Valerian - fresh or dry / 1995

Date: Thu, 7 Sep 1995 09:26:45 -0700
Sender: HERB.TREARNPC.EGE.EDU.TR
From: Howie Brounstein <howieb.TELEPORT.COM>
Subject: Re: peppermint tea dry or wet?

>I have alwys promoted and believed this but was told i was wrong about valerian root should be dried. No one has been able to give me a logical reason for this claim yet.

Around here there is mixed opinions on fresh vs. dried valerian. Certainly the constituents are different after the drying process. Personally, I stick with fresh valerian in all cases, tinctures and teas. There is a possibility of valerian addiction in dried valerian, but the amounts one would need to take are well beyond the sane dosages (ounces of tincture a day for months), and so I don't discount dried valerian use. I guess it comes down to availability and personal opinion.

Howie B

From: christopher hedley <christopher.GN.APC.ORG>

Valerian is best as a fresh plant tincture.
Such a tincture has a much higher amount of the essential oil, which makes it more generally acceptable.

However, fresh and dried plant tinctures are two different things and may be quite different in their effects. A little experimentaion may be called for.

Christopher Hedley