Anxiety treatment valerian

The use of valerian extends back at least 1000 years, and it gained a reputation in sixteenth-century Europe as a treatment for epilepsy (Tyler 1994 Temkin 1971). Its reported uses are broad (digestive aid, muscle relaxant, antipyretic, etc.) but it is commonly known to treat insomnia and anxiety (Gruenwald et al. 1998 Kowalchick and Hylton 1987). Valerian has a distinct, unpleasant odor. Perhaps appropriately, it is believed to be an herb in the writings of Galen and Dioscorides, called phu (Leyel 1994). 

Valerian is used in the treatment of insomnia and stress and anxiety. The important active compounds of valerian are the valepotriates (iridoid molecules) and valeric acid. These compounds are found exclusively in valerian. Originally, it was thought that just the valepotriates were responsible for valerian s sedative effects but, recently, an aqueous extract of valerian has also been shown to have a sedative effect. As the valepotriates are not soluble in water, it was concluded that valeric acid also possesses sedative action and is the chemical factor responsible for the sedative effect noted in human clinical trials with aqueous extracts of valerian (Murray, 1995). Valerian inhibits the uptake of GABA and enhances the release of GABA. 

Valerian is promoted in the United States primarily as a sedative-hypnotic for treatment of insomnia, and as an anxiolytic for restlessness and sleeping disorders associated with anxiety (4,7). 

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