I needed to do some research lately, as one of our friends came down with rapid heartbeat, constant sweating, general weakness and fatigue etc – the typical symptoms of an overactive thyroid. The rapid heartbeat was extremely alarming (around 120 / min all the time) so (among other things – but let’s talk about those a little later in an other post) I tried to find something with a great calming effect. I neved needed a natural sedative before, so this was a brand new area for me, but I pretty quickly found info on Valerian. If you are suffering from hyperthyroidism, I would recommend you to also check out Bugleweed and Lemon Balm.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis, Valerianacea) - Herbal cure for insomnia?
Everyone was referring to it as a wonderful calming agent, so I purchased some Valerian Root Tea at the local health store and brewed some tea. I tried it on myself before recommending it to anyone, and I found it an enjoyable experience. I drunk it before going to bed and I had a very calm night with colorful dreams. It seemed to affect my nervous system, relaxing the muscles but not overshadowing the mind. After reading further the next day I found that people are saying that if you increase the dosage you will not go “deeper” but the effects will last longer. Very interesting statement.
So, let’s get into some details about the herb itself!
The name comes from Latin word “valere” meaning to be healthy or strong. Use of Valerian as a sedative and cure for insomnia is known for literally thousands of years.
