Valerian officinalis: photo, description, medicinal properties of the plant, preparations

Valerian officinalis is also called a catnip, averyan, aromatic and even a damn rib. They knew about its healing properties in past eras and actively used them. Currently, numerous studies have confirmed that rhizomes and roots really have all the qualities attributed to them. We will get acquainted with this wonderful gift of nature and find out some interesting facts about Valerian.

Short description

The herbaceous perennial valerian officinalis, the photo of which is presented in the article, belongs to the valerian family. Distinctive features of the plant are as follows:

• Vertical rhizome reaching 10 cm in length.
• The stem is branched in the upper part, covered with grooves. Hollow, has a height of up to 2 meters.
• Basal leaves are collected in a rosette, formed in the first year of the plant's life. Differ in long petioles.
• Stem leaves are opposite relative to each other, dissected into 4-10 segments.
• The flowers are small in size, painted white or pale pink. Collected in a loose inflorescence-umbrella.
• The fruit is an oblong achene 2-3 mm long. The shape resembles a chicken egg.

A characteristic feature of the plant is its specific smell, sharp and incredibly attractive to representatives of the cat family. It is known that big cats - tigers, lions - smell it for many kilometers, get to the plant and cut their shoots with their powerful paws, after which, breathing in the aroma, they fall into ecstasy.

Features

We continue the description of Valerian officinalis. Flowering plants occur in June or July, reproduction is carried out by seeds. The plant is among the hardy:

• Despite the fact that it prefers high humidity, it also tolerates prolonged drought.
• The optimum temperature for growth is +20 ... + 26 ° C, but the seeds are able to germinate even at +5 ° C.
• The plant survives well in the shade.

In nature, the plant can most often be found on the banks of rivers and lakes, in marshy lowlands, much less often the representative of the flora is found in arid places or mountains.

Distribution area

The valerian medicinal plant, the photo of which is presented below, has a fairly wide area of ​​distribution. You can meet this representative of the flora in various parts of the world:

• In the European part of Russia, also in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, in the Crimea.
• In Ukraine (there are several rare, but very valuable species).
• Temperate and subtropical regions of the Mediterranean.

The plant feels most comfortable in the forest edges, green meadows, light forests, grass and peat bogs, grows sparsely, rarely you can find valerian thickets.

Briefly about the story

The healing properties of Valerian officinalis were well known to the Aesculapius of Ancient Greece, who used plant infusions to soothe patients, and also treated diseases of the nervous system and respiratory organs with their help. Avicenna advised taking drugs from the plant to improve brain activity.

In Europe in the Middle Ages, medicine was in a very primitive state, most often doctors refused to somehow help the sick, offering them to pray intensely. And Valerian often turned out to be their last hope, this plant helped to calm the nerves, cope with the problem of insomnia, cardiovascular problems, was used as a diuretic and as a way to alleviate the suffering of women in labor. In the centuries when people did not yet know the pain medication, the healing properties of rhizomes really helped a lot.

Slavs also knew about Valerian, who consumed plant roots rich in essential oils and alkaloids.

Modern research

In 1999, a serious study of various herbal preparations was carried out in Germany, which proved that valerian really has the properties that are attributed to it. In 2006, the idea that infusions have a beneficial effect on the nervous system of children was scientifically confirmed, making babies more calm and balanced. With daily intake of plants, the manifestations of depressive states are significantly reduced.

Composition

The valerian officinalis plant has a unique composition, which includes a huge number of components useful for human health:

• Acids are formic, butyric, acetic, stearic, and malic.
• Tannins.
• Alkaloids (valerin, hatinin).
• Valerian-borneol ether.

Most often, for medical purposes, the roots or rhizomes (shoots) of a plant are used. The composition of Valerian officinalis also contains valepatriates, which, after drying, form valerianic acid. In addition, roots and rhizomes contain ash, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc.

Therapeutic effects and effects

We will get acquainted with the medicinal properties of Valerian officinalis, which have found application both in traditional medicine and in modern pharmacology. The plant has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, has a sedative effect on the nervous system, has choleretic, anticonvulsant and antispasmodic effects. Taking drugs based on Valerian officinalis helps to normalize and prolong sleep, they have a good effect on the heart and blood vessels, help lower blood pressure, and stimulate blood circulation.

In folk medicine, valerian broth is used as a tool to help remove worms, as well as headaches and heartaches, hypochondria, as an antiemetic. It is proved that the plant reduces appetite, and, accordingly, helps in the fight against extra pounds.

When to apply

The healing properties of Valerian officinalis are so numerous and varied that the plant is considered a real salvation from a large number of diseases. We will name the main of them:

• Mental overwork.
• Hypertension.
• Epilepsy.
• Persistent migraines.
• Cramping in the digestive tract.
• Sleep disturbance.
• Hysteria.
• Constipation
• Flatulence.
• Early stages of angina pectoris.

It will be useful to take the plant with certain pathologies of the liver, kidneys, bile ducts, gall bladder. With problems with the central nervous system, drugs will also help: allow patients to get rid of increased irritability, normalize sleep.

