Valerian can grow to be just over 6 feet tall and has a strong odor. It seems to act like a sedative in the brain and nervous system. Valerian has been used as a traditional medicine dating back to ancient Greek and Roman times. It was used in ancient Greece and Rome to ease: insomnia, nervousness, trembling, headaches, stress. It was noted by Hippocrates to treat headaches, nervousness, trembling, and heart palpitations.
Valerian tea is a tea that people can make from the dried roots and rhizomes or underground stems of the valerian plant. Many describe the taste of valerian tea as “woody” or “earthy.” The plant grows well in moist, grassy areas so the tea has an earthy quality that is distinctive. The taste becomes stronger the longer a person leaves the tea to brew.
The most widely acknowledged benefit of valerian tea is its sleep-enhancing properties. People may drink valerian tea to help treat:
*Insomnia
*Depression
*Anxiety
*Premenstrual syndrome
*Menopause symptoms
*Headaches
According to National Institutes of Health (NIH), a possible mechanism by which a valerian extract may cause sedation is by increasing the amount of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter) available in the synaptic cleft. GABA contributes to a calming effect in the body.
Health benefits of Valerian root tea
