Description
Valeriana officinalis, commonly known as garden heliotrope, common valerian, or all-heal, is a clumping perennial native to Europe and western Asia. It has also escaped gardens and locally naturalized in the northern U.S. and Canada1. Here are some key points about Valeriana officinalis:
- Description:
- Height: Typically grows 3-5 feet tall (occasionally up to 6 feet).
- Leaves: Odd-pinnate, with 7-10 pairs of toothed, lance-shaped leaflets. Leaves are aromatic when bruised.
- Flowers: Trumpet-shaped, 4-7 mm long, with a light pink or white corolla and 5 spreading lobes. Blooms in June-July.
- Roots: Strong-smelling roots yield the herbal drug valerian, which has been used for centuries to address issues like anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.
- Cultivation:
- Prefers moist, rich loam soil but can tolerate average garden soils.
- Spreads by rhizomes and self-seeds.
- Deadhead spent flowers to prevent self-seeding.
- How to Use:
- Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds, and berries.
- To make a decoction, add 1 tablespoon of dried valerian root to 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30-60 minutes. Strain and enjoy!
- :You may:
- Sweeten herbal tea with honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder, or licorice root powder.
Precautions: These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
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