Valerian root, a natural sleep aid, has been impressing scientists around the world with its remarkable sleep benefits. This herbal sleep remedy has been used for thousands of years to reduce anxiety, calm the emotions and promote a deep and restful sleep. Just exactly what is valerian root and how do you get your hands on some? What does the science say about it? Could it possibly work for you?

Valerian root comes from a perennial plant (perennial means it keeps growing from year to year) that was originally native to Europe and Asia, but can now be found growing wild in the northeastern United States. It has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient times. Originally, valerian grew wild, but is now cultivated specifically for medical use in England, Germany, Holland and America. Valerian is an approved herb in Germany (supplements do not require government approval in the United States).

The name of the plant, valerian, comes from the Latin word "valere," which means "to be strong" (think "valor"). There are two reasons why the plant was given this name. First of all, it is a relatively potent herbal medicine. Unfortunately, the other reason it was named thus is its odor. Valerian has a strong, distinctive and relatively unpleasant odor. If you'll be keeping valerian root in your cabinet, you might want to opt for a double layer of Ziploc bags.

Valerian root has been used primarily to treat insomnia, but has also been found helpful for other conditions as well, especially anxiety. In addition to inducing sleep, valerian also appears to decrease the occurrence of nightmares. The herb seems to work by affecting the action of GABA, which is an amino acid that regulates states of anxiety. Researches believe that valerian binds to GABA receptors in the brain, which results in a lower anxiety level. It doesn't really eliminate anxiety, it just changes the way that your brain and body physiologically react to it.

Valerian has been subjected to quite a bit of testing. Researchers have determined that valerian is effective at reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep (scientists call this "sleep latency"). This herbal sleep remedy also has been found to improve the quality of sleep throughout the night.

Valerian truly is a natural sleep aid champion, with enhanced effectiveness for people who consider themselves poor sleepers as well as those who take a long time to go to sleep. Valerian is generally safe to use, but you shouldn't make it a long-term solution. Also, it could interfere with anesthesia or interact with other medications, so make sure you tell your doctor if you're taking valerian.