Valerian grows wild all over Europe, and most of the valerian used for medicinal extracts is cultivated. The root is used in herbal medicine preparations.
Valerian root contains many different constituents, including volatile oils that appear to contribute to the sedating properties of the herb. Central nervous system sedation is regulated by receptors in the brain known as GABA-A receptors. According to test tube studies, valerian may weakly bind to these receptors to exert a sedating action.1 This might explain why valerian may help some people deal with stress more effectively.2
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