valerian tea

I don't know if any of you are familiar with Valerian Root, but its pretty cool. Its legal and shit, and you can buy valerian extract at vitamin stores or whole foods. Anyways, a friend and I made some tea and spiked it with it (like your supposed to). But you were only supposed to put 1 to 2 drops in it and we put in like 4 or 5, and we seriously couldnt move out legs. Its not like it fucks you up or anything, it just chills you out a lot and makes you really sleepy. Helped me sleep a bunch. It also makes chill music really good. I can only imagine how good it would go with weed.

 

Have you ever tried putting some on a joint and smoking it with your weed? It may be worth checking out.

 

ima get that next time im in the food store.

 

do not mix with alcahol or any other drugs
valarian is the herb valiums come from
smoking it i dont think is really worthwhile
if you use the tincture form, use only a few drops ..the tincture is very strong
asatea however or capsule its about equal to taking a valium
i'm not sure though if its adictive like valiums causewhenever you createa chemical perversion of an herb theres side effects and dangers that come with the chemical versions that may not be pressent in the pure herb
however, use it with caution.its not a recreational drug

 

I read on the Wikipedia that thats a common misunderstanding that valium and valerian are related and that they aren't related and that its just a coincidence. Also, it is only mildly addictive and only if taken in large doses many times in a small amount of time.

 

valerian is also not even classified as a drug. It is an herb used for its slightly relaxing properties and has been shown to help cure epilepsy and add. It is commonly used as a sleeping aid. but I don't want you to think I mad or anything soaringeagle. Your the man and you helped me out a lot when I cut my finger badly

 

hmm not sure about that..maybe meant that chemicaly theyre unrelated but valarian and valium have basicaly identicle effects and can be used interchangeably
maybe it meant that valiums are'nt made from valarian just mimmic the effect? i'll have to look ino that

 

yeah, they probably took the name from the chemical in valerian or whatever, but they aren't in any way related, its just a wierd coincedence. Sides, I took a bunch of drops and I'm fine. It wasn't even a high in the slightest, it was just relaxing and the effects only lasted for like between one and two hours. It also makes time go by really really fast

 

http://www.mindpub.com/altern08.htm
ooks like your right, the effects are the same but valium isnt made from valarian

Valerian: The "Herbal Anxiety Pill"

The root of valerian, a tall, fernlike plant, has served for thousands of years as a mild sedative. From 1820 until 1942 valerian was listed in the US Pharmacopoeia as a tranquilizer. It’s widely used and approved in Europe as a mild hypnotic to induce sleep and relieve anxiety. More than 5 million units of valerian are sold in Germany and about 10 million in France every year. In the United Kingdom, valerian is also a popular and government-approved sleep aid. It is also approved in Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy as an over-the-counter medication for insomnia.

The herb valerian tranquilizes safely and gently without a risk of addiction, and is widely used and approved in other countries as an alternative. There’s evidence that is works to calm you down, tame the brain,. Reduce anxiety, induce sleep, relieve stress, and even relax muscles without a morning hangover or permanent harm.

Valerian has been compared to anxiety prescription drugs. Valerian affects the same nerve receptors as benzodiazepines. The most popular of these tranquilizers is Valium, which doctors have long prescribed to relieve symptoms of anxiety. The drug is also used to lessen the anxiety, agitation and tremors that occur during alcohol withdrawal. Valium is not derived from valerian. There is no connection between the two, except that their names sound similar.

The results of one study conducted in 1993 showed that valerian and hops are calming to the central nervous system and reduce depression and anxiety. In fact, the herbs were reported to work faster than the prescription drugs. Hops and valerian worked in only two weeks, as opposed to a longer period required for conventional drugs. The herbs also caused far fewer side effects.

Be aware that if you are used to strong prescription sedatives, Valerian will have a harder time taking effect.

Valerian Can Help You Get Off Prescribed Anxiety Pills

Some anxiety pills such as, the xanax or valium can be highly addictive. Physicians in Germany commonly prescribe Valerian in place of Valium or Xanax for mild and moderate cases of anxiety. Some recommend fairly large doses, up to two teaspoons of the tincture at least twice a day. Some use this dosage of Valerian to get off antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication in just few weeks. Caution: For most people, a dosage of this size creates no problems, but for a few it leads to upset stomachs or headaches. If you are taking Valium, Xanax or other anti- anxiety or antidepressants prescribed drugs, do not discontinue them without your doctor’s approval. No prescription drug should be discontinued or its dosage altered without consulting a doctor.

