Valerian Root Review
What You Should Know
Valerian Root, also known Tobacco Root or Garden Heliotrope, comes from a flowering plant indigenous to Europe, South Africa, and Asia and has been used for thousands of years as a cure for conditions ranging from sleep problems to headaches and digestive ailments. Currently itís most popular use is in the treatment of stress related anxiety and nervous disorders. Valerian Root is available as a tea, in capsule form or as a liquid extract and is widely considered to be safe and non habit forming. Because Valerian Root can be used as a diuretic it is sometimes included in weight loss supplements.
List of Ingredients
Not Applicable
Product Features
Use of Valian Root as a medical treatment traces its history back to the ancient Greeks, where it was applied to a host of ailments such as digestive disorders, urinary tract infections, nausea, and insomnia. Over the centuries its application to the treatment of sleeplessness, nervousness and anxiety has persisted. It is believed to act on the neurotransmitters in the brain to produce a sedative effect and there is research to back up its use for that purpose. In addition, Valarian Root has been used in the treatment of epilepsy, liver problems, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome; although there is no evidence to show that it is effective for any of those conditions. Valerian root is also a known natural diuretic and for that reason it is sometimes added to weight loss supplements, a practice which is not endorsed by medical experts. Valerian is conveniently available online in capsule form, as a liquid extract or in tea bags, usually at very reasonable prices.
Advantages
- There is both scientific research and anecdotal evidence to support the use of Valarian Root as a sleep aid.
- Unlike some prescription medications, Valerian Root is not considered to be habit forming when used for sleeplessness.
Disadvantages
- Use of Valerian Root as a weight loss aid is most likely connected to its diuretic properties.
- In some cases, Valerian Root causes headaches, nausea, nervousness and rapid heat beat.
- Valerian Root should not be used by anyone who is pregnant or nursing, has any type of liver disease or is taking MAOIs.
- There is no research to suggest that Valerian Root has any effect on weight loss.
Conclusion
Valerian Root has been used for centuries to treat a variety of aliments. The most common category of conditions for which Valerian Root is suggested is those in the area of anxiety, restlessness and sleeplessness. Both Complementary and Alternative Medical practitioners feel that Valerian Root has a positive effect in delivering sedative properties. Because there is a strong connection between receiving correct amounts of sleep and maintaining an ideal body weight, use of Valerian Root to treat insomnia may have some residual effect for individuals seeking weight loss. However, the use of Valerian Root as a diuretic by consumers wishing to reduce bloating and drop water weight is not recommended. Using diuretics for weight loss is universally discouraged by medical practitioners and should not be practiced. With many safe effective weight loss supplements on the market it would be foolish to turn to such a harmful method to lose a few pounds.
