Description Herb, Common Valerian Valerian is a little known herb in the US in today’s world, but it was a very significant medicinal herb centuries ago and is still widely marketed in Europe. There are two plants which carry the name of Valerian – the common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber). They are not related. Common Valerian is the herb. Red Valerian is grown purely as an ornamental. Both are perennials. Common Valerian has been cultivated and prized for thousands of years because it is a safe and efficacious tranquilizer. Various, rigorous scientific studies have shown that the chemicals in Common Valerian, valepotriates, act as tranquilizers in small animals and humans. Valepotriates produce fewer side effects than diazepam, the drug used in Valium, and they can be taken with alcohol without the synergistic effect, including depression. It is believed that Valerian works by affecting the central nervous system, thus it is more a psychological drug than a physiological oone. Valerian is often grown today purely as an ornamental. In the 1800s, it became a very popular cottage garden flower. As a companion plant, it has been known to flourish with both Calendula and Echinacea Purple Coneflower.
