Posted by 8 Miles on January 27, 2004, at 18:58:38
In reply to Valerian for sleep?, posted by sarita0001 on January 23, 2004, at 22:31:36
Well, Sara, it is the root of Valerian (which is a bush-like plant)know as valeriana officinalis (which is a reference to its rather strong pungent odor)from which the herbal supplement is derived. Valerian root has been used (documented) since the middle of the 4th Century. Usual dose is between 1600-1700mg about 1/2 to 1 hour before bedtime. I forget the specific "reason" that it helps promote sleep. Some people think it is chemically related to Valium because of the similar name. There is no chemical relation at all. For mild sleep problems, Valerian root can be very safe and effective. HOWEVER, as with all herbal supplements, you need to be VERY careful when mixing it with your regular meds. It can interfere with how other meds work. I used to take it for a number of years with mixed results. However, I have taken it out of my med-mix due to the above-mentioned interactions with RX meds. If you have specific questions, your doc or Pharm. should be able to help you. If you can tolerate the odor of it, it may be very useful for you! Good luck with it.
8
poster:8 Miles
thread:304858
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040110/msgs/306187.html