Valerian Root

What is valerian root? Valerian is an herb. Valerian roots may have helped improve sleep, promote relaxation, and reduce anxiety and digestive disorders since ancient times. Valerian has been used since the second century A.D. to help people sleep, calm their nerves, and relax. Europe started to use it a lot in the 1600s. People have also said that it could help with stomach cramps. Some research, but not all, shows that valerian may help people who have trouble sleeping. Germany's Commission E approved valerian as a mild sedative that works well, and the US Food and Drug Administration listed valerian as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS). Scientists don't know exactly how valerian works, but they think it does so by increasing the amount of a chemical in the brain called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA helps control how nerve cells work and can calm anxiety. Alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) both work by making the brain produce more GABA. Researchers think that valerian may have a similar but less strong effect. Valerian is a plant that is native to Europe and some parts of Asia. It is called Valeriana officinalis. Valerian root has been used as a sleep aid for…