How is valerian able to conduct such a smooth withdrawal? Perhaps the answer is because the Valerian binds to the same receptor sites on brain cells as Xanax. When Xanax is no more in the system, the receptors "scream out for something to bind to. If there’s nothing there, the brain cell receptors "go nuts." But if you can slip in valerian, it’s enough to satisfy them so they calm down. Many doctors now use valerian to help ensure a safe and painless transition from Xanax.

Scientific Evidence For Valerian as a Sleeping Pill

Many anxiety sufferers experience sleeping problems. While you learn to handle your anxiety by psychological means which would also improve your sleep, you may find it helpful to take temporary help of Valerian as a sleep aid. European manufacturers of phytomedicines (plant medicines) have petitioned the FDA to allow claims for valerian as an over-the-counter nighttime sleeping "aid," defined as an agent that relaxes and mildly sedates.

More than 200 scientific studies on the pharmacology of valerian have been published in the scientific literature, mostly in Europe in the last thirty years.

Six controlled clinical trials in Europe show that valerian is particularly effective for sleep problems, as follows:

Shorten the time to fall asleep

Prolong sleep time

Increase deep sleep stages

Increase dreaming

Reduce nighttime awakenings

Improve the quality of sleep in both normal sleepers and insomniacs.

In an impressive study, 128 volunteers participated at the Nestle( Research Laboratories in Switzerland in the mid-1980s. For three nights at time they took either valerian extract or a sugar pill without knowing what they were taking. Valerian won out. Thirty-seven percent on valerian said they fell asleep faster, compared with 23 percent on placebo. Further, 43 percent said they slept better versus 25 percent on placebo. Even 45 percent of good sleepers said they "slept better then usual" on valerian. But habitually bad sleepers got the most benefit.

In another study, a double-blind Swedish study, Valerian was the winner. Forty-four percent of poor sleepers said they had "perfect sleep" after taking a product with 400 milligrams of valerian. Eighty-nine percent said their sleep improved.

In another study, Valerian equaled the powerful drug Halcion as a sleeping pill. A 1992 German study compared a combination valerian pill (160 milligrams of valerian and 80 milligrams lemon balm) with Halcion (0.125 milligrams triazolam) in twenty people, ages thirty to fifty. Over a period of nine nights, the valerian combination put subjects to sleep just as fast and produced the same sound sleep as Halcion. It was most effective in so-called bad sleepers. However, unlike the valerian takers, the Halcion users suffered hangovers and loss of concentration the next day.

Advantages of taking Valerian as compared to prescription drugs:

Does not produce morning "hangovers"

Does not reduce concentration

Does not impair physical performance.

Does not interact with alcohol to accentuate impairment.

A 1995 German Study found no interaction between alcohol and valerian that lessened concentration, and impaired physical performance in driving a car. It is not to say that one should consume alcohol as alcohol is not good for anxiety sufferers.

It is reported that one can take Valerian when you are awake and active, as well as when you are going to sleep which makes it much more desirable. Valerian is beneficial if you want to reduce mild to moderate anxiety and or stress during the day.

Chemical information:

The mechanism of valerian in the brain appears similar to that of the benzodiazepine drugs-Halcion and Valium. These tend to sedate by stimulating activity of the nerve transmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which dampens the brain’s arousal system. In animals, valerian does the same thing, triggering release of GABA from the brain cortex. In mice, valerian prolongs sleep.

Research at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology in Barburg, Germany, showed that sedating constituents in valerian can bind to the same receptor sites on brain cells as barbiturates and benzodiazepines. In fact, valerian bounced benzodiazepines off the receptor sites of animal brain cells.

Perhaps valerenic acid and valepotriates, chemicals unique to valerian, sedate the brain cells responsible for arousal. Valerenic acid is a prime constituent in European products and is often combined with other mildly sedating herbs, such as lemon balm, passion flower, and chamomile. More that 120 active chemicals have been detected in valerian. Perhaps a combination of valerian’s compounds work together synergistically to produce sedation.

Usage:

To relax and reduce tension level

To sleep better,

To calm down in stressful situations such as, public speaking, test, flying, etc.

To ease the symptoms of withdrawing from Xanax, Valium, and other benzodiazepines To serve as a substitute for anti-anxiety drugs if you take them for moderate anxiety and insomnia.

