Valerian Essential Oil
Botanical Name: Valeriana officinalis
Common Method Of Extraction: Steam distilled
Parts Used: Rhizomes
Note Classification: Base
Aroma: Warm-woody, balsamic, musky
Largest Producing Countries: Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Scandinavia, Hungary, China, and Russia
Traditional Use: Used in pharmaceutical preparations as a relaxant. Is also used as a fragrance component in soaps and in ‘moss’ and ‘forest’ fragrances.
Properties: Anodyne (mild), antidandruff, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, depressant of the central nervous system, diuretic, hypnotic, hypotensive, regulator, sedative, and stomachic.
Benefits: Insomnia, migraine, nervous indigestion, restlessness and tension states.
Blends Well With: Cedarwood, costus, lavender, mandarin, oakmoss, patchouli, petitgrain, pine, and rosemary.
Of Interest: This herb has been highly esteemed since medieval times, and used to be called ‘all heal’. In Europe the oil has been used for cholera, epilepsy, and skin complaints.
Safety Data: Non-toxic, non-irritant, possible sensitization. Not to be used while pregnant.