It was already used by the ancient Greeks – to reduce anxiety, promote sleep, relieve pain, and even as a digestive stimulant. It was particularly popular in the Middle Ages, and was included in almost all healing potions. Native American settlers applied the root as a powder to wounds. In the 17th century, a renowned English herbalist, Nicholas Culperer, also recommended it for coughs. The medicinal plant belongs to the marigold order and the honeysuckle family. There are nearly 250 species: 20 of them live in Europe and four in Hungary. Valerian or Valeriana Officinalis is most popular in Europe and Western Asia. It likes moist soil and above all an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. A herbaceous, perennial plant that grows up to 1.5 meters high, its flowers are white or pink, blooming in May and July. But the secret of this herb is not in its umbel flower, but in its root. The name catnip comes from the fact that cats are attracted to the characteristic smell of the brown rhizome of the medicinal plant: it has an exciting effect on them, they like to rub against the plant, it induces a real stupor and even addiction in them over time. Cats also eat the root, but the plant smells very unpleasant to humans. The valerian plant is used in natural medicine because of its root: it contains valeric acid. The essential oil of the herb is a pyridine derivative, which is a pheromone for certain insects. The valerenic acids in the catnip extract can influence and inhibit enzymes that play a role in the breakdown of gamma-aminobutyric acid. The increase in gamma-aminobutyric acid concentration causes general sedation in the central nervous system, i.e. it is effective in moderate to mild sleep disorders. The researchers also discovered that in animal experiments, the extracts of valerian root had a central sedative effect and acted as a muscle relaxant.

Ingredients in 2 veggie capsules: Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) (Root) 1000 mg