Common name: Valerian

Latin name: Valeriana officinalis L.

Other names: valerian, a male ram herb, cat’s grass

Description: valerian is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Valerian family (Valerianaceae). The rhizome is short, vertical, forming shoots, with a large number of cord-shaped and juicy root branches. The stem is annual and is formed in the second year after sowing the plant. It is up to 2 m. high, upright, hollow, longitudinally grooved, often branched in its upper part. Leaf size and shape vary greatly, especially in cultivated plants. Sometimes both ground and stem leaves are entire. The flowers are irregular, numerous, pink, white or purple, arranged in widely branched, coriaceous or panicled inflorescences at the top of the stem. The fruit is dry light brown or brown, one-seeded, provided with a kite. Blooms from early Spring to Mid-Summer. In Bulgaria, it is found in moist and shady meadows, along rivers and streams, between bushes and in lowlands and mountains up to 1500 m. above sea level. The plot requires fertile and well-developed soils.

Part of the herb used: The roots of the medicinal plant are used together with the rhizomes (Rhizoma et radix Valerianae).

Harvest time: The plant is harvested from July to September. The rhizomes together with the roots are dug up in the second year in September after the ripening of the valerian seeds. Then they are the richest in substances and give a good yield.

Chemical composition/Contents and properties: The roots and rhizomes of  Valerian are rich in essential oils, contain formic, acetic and valeric acids, valepotriates, alkaloids, bitter substances, etc.

Medicinal action and application: Valerian has a strong sedative effect - calms the central nervous system, improves sleep, reduces anxiety, acts as an anticonvulsant, antispasmodic. It reduces headaches, lowers blood pressure, improves heart function and helps with palpitations. The plant also has antispasmodic properties, which make it useful for stomach and menstrual cramps, inflamed intestines and indigestion. The intake of the medicinal plant must be carefully dosed.

Possibilities to offer at the customer's request:

Vesselino Ltd. offers their customers the plant in the following varieties:

• Roots and rhizomes (Rhizoma et radix Valerianae) - dried whole, crushed, cut to a specific size at the customer's request, ground into herbal powder/flour