Tea Collection: Valerian
Ladies: this is the one. This is the herb that you’ve been looking for. When I discovered Valerian and started to study it, I felt like I had found the Holy Grail.
I’m telling you right now this plant was designed for us in mind. The pink and white flowers grow tall (6 foot!) they attract the bees and butterflies to eat and pollinate. It’s a fast producing, perennial plant that establishes her place in the garden - and she loves to be by the water.
When it comes time to harvest the roots, she’s smelly and cranky from getting pulled out of her garden bed. But once she is cleaned up the magic comes out.
The dried root can be made into a powder, made into a tincture or just steeped in hot water to make a relaxing tea.
THE BENEFITS
Are you ready for this? Valerian is commonly used as a sleep aid, but that’s not all she offers. When this root is made into a tincture, it’s been deemed the natural dupe of Valium. Relieving symptoms of stress, anxiety, OCD, PMS, Menopause AND restless leg syndrome.
THE WARNINGS
Valerian does make you sleepy like melatonin or chamomile. So it’s not a good idea to consume it before driving or using machinery.
Some people of experienced negative side effects such as headaches, stomachaches, mental dullness, uneasiness, heart disturbances or insomnia. So be smart about your body. If you tend to have negative effects from sleep aids, Valerian is probably not for you.
The herb can also have a negative increased effect with alcohol, benzodiazepines and narcatics.
And just because of the lack of actual medical sciences with herbs/drugs and pregnancy, discuss herbal remedies with your doctor before using while pregnant or breastfeeding.
YOU CAN GROW IT!
Plant the seeds with a light dusting of loose soil. The seeds need light to germinate. If you have a problem with birds in your garden, it might be a good idea to start the seeds inside and move to the garden once they are established.
Valerian likes to be near water sources, so if you do not have a pond or stream on your property, you’ll want to keep the plant in a place where it’s going to stay moist. It likes full sun but can do well in partial shade. It will need a nitrogen supplement throughout the growing season.
This is a perennial plant, that means she’s gonna keep coming back! When you harvest the roots in the spring, make sure you don’t take them all, and rotate the area’s of the garden you do harvest each year. For the strongest roots, cut the flowers and stalks short to allow the plant to focus on root growth.
GET THIS IN YOUR COLLECTION NOW!
If you want to grow valerian in your garden, support small farms like Southern Seed Exchange. I got my Valerian seeds from their Etsy shop. Don’t wait for a whole year to get your valerian! Until you have your own crop to harvest, you can pick up the prepared roots here.
Get your free printable by clicking the picture below!
