Valeriana officinalis 1:1 extract: valerian root in liquid form
Valerian is one of the best-known herbs in the European tradition. In flower the plant reaches one to two metres and carries clusters of small pale pink to white blossoms, yet for centuries the interest has been in what grows below: the rhizome and roots, lifted in autumn and dried at a low temperature. That material tastes bitter and slightly camphor-like, and it carries the pungent odour valerian is famous for. The smell only develops during drying, when the valepotriates in the root break down and release isovaleric acid along with other compounds.
This bottle contains the same starting material, drawn out into a liquid. The 1:1 label refers to the ratio between plant material and extract: roughly one gram of root goes into every millilitre. A more concentrated extract such as 2.5:1 packs more than twice as much into that same millilitre. The extract is made by Fit-Up and comes in a white 10 ml bottle with a screw cap that has a dropper built in, so you can count drops instead of guessing with a spoon.
Measuring and using
Shake the bottle briefly and count a few drops into a glass of water or a cup of tea; under the tongue works too. The taste is decidedly bitter, so warm tea with a little honey makes it go down more easily. Start with a small number of drops and take your time before building up.
Storage and points to note
Keep the bottle cool, dry and dark with the cap firmly closed, and store it out of reach of young children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, speak to your doctor first. This extract is sold as a botanical product, not as a medicine.
Avalon Magic Plants also carries valerian as cut dried root in 50 gram bags, as an alkaloid extract combined with GABA and as seed if you would rather grow it. The same category holds dozens of other 1:1 extracts, among them passionflower, St. John's wort, chamomile and nettle. Every order is sent out in discreet packaging.
