START SHOPPING NOW
Weight Management
WHAT'S NEW?
Quick Product Guide
Specials
Accessories
Free Gifts/Catalog
30 Day
Money Back Guarantee
Privacy Policy
Find Local Distributor
Other Countries
PRODUCT SUPPORT
Weight Loss Directions
Product Recommendations
Eating Guide
Product Recipes
Why Get Healthy
Before & After
Our Pictures
Weight Charts
Cut Calories
FREE TOOLS
Free Recipes
Free Diets
Carbohydrate &
Calorie Counter
Vitamins, Minerals
Herbs & Supplements
Conversions
INCOME
Extra Income
Become a Distributor
Discount Club
Distributor Center
Add Your Link
Our Partners
PAYMENT
METHODS
USA
Money Orders/Checks
 |
|
|
Herbs ~ Valerian
(Valeriana officinalis)
It's 3 A.M., and you're wide awake - again.You wish there was something that you could safely take to help you fall asleep.Valerian may be just what you need, because this herb gently induces slumber, without the unpleasant side effects of conventional drugs.
| COMMON USES |
WHAT IT IS |
FOUND IN HERBALIFE PRODUCTS
|
- Promotes restful sleep.
- Soothes stress and anxiety.
- Improves the symptoms of some digestive disorders.
| In Germany, Great Britain, and other European countries, Valerian is officially approved as a sleep aid by medical authorities.A perennial plant native to North America and Europe, valerian has pinkish-colored flowers that grow from a tuberous rootstock, or rhizome.Harvested when the plant is two years old, the rootstock contains a number of important compounds - valepotriates, valeric acid, and volatile oils among them - that at one time or another were each thought to be responsible for the herb's sedative powers.Many experts believe that valerian's effectiveness may be the result of synergy among the various compounds. | |
| FORMS |
WHAT IT DOES |
LATEST FINDINGS
|
- Tablet
- Capsule
- Tincture
- Dried herb/Tea
- Softgel
| Taken for centuries as an aid to sleep, valerian can also act as a calming agent in stressful daytime situations.It is used in treating anxiety disorders and conditions worsened by stress, such as diverticulosis and irritable bowel syndrome.
|
- Prescription sleep aids often cause grogginess the morning after they are taken and can impair a person's ability to drive or perform other task requiring concentration.Valerian does not, according to a German study.Researchers compared the effects of valerian; valerian and hops; a benzodiazepine drug; and a placebo.The herbal preparations and the drug all improved sleep quality.The benzodiazepine drug reduced performance the next morning, but the herbs did not.However, performance was slightly impaired for two or three hours after taking the herbs, so avoid driving or performing hazardous tasks for a time after you take valerian.
|
| CAUTION! |
MAJOR BENEFITS |
DID YOU KNOW
|
- If taken during the day, valerian may cause drowsiness.
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, do not use valerian.
- Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.
| Compounds in valerian seem to affect brain receptors for a nerve chemical (neurotransmitter) called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. It's through this interaction that valerian promotes sleep and eases anxiety.Unlike benzodiazepines - drugs such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax) commonly prescribed for these disorders - valerian is not addictive and does not make you feel drugged.Rather than inducing sleep directly, valerian calms the brain and body so sleep can occur naturally.One of the benefits of valerian for insomniacs is that when taken at recommended doses, it doesn't make you feel groggy in the morning as some prescription drugs do. According to various studies, valerian works as well as prescription drugs for many individuals, and when compared with a placebo, appears to lull a person to sleep.In one study, 128 people were given one of two valerian preparations or a placebo.It was found that the herb improved sleep quality: Those taking valerian fell asleep more quickly and woke up less often that those receiving a placebo.In another study involving insomniacs, nearly all reported improved sleep when taking valerian, and 44% classified their sleep quality as perfect. Although modern interest in valerian as a anti-anxiety aid is relatively recent, the herb is increasingly recommended by herbalist and nutritionally oriented physicians for this purpose.
| Valerian preparations have a very disagreeable odor - so much so that inexperienced users may think they have a bad batch.Don't be put off by the smell; it's completely normal. |
| POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS |
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS |
GUIDELINES FOR USE
| | Studies have shown that even in amounts 20 times higher than recommended, valerian has no dangerous side effects.However, extremely large doses can cause dizziness, restlessness, blurred vision, nausea, headache, giddiness, and grogginess in the morning. | Valerian helps relax the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, making it valuable for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis, both of which often involve painful spasms of the intestine.In addition, because flare-ups of these disorders are sometimes triggered by stress, valerian's calming action may also account for its effectiveness.
| If you opt for the tincture, try blending it with a little honey or sugar to make this herb, which is a bit unpleasant tasting, more palatable.Although valerian is not addictive, it is not a good idea to rely on any substance, herbal or not, to fall asleep every night.Therefore, don't take valerian nightly for more than two weeks in a row.And make sure you don't combine it with prescription tranquilizers or sleeping pills.It is safe, however, to take valerian with other herbs, such as chamomile, hops, melissa (also known as lemon balm), or passionflower, which may increase its effectiveness as a sleep aid.Valerian can also be used with St. John's wort if you're depressed, and with kava if you're anxious.
|
|
|
Independent Herbalife Distributor
of (www.Herbalife.com)
|
"Results not typical"
(c) Copyright 1998-2006 Herbalicious.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|