Words: Laura Potter. Photographs: Shutterstock. *Product not available in Ireland
What is it?
A perennial herb native to Europe and parts of Asia, valerian has a distinctive pong that makes some people wince, others smile. The healing properties are mostly derived from the root, but preparations can also be made using its stems. It’s also used in teas, tinctures and capsules. Use of valerian dates back to ancient Greece, where it was lauded by Hippocrates, the ‘father of medicine’, and it’s been a trusted treatment for insomnia since the second century AD. In the 16th century, it was used to treat nervousness, headaches and palpitations; during the Second World War, Brits used it to relieve stress caused by air raids.