Valerian is growing so abundantly here around Kristiansand, Norway, and was in the bloom up until recently, so I harvested and dried some of the herb.
Valerian /Valeriana officinalis L./ is a perennial plant native to Europe and parts of Asia. Latin name of this genus comes from the word "valere", which means to be strong or well. It has been used in folk medicine as a natural sedative for centuries. Today it is known and officially used in treating insomnia and anxiety, along with some other indications.
Valerian root is the most potent part of the plant and is harvested in autumn when the bioactive compounds concentrations are the highest. The plant on the picture is V. officinalis ssp. sambucifolia, a polyploid subspecies that is not officially recognized, but is the most common subspecies of this area and has been widely used in folk medicine.
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