An ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator[23]. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost[K]. The plant can also be used to make a very good liquid plant feed[3][8][13]. It attracts earthworms[3][8]. The leaves are very rich in phosphorus[13].

Product or use
Compost
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Liquid feed
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain but excluding the extreme north and south, temperate Asia to Japan.
Habitat
Grassland, scrub, woods etc, on dry or damp soils[29][6]. Avoids acid soils.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame and only just cover the seed because it requires light for germination[12]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out into their permanent positions in the summer if sufficient growth has been made. If the plants are too small to plant out, grow them on in the greenhouse or frame for their first winter and plant them out early in the following summer. Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in ordinary garden soil[1], preferring a rich heavy loam in a moist site[24][28][6]. Thrives in full sun or in partial shade[18], doing well in light woodland. A polymorphic species, the more extreme variations are given specific status by some botanists[6]. Valerian is often grown in the herb garden and also sometimes grown commercially as a medicinal herb[1][12]. When grown for its medicinal root, the plant should not be allowed to flower[24]. The flowers and the dried roots have a strong smell somewhat resembling stale perspiration[21]. Cats are very fond of this plant, particularly the powdered root[1][24][11]. Once a cat has discovered a plant they will often destroy it by constantly rolling over it[24].The dried root also attracts rats and can be used as a bait in traps[24][3]. A good companion for most plants.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩

  8. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩

  11. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  13. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2

  14. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  15. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  16. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  17. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  18. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  19. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  20. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  21. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  22. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  23. Bruce. M. E. Commonsense Compost Making. Faber 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-571-09990-4

    ↩

  24. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  25. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  26. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  27. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  28. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  29. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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