Valerian

Valerian is a popular and potent nervine with strong tranquilizing effects on the central nervous system. It has been used to treat a wide variety of nervous system conditions, insomnia and mild pain. Valerian reduces mental over-activity and nervous excitability, helping people who find it hard to “switch off”. It is beneficial for almost any stress-related condition, and, in general, has a calming, rather than directly sedative, effect on the mind. Many symptoms of anxiety, including tremors, panic, palpitations and sweating can be relieved with valerian. It is a useful remedy for insomnia, whether caused by anxiety or overexcitement. Valerian is used with other herbs in remedies for high blood pressure caused by stress and anxiety. Valerian relaxes overcontracted muscles and is helpful for shoulder and neck tension, asthma, colic, irritable bowel syndrome, period pain and muscle spasms. Valerian seems to work most consistently on people with sympathetic excess, as seen by their enlarged pupil size. People with parasympathetic excess (small pupil size) are more prone to be stimulated by valerian