Hello nature-lovers,

While many of my recent posts have been about emotional health, this one is all about herbs. Or rather, one marvelous herb.

My youngest son got a terrible cough last week and without this herb, none of us would have gotten any sleep. So, I had to share this with you in case anyone else is dealing with something similar this cold & flu season.

You’ve likely heard of this remedy as a “sleep aid”, though that’s an over-simplification and I hardly ever use it for sleep issues.

Valerian root should really be known for it’s best super power : stopping spasms - specifically in smooth muscles.

Now, you likely think of antispasmodic herbs for menstrual cramps and you’d be absolutely right.  Valerian is one of the 3 herbs in my Cramp Away blend and is very effective at calming menstrual cramps.  

It also works super well at treating the spasms that create this very uncomfortable cough.

CAUTION:  

A small percentage of people experience a stimulating effect from Valerian.    It’s maybe 5% of people - or 1/20 (as a completely random estimation)

If you want to know if this is you, start with a “drop dose” (1-3 drops) of the tincture and see how you feel.  If it’s going to stimulate rather than sedate you, you’ll feel it from a drop dose.  If you don’t feel energized from it, then it’s a safe bet that you aren’t part of that 5%.

How to use it:  Tincture vs Tea …

Tincture, tincture and tincture.  Ideally, the fresh plant tincture because it’s much more palatable.

3 reasons for using Valerian root tincture:  

1. Tinctures work very quickly!   The body absorbs alcohol and doesn’t need to digest it, as it would if you drank some tea.
   
   
   

2. You can get a sufficient dose in the body quickly.   You can get a large amount of medicine into a small amount of liquid.  Ex.  1 tsp instead of 500 ml of tea.
   
   
   

3. Many people really dislike the smell of Valerian root, so the less you have to take the more likely you’ll get the full, effective dose.

When to use Valerian tincture for spasmodic coughs:

I generally save this remedy for bedtime because laying down tends to make these coughs worse.  (they’re often caused by post-nasal drip that isn’t as irritating in the throat when you’re upright)

And yes, I realize that I just came full circle and said that I use Valerian to help with sleep.  LOL, but it’s also in a very specific context.  Always consider the context!

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR TREATING COUGHS … avoid suppressing coughs.  

The body has a good reason for coughing, so support it.  If it’s an “unproductive cough” (ie.  nothing coming out of lungs), then it’s best to use herbs to make it a “productive cough” (ie.  demulcents and expectorants - but that’s for another article)

Dosing Valerian root tincture for coughing fits:

What’s the right dose is the most obvious and the hardest answer within all of herbalism.

Because it’s dependent on the person and how each herb works in their body.  

Remember -

the body is not the standardized machine that we’ve been told it is through mainstream pharma-based approaches. Each of us has our own unique needs.

Dose accordingly.

I tend to start with a “higher” dose because the only side effect is sedation (not a big deal when you’re going to bed feeling crappy anyway).

“Higher” means that I start with 1 tsp (5 ml) of tincture, and then dilute it with a little bit of water so it’s easier to drink.

If it hasn’t helped within 2-3 minutes, i use another 1 tsp.  

I seldom need to get to the 3rd tsp.

This is how I dose my children.  And i find it works about the same for adults.

After you’ve used it once or twice, you’ll be able to see what works for the situation.

Valerian is a safe herb, so don’t worry about overdosing. 

If used to the point of sedating the body, some people have a cloudy-brain feeling in the morning, “valerian hangover”

Ok, I think that’s all I want to say about Valerian as a lung herb.

Please share your success stories, questions and comments below…

Strength & wisdom.

garliq