Valerian root, cut, organic

Product information "Valerian root".
Valeriana officinalis L., root cut, controlled organic cultivation

History:
In the past, valerian (Valeriana officinale) was at times considered a panacea. Already in ancient times, Dioscorides recommends valerian as a warming remedy with diuretic and menstrual effects. He calls the valerian "Phu". Hildegard von Bingen sees in valerian a remedy for pleurisy. Hippocrates, Tabernaemontanus and Paracelsus also valued valerian as a valuable medicinal plant. Among other things, valerian was used against eye diseases, epilepsy and even against the plague. Also among the Germanic tribes, valerian, as Baldur's plant, had the reputation of being a panacea among medicinal plants. This notion was adopted in the Middle Ages by most of the peoples in whose lands this medicinal plant was native. It was not until the 17th century that the calming effect of valerian on the nervous system became more widely known. To protect against evil spirits, valerian was hung on the door in Northern Europe. Hung in the room, a bouquet of valerian was supposed to indicate when a witch entered the room, because then it would move. To protect themselves from the devil or enchantments by witches, some people carried a piece of valerian root.

Botanical description:
Valerian is a medicinal plant 50-180 cm high, has a short rhizome with numerous brown, creeping, unpleasantly strong smelling roots. In spring, the unpaired pinnate leaves grow out of the ground first, forming an airy cushion. In late April, the first erect, furrowed, sparsely hairy stems with opposite, imparipinnate leaves with lance-shaped tips emerge. The basal leaves are relatively large. The stem leaves become smaller towards the top. The lower stem leaves are petiolate and hairy, the upper ones are glabrous and attached to the stem. The terminal, multiple trifoliate inflorescence is umbel-like and has numerous, stalked flowers. The corolla of the individual flowers is 3-6 mm long, pale pink to whitish, tubular below, funnel-shaped above, and consists of 5 fused petals, the tips of which are free. The calyx consists of 5 small cymes curled inward, which grow out to pappus as the fruit ripens. The one-seeded, nut-like fruit develops from the underset ovary. This medicinal plant is a perennial herbaceous perennial, so the plant is always growing new in the spring. A delicate pleasant fragrance emanates from the flowers of this medicinal plant. Cats, as well as rats, are particularly fond of this scent, so valerian is also called cat herb. Some people also find the scent of valerian flowers rather unpleasant, especially when it rains. The roots of this medicinal herb with its numerous fibers are brown on the outside and whitish on the inside. The smell of the roots is perceived by significantly more people as unpleasant, especially if they smell strongly after drying. It is quite different for cats, who love the scent of valerian and are crazy about it.

Occurrence:
Native to Europe and Asia. In northeastern America, the drug is now also cultivated. The medicinal plant comes mainly from cultures in England, Eastern Europe, Belgium and partly from Germany.

Habitat:
moist deciduous forests, shrubberies, tall shrubberies (up to 2,000 m) It is found on the banks of streams and ditches, in moist meadows, and along forest edges. Other species of valerian grow in other areas of the world, most of which have similar effects to native valerian.

Cultivation tips:
In the past, valerian was very often grown in typical peasant gardens. The reason for this was not only the medicinal and ornamental effect, but also the ability of valerian to aerate the soil and attract earthworms. Thus, valerian in the garden promotes the growth of vegetables and other plants. The soil for valerian should be sufficiently moist and deep, and the location should be sunny to partial shade. You can also grow valerian in large containers, but then you need to water them frequently. In some garden stores and special shippers you can get seeds or ready-made plants of valerian. In early spring, sow the seeds under glass in seed trays or small pots. From May, they can also be sown outdoors, if the soil there is not overgrown by other plants for several weeks. It is important not to cover the seeds with soil, because these medicinal herbs are light germinators. The seed needs almost a month to germinate. Therefore, you need a lot of patience. Once small plants have grown, plant them out at a distance of 50 cm to 1 meter. The same applies to ready-bought plantlets. By late summer, the new valerian plants develop into strong medicinal herbs. But only after two to three years they are fully grown. If the valerian forms runners, these small plants can be separated from the mother plant in the spring and planted out at the appropriate distance.

Plant family: Valerianaceae

Colloquial names: Valerian (English), medicinal valerian, balderbracken, balderbracken root, balderjan, ballerjan, boldrian, bullerjan, witchweed, cat valerian, cat weed, cat root, moonroot, St. George's herb, stinkbaldes, tannmark, tollerjan, cattle herb.

Applied plant part: roots - Radix Valerianae, (flowers) Active ingredient/gathering time: Medicinally used are the underground parts of the plant. Valerian root, consisting of the underground fresh or below 40 degrees Celsius carefully dried plant parts, as well as their preparations in effective dosage.

Flowering time: May to September
Gathering time: September to October
Root: October, flowers: July / August

Collecting tips:
The roots of valerian are collected in autumn, when the flowering season is long gone. Then the roots are dug up. It is best to leave some of the root behind so that the medicinal plant has a chance to grow up again. The roots are brushed off and rinsed briefly with cold water. Then they are cut into small pieces and dried in a warm place as quickly as possible. The flowers are collected in midsummer, when the plants are in full bloom. Then they are dried in a shady place. Caution. To prevent cats from contaminating the parts of valerian to be dried, the drying should be done in a place that cats cannot reach.

Ingredients:
The roots contain essential oil (valerian oil), valerenic acids, valeric acid, sesquiterpenes, arnica flavone, hydrophilic lignans, bitter substances, tannins, resin and alkaloids.