Aids HIV FAQ

VALERIAN ROOT – precautions

Question:

>My experience with valerian is not the same as yours or the same as would >be suggested in the longer posting by Camilla Cracchhiolo. I used valerian >for its anticonvulsive effect for over a year. It is pretty useless for >epilepsy. It does improve sleep, but when I stopped taking it, I did go >through a mild withdrawl, similar to what one would go through quitting >coffee, with headaches, etc. Dependence was not a conscious problem, but >my system did miss it when it was withdrawn.

How much were you taking on a daily basis??  Was it combined with anything else?  Did taking it or stopping it have any affect on mood?? Thanks

Response:

 It >does, however, appear to be safe for occasional sleeplessness and I use >it myself sometimes.  I have found that it greatly increases the >sedative effect of certain sedating antidepressants I’ve taken, but has >the side effect of making me very groggy and hung over the next day.   >But then, my brain chemistry isn’t normal to begin with.

I think this may be the case, as I also take it occasionally myself and it does not cause any noticable effects the next day.

Response:

> I have been taking valerian in combination with hops and skullcap regularly > for over a year for insomnia.  I sometimes also take Tylenol PM, but I try > to not get dependent on the tylenol.  I skip taking the herb combination > occasionally with no problem.  I have not heard of any problem with > dependence

My experience with valerian is not the same as yours or the same as would be suggested in the longer posting by Camilla Cracchhiolo. I used valerian for its anticonvulsive effect for over a year. It is pretty useless for epilepsy. It does improve sleep, but when I stopped taking it, I did go through a mild withdrawl, similar to what one would go through quitting coffee, with headaches, etc. Dependence was not a conscious problem, but my system did miss it when it was withdrawn. Valerian had been reccommended to me by a published herbalist, who I think was wrong about its effects vis a vis epilepsy.

Response:

: My experience with valerian is not the same as yours or the same as would : be suggested in the longer posting by Camilla Cracchhiolo. I used valerian : for its anticonvulsive effect for over a year. It is pretty useless for : epilepsy. It does improve sleep, but when I stopped taking it, I did go : through a mild withdrawl, similar to what one would go through quitting : coffee, with headaches, etc. Dependence was not a conscious problem, but : my system did miss it when it was withdrawn. Interesting. Valerian is *distantly( related to a few standard anti-convulsants, (notably valproic acid) but I have never heard nor read of it being used in epilepsy. I think that it would be very irresponsible to prescribe valerian for this purpose. —    "The trick is to keep an open mind, without it being so open                       that your brain falls out."   Shrine of the Cybernetic Madonna BBS  213-766-1356  Los Angeles    * CFS/Fibromyalgia/AIDS support *  General medical information *   Left-wing Politics  *  Church of the SubGenius  *  Skepticism & Science

Response:

Is there a risk of dependency with the use of valerian root?? I have a preparation from Nature’s Sunshine that includes Valerian root along with several other herbs.   Can I take this everyday without risk???? Thanks.

Response:

I have been taking valerian in combination with hops and skullcap regularly for over a year for insomnia.  I sometimes also take Tylenol PM, but I try to not get dependent on the tylenol.  I skip taking the herb combination occasionally with no problem.  I have not heard of any problem with dependence

Response:

:   :   : Is there a risk of dependency with the use of valerian root?? :   : I have a preparation from Nature’s Sunshine that includes Valerian root : along with several other herbs.   Can I take this everyday : without risk???? I posted a longer article on this in another thread.  There is some evidence that valerian has anti-depressant effects in the short term but may cause or worsen depression with long term use.  People can develop tolerance to it although I have never heard of addiction or withdrawal from it. It also is mutagenic in salmonella bacteria.  This is the famous Ames test, used to tell if something is carcinogenic or not.  There are compounds that fail the Ames test that are not carcinogenic, although not as many as a lot of people would like to believe.  Therefore, I recommend against long term use or it being used by pregnant women.   Based on the Ames test, I also would not give it to children. It does, however, appear to be safe for occasional sleeplessness and I use it myself sometimes.  I have found that it greatly increases the sedative effect of certain sedating antidepressants I’ve taken, but has the side effect of making me very groggy and hung over the next day.   But then, my brain chemistry isn’t normal to begin with. —    "The trick is to keep an open mind, without it being so open                       that your brain falls out."   Shrine of the Cybernetic Madonna BBS  213-766-1356  Los Angeles    * CFS/Fibromyalgia/AIDS support *  General medical information *   Left-wing Politics  *  Church of the SubGenius  *  Skepticism & Science

Response:

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