Dosage:

Start out with a low dose and, if needed, work up to a higher dose.

For use as a sleeping pill, often the recommended dosage is 300 to 500 milligrams of a standardized valerian extract about an hour before bedtime. Cut that dose in half when taking valerian as a mild tranquilizer to quiet anxiety during the day, he says. On hundred fifty to 300 milligrams translates into one-half to one teaspoonful as a fluid extract, and one to one and a half teaspoons as a tincture. You should notice effects within thirty to forty-five minutes.

Side Effects:

Side effects at recommended doses are minor. Most common is occasional stomach upset. However, in large doses valerian could cause headache, restlessness, nausea, and morning grogginess. (If you are sleepy or groggy the next morning, the dosage may be too high for you; simply reduce the amount you are taking. Valerian, unlike prescription sleeping pills, is not addictive or a cause of any mental disturbances. There are no reports in animals or humans of serious poisoning or death from overdoses of valerian. However, some clinicians have noted that some individuals have an idiosyncratic (highly individualized response and not generally expected) response to valerian; they become more excited and revved up instead of relaxed and calm.

Valerian, at an overdose of 20 grams (20,000 milligrams) is not acutely poisonous. The Food and Drug Administration lists valerian as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).

Cautions:

Use valerian for mild to moderate anxiety and sleep problems only. If you have serious anxiety or insomnia or have been diagnosed with or treated for psychiatric problems, or are taking other psychiatric drugs of any kind, consult your doctor before using valerian.

Because of the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, switching from prescription drugs to valerian should be done under the supervision of a doctor. Valerian is not advised for pregnant or lactating women, children under age two, or in combination with other over-the-counter or prescription tranquilizers or sedatives.

Important: If you have chronic insomnia, you should also go easy on caffeine; high doses of caffeine can neutralize some of the sedating effects of valerian.

Most of the European research has been done on standardized valerian products. To get this research-grade valerian, look for labels indicating water-soluble extracts "standardized" for valerenic acid content (0.8 percent valerenic acid).

 

wow thats cool. so they use it instead of xanax? I wonder if it would go together as well with weed as xanax. I've never tried xanax, and dont want to, but that would be cool if valerian worked well with weed too.

 

Another supposed herbal anxiety medication is damiana. I have tried it and it just made me VERY depressed and I threw the rest of them away. Some people have good effects from it though. You can supposedly smoke it, make tea with it, or just eat the pills. I ate the pills.

 

It was twelve dollars for a bottle of extract that would be give out significant results for you about 20 to 30 times

 

^^ for the valerian I mean

 

works well, feels pretty good if you burn one at the same time.......but man, it smells terrible!

 

yeavalarian root tea is an aquired taste for sure
damiana i used to smoke alot in my varius mixes
i like damiana sage mullin mugwort and red willow..

 

yeah from what I've read it wont do much if you smoke it. On erowid, one guy said it got him buzzed when he smoked it, but he also said that on the back of the jar of stuff it said it was a mix of herbs that included many other things, one of which was skullcap, which supposively gives of a high similar to weed. I've also read that the smoke of valerian is not only ineffective, but pungent and really hot. I thought the best way to take it without the bad taste was to mix it with grape juice, I put many drops in and could barely taste it

 

skullcap ive added to my teas and smoking mixes often..also lobelia
i dont mind the taste of valarian that much but im used to alotta herbs
if the taste bothers ya get the powder and pit in capsules...or just get the pills
tinctures work fastest though

 

valerian doesnt do much for me. i have some valerian root pills from the grocery store, just to help me sleep some times, and i have to take like 10 times the recommended dosage to get any drowsiness! Supposedly it gives some people crazy dreams, but not me.

 

If you want some crazy dreams and regulated sleep patterns....try melatonin. It works great for me; I will be able to go to sleep at 10pm and wake up 5 hours later feeling completely refreshed and energized and the dreams are crazy.....to the point where I can actually CONTROL my dreams and they are very clear; kinda like dream-trippin. It doesn't work very well for some people, but it works wonders for me.

 

i usualy use a combo melatonin and valarian

melatonin is a hormone naturaly produced by a gland behind the eyelids i think, that reacts with darkness and produces the hormone triggering sleep after dark

several people have told me they take 3 times the max dosage to get super trippy dreams, but being a hormone, i would strongly suggest not taking over the 3 mg dose
atho im not sure how the hormonal imballance would affect you over time
you dont get atoleranceto it so 3mg should always be enough