Valerian is a flowering herb that was originally cultivated in regions of Asia and Europe. It was eventually brought to the Americas. While extracts made from the petals of valerian were used as perfume, the root of valerian is typically what is used in pharmaceutical and herbal medicine. Valerian has many healing properties attributed to it. While valerian is [Page 1513]more commonly known as an herbal treatment for sleep disorders, it is also used to alleviate physical discomfort and to treat a variety of mental disorders. These disorders include anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression.

Although valerian has been used for thousands of years, the precise physiological mechanism that aids in its healing capability has not been solidly determined. However, based on valerian’s ...