Archive for the 'Valerian Root Tea' Category
I remember getting sudden, painful “charlie horses” in my leg muscles when I was a kid. The adults called these cramps “growing pains.” My daughter gets sharp and abrupt muscle cramps every so often and guess what the teachers at school tell her? You guessed it…that they are merely “growing pains.”
Well, anytime frequent muscle cramps occur, it is usually because the person is not getting enough balanced vitamins and minerals. One should be getting at least 1,500 mg. of daily calcium and 750 mgs. of magnesium per day. Potassium is also important; we should be consuming at least 99 mg. of potassium daily. A banana or potato provides potassium. Vitamin C and B complex with a minimum of 50 mg. of zinc daily is also essential for proper muscle functioning. It is best to get these through consumption of fresh food, however, if you lead a busy lifestyle and must take supplements, then by all means, do so. This healthy regimen must be adhered to diligently, on a daily, regular, ongoing basis!
Horsetail, meadowsweet, valerian and skullcap help to relieve muscle cramps also. Taking valerian root 
at bedtime helps to relax the muscles too. So, eat right and take herbs wisely for proper muscle maintenance.
I was invited to a family reunion today with a wonderful family at a park in South Jersey. It was not my family, however, this family graciously treated me as if I were one of their own. We saw white bulls swimming and basking in the sun at the edge of a river. We fed the ducks and tossed the fish some bread when we walked down to the river. It was supposed to rain and it drizzled some, however, the sun had come out and stayed with us for the remainder of the afternoon. The family made my daughter and I feel right at home.
Later, after the picnic was over, we went over to the farm house of one of the family’s matriarchs. It was such a serene and peaceful area, being out in the country, surrounded by corn fields, orchards and pastures of green. While we were inside of the farm house, the matriarch confided that she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. I saw a bottle of valerian root powder on her kitchen counter. I asked her why she used the valerian root. She replied that she takes it everyday as an herbal remedy for her irritable bowel syndrome. She went on to say that it really works and that it was a money saver. She had tried the prescription medications but said that she was tired of the negative side effects and of the high cost of the meds.
I told her that some people take valerian root for anxiety and for help with insomnia. She expressed pure gratitude for having the valerian root 
available to her. She also told me that she couldn’t live without it. She added that her health had improved significantly since she started using valerian root. It showed; last year she was sickly and in pain and this year, she was healthier and happier, with a large smile on her face and beaming with the satisfaction of being out of pain and happy to be alive.
Many menopausal women suffer from general insomnia; tossing and turning at night and unable to get a good night’s sleep. There are a great deal of scientific studies which have affir
med the efficacy and the safety or taking valerian root to treat insomnia.
Valerian works the same way that a heavy-duty benzodiazapine (like Valium, Ativan or Xanax) does, but it is much safer because there is no side effects (hangover) or risk of addiction with Valerian root. It is a very reliable sedative for most people. My friend drinks it one hour before bedtime in the form of a tea. It helps her to sleep through the night peacefully.
Be careful not to take Valerian if you’re already taking prescription sleep aids.
A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine made three trips to the Emergency Room throughout various nights. Whenever she laid her head down she was unable to breathe and could not get to sleep as a result of her lack of being able to catch her breath. She does not suffer from asthma, therefore, the doctors diagnosed her with panic and anxiety attacks. Being only 30 years old, she felt no anxiety and she had no reason for being anxious, but the medical experts had told her otherwise.
She was given a prescription for Ativan; a benzodiazopene which was causing her to feel groggy and fuzzy headed during each following day. Knowing that the Ativan is a controlled substance and can be potentially habit forming, she found out about the natural herb, Valerian root. She began substituting Valerian root capsules for the Ativan. She found out that she could fall asleep much faster and that she saved money because Ativan is an expensive drug compared to Valerian root.
She told me that she felt better taking Valerian root because it does not have the side effects that Ativan, Valium or the other benzo’s possess. She found out that she could take Valerian root as an oil or drink it as a soothing tea. She reported that when she forgot to take her Valerian root she could not get to sleep. She started taking the Valerian root 
again and now she is back to work and sleeping calmly and soundly at night.
Valerian root also lowers blood pressure. Please note that pregnant women should not take Valerian root.
With our fast-paced and hectic lifestyles, it is important to guard your immune system. The burdened and struggling world economy is causing great anxiety and stress. This stress tears down our body’s ability to ward off opportunistic bacteria and viruses.
Many factors play a role in strengthening the immune system. A balanced diet, rich in nutrients and minerals, provides the building blocks necessary for healthy cells to thrive. Exercise, deep breathing and plenty of fresh air are needed to replenish oxygen from the lungs to the brain and then to circulate throughout the whole body. Exercising regularly boosts oxygen intake, creating healthier cardiovascular and immune-system health.
Stimulate your immune system by eating fresh vegetables and fruits that contain rich antioxidants, particularly foods with Vitamin C and E. Vitamin A also strengthens immune efficiency. All you need is one carrot (vitamin A), one orange (vitamin C) and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (vitamin E) to meet daily vitamin requirements of these groups.
Try relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation and Ki breathing (just to name a few), to help you cope with stress. Take a nice relaxing bath with valerian root oil or mint oil; inhale the oil which kills bacteria on the mucous membranes and promotes the formation of antibodies. Antibodies naturally fight infections. Also, pour some lavender or some valerian root
oil into your bath water and feel yourself letting go of the day’s stresses as you lie in the bathtub and inhale the soothing fragrance of these herbs, filling your lungs and your senses with nature’s gifts.
You can brew up a cup of linden-flower or valerian root tea to help relieve stress and induce a state of calmness. Close your eyes, feel your tightened muscles let go and relax, as you sip your tea while treating yourself to a bath in the delightful, oil-filled bathtub. It is a well earned treat. It is just about effortless and you owe it to yourself!