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Hi, thanks, will post these links.

Brian

Valerian 

Valeriana officinalis
Principal Proposed Uses
  • Insomnia
Other Proposed Uses
  • Anxiety; Nervous Stomach

 

Over 200 plant species belong to the genus Valeriana, but the one most commonly used as an herb is Valeriana officinalis. The root is used for medicinal purposes.

Galen recommended valerian for insomnia in the second century A.D. From the sixteenth century onward, this herb became popular as a sedative in Europe (and later, the United States). Scientific studies on valerian in humans began in the 1970s, leading to its approval as a sleep aid by Germany's Commission E in 1985.

As with most herbs, we are not exactly sure which ingredients in valerian are most important.1,2 Early research focused on a group of chemicals known as valepotriates, but they are no longer considered candidates. A constituent called valerenic acid is presently under study, but its role is far from clear.

Our understanding of how valerian functions is similarly incomplete. Several studies suggest that valerian affects GABA, a naturally occurring amino acid that appears to be related to the experience of anxiety.3–6 Conventional tranquilizers in the Valium family are known to bind to GABA receptors in the brain, and valerian may work similarly. However, there are some significant flaws in these hypotheses, and the reality is that we don't really know how valerian works.7,8

What Is Valerian Used for Today?

Valerian is commonly recommended as a mild treatment for occasional insomnia. However, evidence from the best study on valerian suggests that it is most useful when taken over an extended period of time for chronic sleep disorders.9

Like other treatments used for insomnia, valerian has also been proposed as a treatment for anxiety, but there is little evidence as yet that it is effective.

Finally, valerian is sometimes suggested as a treatment for a nervous stomach; however, as of yet, there is no supporting scientific evidence for this use.

What Is the Scientific Evidence for Valerian?

The best study to date of valerian's effectiveness in treating insomnia involved 121 people followed for 28 days. 10 Half of the participants took 600 mg of an alcohol-based valerian extract 1 hour before bedtime, the other half took placebo. At first, placebo and valerian were running neck and neck. But by the end of the study, the participants treated with valerian were definitely sleeping better than those on placebo.

Although positive, these results are a bit confusing, because in another large study valerian was immediately more effective than placebo. This trial followed 128 subjects who had no sleeping problems.11 On nine non-consecutive nights, each participant took one of three treatments: valerian, a valerian-hops combination, or placebo. The results showed that on the nights they took valerian alone, participants fell asleep faster than when they were taking placebo or the combination. (However, valerian-hops has been found effective in another trial, described below). To make matters even more complex, other studies have failed to find any immediate sedative effects with valerian, as one would expect with a substance that induces sleep.45,46 The explanation for these contradictory results remains elusive.

Additional evidence for valerian's effectiveness comes from a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 78 elderly patients.12 In this case, sleep improved by the end of the study, at 14 days.

Furthermore, a 28-day, double-blind trial of 75 people with insomnia compared valerian (600 mg at bedtime) with the standard drug oxazepam (10 mg at bedtime).13 The results showed no differences in effectiveness.

However, another study failed to find valerian more helpful than placebo for chronic insomnia.47

A double-blind comparative study that enrolled 46 patients compared the effects of the standard drug bromazepam to a mixture of valerian and hops with either treatment taken one-half hour before bed.14 The results suggest that the two treatments were equally effective. One study found that this valerian-hops combination can antagonize the arousal produced by caffeine.48

A combination of valerian and lemon balm has also been tried for insomnia. A rather poorly designed 30-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 98 individuals without insomnia found marignal evidence that a valerian–lemon balm combination improved sleep quality as compared to placebo.15 However, a double-blind crossover study of 20 people with insomnia compared the benefits of the sleeping drug Halcion (0.125 mg) against placebo and a combination of valerian and lemon balm, and failed to find the herb effective.16 The drug, however, did prove effective.

Valerian has also shown some promise for helping people sleep better after discontinuing conventional sleeping pills in the benzodiazepine family.43

Anxiety

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 36 peple with generalized anxiety disorder were given either valerian extract, Valium, or placebo for a period of 4 weeks.44 The study failed to find statistically significant differences between the groups, presumably due to its small size.

In addition, a preliminary double-blind study found that valerian may produce calming effects in stressful situations.17 Again, though, this study was too small to provide definitive results.

