So, something really sad happened this week: my tea kettle broke. 🙁
I went through about a day of boiling water in a pot on the stove before dragging J to Goodwill for a replacement.
We found some cute and amazing little vintage tea kettles, and a ton of tea cups I’ve been putting to good use with my newest Insomnia & Anxiety Natural Cure!
Popular throughout Europe and the United States, where it grows abundantly, Valerian root contains a number of active chemical compounds. These include different alkaloids, but the most important may be gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which is vital for brain function, and helps to inhibit the stress-causing neurotransmitters that can lead to a lack of sleep or persistent anxiety.
This is the same active compound that is triggered by Valium, but valerian root tea is a far safer and milder alternative to this addictive drug. This has been backed up by clinical research in the past few decades. Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its properties, and Galen later prescribed it as a remedy for insomnia. In medieval Sweden, it was sometimes placed in the wedding clothes of the groom to ward off the “envy” of the elves. In the sixteenth century the Anabaptist reformer Pilgram Marpeck prescribed valerian tea for a sick woman.
Valerian is also used for Abdominal Cramps, Nervousness, Obsessive Thoughts, Muscle Relaxation & Insomnia. Once again, the pills, tinctures and teas containing Valerian can get pricey, so I got myself a little Valerian plant. If you plan to use the roots, it is recommended that you snip off the leaves, that way the energy goes directly to the roots.
To prepare valerian tea, take one bag per cup of hot water and allow it to steep for approximately 10 minutes. When using valerian tea for insomnia or to get a better night of rest, it is recommended to drink valerian tea at night before bed in order to achieve the best results. It is also recommended to drink this tea regularly since it may take more than one night before taking a prominent effect.
I harvest the plant from a larger pot with adequate soil around it, that allows me to safety take the plant in and out without uprooting it:
I then:
Break or cut off parts of the roots and put them in a Tea Strainer:
Valerian has a strong odor, but mixing it with Honey or mixing with Lavender or Chamomile flowers takes that away very well.
Enjoy!
*Valerian shouldn’t be taken with many medications, especially those that depress the central nervous system, such as sedatives and antihistamines. Valerian shouldn’t be taken with alcohol, before or after surgery, or by people with liver disease. It should not be taken before driving or operating machinery. Consultation with a qualified health practitioner is recommended.
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