Fees, which include the medicinal valerian plant, can be used for menstrual irregularities, colitis, cholecystitis, gastric diseases, heart failure. The plant also helps with toxicosis in pregnant women.

Possible side effects and harm

Like any medicinal plant, Valerian officinalis has a number of side effects, which you should definitely familiarize yourself with before the start of the course. There are few of them:

• Drowsiness.
• Depression.
• Decreased performance.
• Dizziness.
• Rarely, taking medications can cause nightmares and nervous agitation.

Most often, such negative consequences occur with an incorrect dosage of the drug, leading to the fact that an excessive amount of valerian gets into the body. To get rid of them is very simple - reduce the dosage or temporarily abandon the medicine.

Contraindication to taking Valerian drug is individual intolerance. You can not take medications containing rhizomes or roots of a plant at the same time with alcohol, barbiturates and opiates. In addition, the use of plants is highly undesirable without prior approval from a physician in the following cases:

• Stomach ulcer.
• Acute gastritis.

Alcohol tincture should not be consumed while driving, as well as with a tendency to alcoholism.

Planting and growing

Some owners of summer cottages prefer to breed their own wonderful plant, unpretentious in care, to always have valuable raw materials on hand. Growing Valerian drug will not cause any special difficulties, but it is best to sow the seeds in light chernozem, then they will germinate with a 100% probability in 13-20 days. In the first year, rosettes of basal leaves will be formed, starting from the second year, the plant will already bloom and give seeds.

To obtain a rich harvest of medicinal rhizomes, organic fertilizers should be used, rotted manure will be especially useful, mineral fertilizing is also acceptable. Weed removal and soil loosening are also required.

Harvesting raw materials

The best time to collect and start drying the raw materials of medicinal valerian is from October to November, the rhizomes at this time will become brown and dry, but spring collection is also acceptable. In order for the plant to recover, reuse of the same bush is carried out no earlier than a year later. The procurement includes several stages:

• Cleansing rhizomes and roots from the ground.
• Rinse thoroughly. In this case, thick rhizomes can be cut into 3-4 parts.
• Withering in the fresh air (1-2 hours).
• Drying at a temperature of +35 ° C. You should not create a higher temperature, otherwise the plant will lose most of its essential oils.

It is best to dry valerian in the attic or in special dryers, where it is easiest to create the necessary temperature regime. Finished raw materials are easy to determine by the fact that the roots break when exposed. Valerian should be stored in a dry room with well-organized ventilation for no more than three years.

Interestingly, the collection of wild-growing plants on an industrial scale began even during the reign of Peter I, at the same time they began to use valerian as a raw material for export, selling it profitably to European countries.

Pharmacological Review

The use of Valerian officinalis is diverse, consider the main drugs that are used by modern medicine. Information is presented in table form.

In addition, valerian as a component is included in numerous homeopathic medicines designed to solve the problem of insomnia, intestinal disorders, increased irritability, and stress. Some of them are also useful to women during menopause.

Insomnia fees

Valerian is a plant that is an essential component that helps with insomnia. Let's get acquainted with some of the most effective collections from the piggy bank of folk wisdom:

• Valerian roots, lemon balm herb and yarrow in equal amounts are poured with boiling water in a proportion of 1 part of plants to 10 parts of water. Drink ½ cup per day.
• Valerian roots and hop cones in equal amounts are filled with water in a ratio of 1: 1: 10. Apply 1 glass three times a day.
• 20 grams of the following plant: hop cones, peppermint and lemon balm (leaves), St. John's wort (herb), valerian (roots) should be added to a glass of boiling water and infused for 20 minutes. Drink a glass a day.

For the preparation of any infusion, you can use a thermos, this will save the temperature.

Interesting Facts

In conclusion, we offer you to get acquainted with a selection of interesting facts about the Valerian medicinal plant:

• Queen of Egypt Cleopatra used the flowers of the plant as a natural aphrodisiac, scattering them in her bedroom.
• Modern perfumers sometimes use valerian as a raw material to create unique aromas.
• Valerian essential oil can be used for massages and baths, in which case it will help get rid of stress, reduce muscle pain.
• You can use not only dried raw materials, but also fresh juice of leaves and rhizomes, it is most often used externally for the treatment of skin diseases and burns, purulent wounds.
• Healers of the east use drugs from valerian to remove freckles and give the skin an even tone.
• The plant has an amazing effect on cats, forcing them to roll on the floor and take the most amazing poses. This is due to the fact that, in its aroma, the rhizome of valerian is similar to pheromones, which are secreted by the body of cats during estrus. Therefore, small kittens will not pay any attention to the drug until puberty.

For more information on the properties of valerian, see the video.

Valerian officinalis is the most valuable gift of nature, which, when used correctly, helps to solve a number of problems. There are a large number of drugs in which the roots and rhizomes of plants have found their application. These are sedative, antispasmodic drugs that allow you to forget about insomnia, neurosis, nervous excitability, and reduce the effects of stress.