Valerian essential oil Valeriana officinalis
bot. Valeriana officinalis
The essential oil extracted from the rhizomes and roots of the medicinal valerian has a special scent: bittersweet, balsamic, medicinal, with notes of musk and earth. Valerian is native to Europe and Asia, so many of us have been familiar with it since childhood and it has been used extensively in folk medicine for sleeplessness and nervousness. Valerian is most commonly found in teas, tinctures and capsules, but the concentrated essential oil also has the ability to improve sleep, reduce anxiety and panic attacks, and soothe irritated skin, according to research that continues to confirm this.
The main active components in the essential oil are valerianol, bornyl acetate, valeranone, valeranalis, camphene, alpha pinene, valerianic acid, etc.
Studies have confirmed these medicinal effects of valerian essential oil:
- deeply calming, reduces nervousness, tension and stress;
- Effective for anxiety, fear, panic, after difficult experiences or psychological trauma;
- improves sleep, can be used for insomnia;
- improves the condition of chronic emotional fatigue;
- soothes inflamed skin (can be used in nourishing creams, balms, e.g. for atopic dermatitis);
- valuable if the causes of digestive or skin problems are psychosomatic;
- relieves sensations in women with changing cycles and painful menstruation.
Not all the properties of this product are mentioned here. Unfortunately, due to the EU regulation of health claims, we cannot inform you in detail, even if the benefits of this product are scientifically proven.
Literature:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10411208/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3287008/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26587395/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12486337/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11736894/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7114974/
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/draft-assessment-report-valeriana-officinalis-l-radix-valeriana-officinalis-l-aetheroleum_en.pdf
Valerian essential oil is a highly concentrated product obtained by distillation. It will differ in chemical composition from herbal valerian preparations such as tinctures, capsules or teas. The essential oil is most effective for external use as an inhalant and skin ointment.
Use valerian essential oil for:
- Vaporise at home (do not vaporise continuously, several sessions a day for 5 - 30 minutes is more effective);
- Inhalation (inhale from the bottle, apply to a handkerchief, clothing, personal sniffer or clay diffuser);
- At bedtime, put 1 - 2 drops on your pillow, on a toy for a restless child, etc.;
- For a soothing massage of the whole body or lower abdomen, add a couple of drops of essential oil to a base vegetable oil (e.g. sesame, almond, etc.);
- To soothe the skin, add an essential oil to a cream or balm (concentrations up to 2-3% for adults, 0.5-1% for children). Use our concentrations calculator.
- Do not use on fresh skin as it may cause irritation; dilute with vegetable oil or butter;
- Protect eyes;
- Effects on pregnant and lactating women unknown; essential oils should be avoided for the first 3 months of pregnancy and for infants under 3 months of age unless necessary.
- If you are taking sleeping pills or antidepressants, consult your doctor about the use of essential oils;
- Despite the high phyto-, aromatherapeutic quality of this oil, the aromatherapy community cannot recommend internal use for therapeutic purposes, but such use is possible if prescribed by a phyto/aromatherapist;
- Do not use on cats, birds, fish, rodents, reptiles (evaporate in small quantities at home or use on your own); cats may react "violently" to this essential oil, as they do to catnip oil - avoid use on them; dogs, horses, do not use on muzzle, genital area, dilute and monitor reactions;
- This essential oil is not registered as a medicine;
- This essential oil is not registered as a biocide;
- Keep tightly closed in a dark, cool place.
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