Dosage

For insomnia, the standard dosage of valerian is 2 to 3 g of dried herb, 270 to 450 mg of an aqueous valerian extract, or 600 mg of an ethanol extract, taken 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. 23 The same amount, or a reduced dose, can be taken twice daily for anxiety.

Because of valerian's unpleasant odor, European manufacturers have created odorless valerian products. However, these are not yet widely available in the United States.

Valerian is not recommended for children under 3 years old.24

Safety Issues

Valerian is on the FDA's GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list, and is approved for use as a food. In animals, it takes enormous doses of valerian to produce any serious adverse effects. 25

In a suicide attempt, one young woman took approximately 20 g of valerian (20 to 40 times the recommended dose). Only mild symptoms developed, including stomach cramps, fatigue, chest tightness, tremors and light-headedness. All of these resolved within 24 hours, after two treatments with activated charcoal.26Her lab tests—including tests of her liver function—remained normal. Keep in mind that this does not mean that you can safely exceed the recommended dose!

One report did find toxic results from herbal remedies containing valerian mixed with several other herbal ingredients, including skullcap. Four individuals who took these remedies later developed liver problems.27However, skullcap products are sometimes contaminated with the liver-toxic herb germander, and this could have been the explanation.

There have also been about 50 reported cases of overdose with a combination preparation called Sleep-Qik, containing valerian as well as conventional medications.28,29 Researchers specifically looked for liver injury, but found no evidence that it occurred.

There are some safety concerns about valepotriates, constituents of valerian, because in test tube studies they have been found to affect DNA and cause other toxic effects. However, valepotriates are not present to a significant extent in any commercial preparations.30,31

Although no animal studies or controlled human trials have found evidence that valerian ever causes withdrawal symptoms when stopped, one case report is sometimes cited in support of the possibility that this might occur.32It concerns a 58-year-old man who developed delirium and rapid heartbeat after surgery. According to the patient's family, he had been taking high doses of valerian root extract (about 2.5 to 10 g per day) for many years. His physicians decided that he was suffering from valerian withdrawal. However, considering the many other factors involved (such as multiple medications and general anesthesia), it isn't really possible to conclude that valerian caused his symptoms.

In clinical trials use of valerian has not been associated with any signficant side effects. A few people experience mild gastrointestinal distress, and there have been rare reports of people developing a paradoxical mild stimulant effect from valerian.

Valerian does not appear to impair driving ability or produce morning drowsiness when it is taken at night.35–38 As noted above, most studies have failed to find any immediate sedative effect with valerian. However, one study reported finding mild impairment of attention for a couple of hours after taking valerian.49 For this reason, it isn't a good idea to drive immediately after taking it.

There have been no reported drug interactions with valerian. Nonetheless, there are theoretical concerns that valerian might amplify the effects of sedative drugs. A 1995 study was somewhat reassuring on this score, because it found no interaction between alcohol and valerian.40 However, animal studies have found that valerian extracts may prolong the effects of some sedatives,41,42and there have been some worrisome case reports suggesting that the combination of valerian and alcohol can lead to excessive sedation in some people.50 For this reason, we recommend that you do not combine valerian with central-nervous-system depressants, except under doctor’s supervision.

Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.

Brian, I think your dream about the herb that grows in South Carolina  that cures sleep disorders is  called Valerian. Below is the website and information on the herb.  There is more at the website, I only copied a few lines. You may already have this information.

reply

Thanks, posted.

Brian

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian.asp

This fact sheet provides an overview of the use of valerian for insomnia and other sleep disorders and contains the following key information:

• Valerian is an herb sold as a dietary supplement in the United States.
• Valerian is a common ingredient in products promoted as mild sedatives and sleep aids for nervous tension and insomnia.
• Evidence from clinical studies of the efficacy of valerian in treating sleep disorders such as insomnia is inconclusive.
• Constituents of valerian have been shown to have sedative effects in animals, but there is no scientific agreement on valerian's mechanisms of action.
• Although few adverse events have been reported, long-term safety data are not available.

4.4.2006

Hi Brian,

The cure for sleep disorders looks like it has the word Valerian written
at the top. Valerian is a herb known for assisting with sleep disorders.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian.asp

Cheers, Zac Lucas

reply

Thanks Zac, posted.

Brian