Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Valerian Root

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Valerian Root

    Has anyone tried this herb for insomnia? I was attending a MS meeting a couple of years back and someone asked the speaker neurologist if it was safe to take Valerian Root for insomnia and he said yes it was safe so I thought I would give it a try. I don't like the smell of valerian tea so I bought the capsules and getting past the smell to try them about one hour before bedtime.

    Any experiences?

    Gabriella
    Progressive/Relapsing MS, Myasthenia Gravis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
    Advocate for ADA, Artist's Community for Change, ADAPT, Universal Living in Place, HopeKeepers, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

    "Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own"........Adam Lindsay Gordon
    Tags: None
    #2
    I'm guessing the capsules don't smell much better. Like bitter weeds. But yes, I have taken valerian root to try to get some sleep. I can't say that it works for sure to help get me to sleep, but I've experienced no ill effects. I hope you get some sleep relief in some form!

    I don't think outside the box. I don't think inside the box. I don't even know where the box is.

    Never odd or even, it's all the same coming and going.

    Comment

      #3
      I used it pre MS and it may have helped but my life was so nasty that
      narcotics would have been more helpful and memorable.

      It sure does stink.
      Do not allow yourself the tiniest burp after taking it.
      It happened to me and I thought I was another spontaneous combustion
      victim for the tabloids.

      Comment

        #4
        Renee, It certainly doesn't smell any better when it exits from the other end and God forbid any one with a match comes around as I would certainly combust immediately. However, it is working extremely well for sleep. Last night I was still awake at 11:30 so I took a capsule which did work around 12:30 and I slept until 7:00 without having to get up (If I did I don't remember it). I have tried Melatonin before but it takes several days to build up in ones system enough to work.

        When they gave me Ambien in the hospital I was moving the furniture around in the room and thinking I was in a warehouse trying to find my way out. I didn't remember getting out of the bed either and I had a hanging bag of IV fluids which I had brains enough to take with me on my journey. Never again!

        Tonight, I will take the Valerian an hour before I want to go to sleep.

        Gabriella
        Last edited by Gabriella7; 07-10-2012, 11:21 AM.
        Progressive/Relapsing MS, Myasthenia Gravis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
        Advocate for ADA, Artist's Community for Change, ADAPT, Universal Living in Place, HopeKeepers, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

        "Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own"........Adam Lindsay Gordon

        Comment

          #5

          how great for you to be getting some sleep. I went for almost 8 years on very little sleep and am so grateful to finally have reached a med balance that works great

          the tea I was buying didn't smell that bad. in fact my psych was surprised when I told her it had little smell. I took mine with a bit of honey as the taste wasn't all that lovely but it worked. Only like almost all sleep aids it was only good for about four hours and the rest was spent tossing and turning. Also tried to make sure in bed within about half an hour after drinking. Might take a bit longer for capsules but I found that there is only about a half hour/forty five minute window in there that you have to be in bed and ready for sleep and if you miss that window then yer kinda screwed and can be up all night.

          I may have some left, I'll check my brand in case someone else wants to try it. Seems like it may have been Sleepy Time.

          Scary about the Ambien. I didn't have any problem but have heard a lot of horror stories

          Comment

            #6
            No experience with valerian to report but there is this about it:

            Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...
            SPMS diagnosed 1980. Avonex 2001-2004. Copaxone 2006-2009. Glatopa (glatiramer acetate = Copaxone) 12/20 - 3/19/24.

            Comment

              #7
              I have bad sleep problems also, however I sure don't like what everyone has to say about the smell. It would be so great just to go to bed and get a good
              nights sleep, although it's been so long for me I can't remember too much about it.

              Hope it helps.
              Virginia

              Comment

                #8
                Welcome Sparky, I guess what works for one doesn't work for everyone. It may stop working too, but for now I am just happy to find something that works without the side effects of the drugs.

                Christina, I have used Sleepy Time tea before and it has Chamomile in it which doesn't have the smell or much taste to it. It didn't work very well for me. The first drug I was given by the neuro was a benzodiazapine for sleep and I took it for the past 10 years however since it had stopped working for me I decided to try a herbal product rather than increase the dosage and the side effects.

                Agate, thanks for posting the link to the site that I had a problem with. I'll read all of the info when I am more awake.

                Virginia, I know all about sleep issues as I've had them for the past 30 years. Once upon a time when I was working a full time job with 3 children and keeping house I was so tired by the time my head hit the pillow I would be asleep within 5 minutes (according to my husband). BTW, you can get past the smell just don't inhale.....LOL

                Gabriella
                Last edited by Gabriella7; 07-11-2012, 04:49 PM.
                Progressive/Relapsing MS, Myasthenia Gravis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
                Advocate for ADA, Artist's Community for Change, ADAPT, Universal Living in Place, HopeKeepers, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

                "Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own"........Adam Lindsay Gordon

                Comment

                  #9
                  I have used it and it does work. But like the herb Kava better.

                  Abby
                  Last edited by Abby2006; 07-11-2012, 11:17 AM.
                  Stand for something or you will fall for anything

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Unfortunately, I cannot take kava because of a "fatty liver". There was a notification concerning kava a couple of years ago because of problems in people enrolled in a clinical study who did develop liver problems. Here is the NCCAM site which has info on kava.....you may want to read the warnings.

                    Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

                    Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

                    Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

                    Gabriella
                    Last edited by Gabriella7; 07-11-2012, 04:33 PM.
                    Progressive/Relapsing MS, Myasthenia Gravis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
                    Advocate for ADA, Artist's Community for Change, ADAPT, Universal Living in Place, HopeKeepers, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

                    "Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own"........Adam Lindsay Gordon

                    Comment

                      #11
                      I don't have a proof for this but years ago I heard that Valium comes from this herb.

                      Herbs were around long before AMA.

                      Abby
                      Stand for something or you will fall for anything

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Try Black Cherry to relax

                        Abby
                        Stand for something or you will fall for anything

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Once upon a time.....I lived out in the country when my boys were babies and we had a wild black cherry tree in the backyard. Those cherries made the best black cherry jam.....I would love to find another tree growing out in the country so I could make jam again. I have 3 gallons of muscadine grapes in the freezer that my grandson picked last fall from vines I planted a few years ago which I plan to make into either jam or jelly.

                          I found a recipe for muscadine wine but I need at least 5 gallons of grapes to make it. Muscadine wine has some good medicinal benefits to it. Article entitled "Immune Benefits of consumming Red Muscadine Wine"

                          Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

                          Gabriella
                          Last edited by Gabriella7; 07-14-2012, 12:56 PM.
                          Progressive/Relapsing MS, Myasthenia Gravis, Spinal Stenosis, Degenerative Disc Disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
                          Advocate for ADA, Artist's Community for Change, ADAPT, Universal Living in Place, HopeKeepers, Complementary and Alternative Medicine

                          "Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone. Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own"........Adam Lindsay Gordon

                          Comment

                          Previous template Next
                          Working...
                          X