Valerian: good for anxious or restless pets

Are you going on a long car drive with your pet and often find the pet gets anxious or restless? My dog does this. We stop for all those annoying tolls in Chicago and she gets up for each one, paces around the back of the car, and then works herself into another asthma attack (she has asthma). Next time we take a roadtrip with her, I will be trying out this recipe, which is specifically for pets. You can also use this for cats that have been injured or need to be taken in to the vet. Cats, by the way, love valerian more than they love catnip, so they won't be upset that you are drugging them with their favorite thing in the whole world...

Crush 1 tsp. of dried Valerian root, and then add it to 3.5 cups of cold water. Leave for 24 hours. Strain the decoction into a clean bottle. This will keep for 48 hours in a refrigerator. For a medium sized cat, add 3 drops of the decoction to a small amount of water. Obviously, add more for dogs, put it in their water.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Valerian: good for the central nervous system

Valerian is a strong medicinal herb for the central nervous system. It is good as a sedative for insomnia, helps with sudden emotional distress, headaches, intestinal cramps, nervous exhaustion, and as a pain reliever.

Since you use the root of Valerian for medicinal purposes, you do not make an infusion tea with it, but rather a decoction.

To make a Valerian decoction, place 1-3 tsp. of the dried root in a small saucepan and over with cold water. Heat slowly and simmer, covered, for 20-45 minutes. The longer you simmer the herbs, the stronger the tea will be.

Another option is that you can crush 1 tsp. of the dried root and soak it in cold water for 12-24 hours. Then drink.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Passionflower Herbal Infused Tea

Having problems with falling asleep? Passionflower is traditionally given to aid those with insomnia as well as those that suffer from nervousness or anxiety. Thus, if you think your insomnia might have an emotional basis, passionflower tea is the ideal medicine for you. You can also combine it with another important relaxing herb, valerian.

Herbal Infused Tea for Insomnia:
*Infuse 2-3 tsp. of dried passionflower leaves (or 2-3 tbsp. fresh) in boiling water. Let it simmer for 20-ish minutes. Strain and drink 1 cup an hour before bedtime.

*For anxiety, take the same dose twice more during the day. It may take several weeks to achieve the optimal effect.

For additional information, see: references and warnings

Medicinal Recipe: Insomnia Tea Ideas

Use any of the following for insomnia (or combine some), simply make a tea and sip slowly 30 minutes before bed:

*Valerian root (reduces tension and anxiety)
*Chamomile (reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep)
*Catnip (reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep)
*Passion flower (promotes calm and relaxation)

Infuse an herbal tea: boil water and pour over the selected herb(s). Let it steep for 20-25 minutes. Sweeten with honey or stevia to taste. One cup of water per 1-3 tbsp. of fresh herb(s) or 1-3 tsp. dried herb(s).

You can make a large batch of the tea and drink a cup of tea each night. The tea will stay good stored in the refrigerator for approx. 4 days.

Valerian

Name:
*Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)


Description:
*perennial
*best in zones 4-7
*an odd plant in that it generally smells terrible and yet the flowers are very beautifully scented

Parts Used:
*roots, fresh or dried

Position:
*sun to light shade
*moist, well-drained loam soil or compost-rich soil

Propagation:
*can be propagated easily by seed. You can either transplant outdoors in late spring or sow directly into the soil in early spring

Maintenance:
*divide mature plants in autumn or early spring
*moderate to heavy watering is necessary
*be warned: cats LOVE valerian more than they do catnip! Make sure your valerian plants do not get damaged close to the roots or the cats will come quickly and roll all over the plant until it is crushed.
*cut back after flowering (in the summer) to prevent it from self-seeding, if desired
*can be grown in a container if it is large enough for the root system: use soil-based potting compost. Position in partial shade so that the compost does not dry out. Water regularly, esp. in the summer

Harvesting:
*harvest the roots in the fall of the first year or the spring of the second year
*gently rinse the roots and dry them in a 200 degree Fahrenheit oven with the door left ajar. Grind if desired.

Medicinal:
*excellent remedy for stress, insomnia, and anxiety
*great for healing the nervous system and the digestive system
*it is used as a strong sedative and pain-reliever
*it is used for headaches
*it can be made into a diluted tea and added to pet food for anxious/restless pets, espeicially if you are about to travel with the pet, because it calms them

For more information, see: references and warnings

Valerian root