Common Valerian
Valériana officinalis L.
Valériane officinale
An excellent natural sedative, valerian is one of the ten most popular medicinal plants in North
America.
Plant Properties and Uses
Medicinal
A plant widely known for its sedative properties, valerian
is a general nervous system relaxant.1 It is effective
against headaches, digestive troubles and other
problems due to nervous tension or stress. It also eases
spasms and convulsions. One of the advantages of
valerian is that its effect does not last until the next day,
unlike some sedatives. It is used in herbal teas, tinctures
and essential oils.
Culinary
Some people use it as a spice, but its strong flavour and
smell repel others. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
reports the use of valerian oil in the flavour industry.
Ornamental
Sometimes grown in gardens, it is very decorative.
Other Uses
Cats react to valerian the same way as they react to
catnip, exhibiting unusual behaviour ranging from
euphoria to aggressiveness.
1
The effects are sometimes felt only after two weeks of
use.
Fact Sheets
Gaspé Peninsula’s Non-Timber Forest Products
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WARNING: Valerian can act like a stimulant in some
people and disturb their sleep. It can also be addictive.
Avoid confusing it with other similar plants of the same
family, like spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculate), a
poisonous species.
Habitat
Originally a garden plant, valerian grows in open or semi-
shaded areas, such as along roadsides, beside streams,
and in fields, vacant lots and forest edges. It grows on a
wide variety of soils, but prefers most, humid and deep
soils.
Market
Industrial Demand
The largest market for valerian is Europe; Germany
seems to be the leading country. Recently, an increase
in demand for valerian has been observed in Korea. The
plant is used in some remedies and to flavour tobacco.
Soft drinks and fruit juices containing herbs like valerian
and ginseng are also being sold on the market. The
companies producing these types of beverages are in
Japan and the U.S., which represent a business
opportunity for Canada. There seems to be a variety of
markets for valerian (pharmaceutical, food and
cosmetic), which means that supplies must take various
forms (dry or wet extract, tincture, essential oil, etc.)
According to Richters herb catalogue, valerian prices are
decreasing while production is increasing. In 2001, there
was a surplus or 4,200 tonnes of valerian root. There is
also stiff competition from countries such as Belgium,
France, Holland, Germany and New Zealand.

In Quebec, prices are currently low. In 2003, organic
valerian roots sold for about $3 per kg, while roots grown
conventionally sold for $2.10 per kg. The essential oil is
sold for approximately $1,000 per kg.
Valerian essential oil is said to be a component of
Valium™. However, this information could not be
confirmed during the research conducted for this fact
sheet.
Harvesting Method
Two-year plant roots and rhizomes are harvested in the
fall, preferably when the plant (above ground) is dry.
Harvesting is done by hand or, for major crops, using
grubbers that can extract roots 30 cm deep. The roots
are then washed to remove excess soil.
Valerian leaves have properties similar to those found in
the roots, although the active ingredients are less
concentrated. The leaves are picked by hand.
Product Quality
The percentage of active principles in valerian depends
on the environment and age of the plant. The active
principles are short lived and to preserve them, the roots
must be dried. It is preferable to dry them near a heat
source, because they dry too slowly at room
temperature. However, the temperature must not exceed
40°C. Roots are dry enough when they contain no more
than 15% water. They are then kept in airtight jars.
Valerian develops a strong, distinctive scent that some
people find unpleasant. It should be stored separately
from other plants while drying.
Another root preservation method, considered by many
as being the best one, consists in soaking crushed roots
in beverage-grade alcohol (60% to 80%) for a specific
period. After a few days or a few weeks, the liquid is
filtered and poured into an opaque glass jar, away from
the light. For consumption, about 10 drops of this liquid,
called a tincture, is added to a small amount of water.
Buyers require roots containing at least 0.5% volatile oil.
Fact Sheets
Gaspé Peninsula’s Non-Timber Forest Products
Contacts and Buyers
In Quebec, some distilleries produce essential oil from
organic valerian plants (including Aliksir, in Grondines).
La Clef des Champs in Val-David also markets dry
organic valerian roots.
In the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, the Centre de
Recherche et de développement en agriculture (CRDA –
http://www.crda.qc.ca) has conducted a study on the
agro-economic potentials of valerian and St. John’s
Wort. The report is available for a fee (see Useful
References).
In the Gaspé Peninsula, Aline Hébert, from the Coop de
Solidarité Rocher-Percé at (418) 782-2777, or any other
known herbalists can provide further information.
Domestication
Valerian propagates by seedlings or cluster division.
Seedlings are planted in early spring and cluster division
is done in the fall.
According to Richters herb catalogue, seedlings should
be planted inside about 8 weeks prior to being
transplantied outdoors, as it takes 12 to 15 weeks to
mature. Seedlings should be planted in rows 20–90 cm
apart, and 20 cm to 30 cm should be left between
seedlings. Regular weeding is required. The approximate
yield is 4,000 kg per ha in the United States.
Caution: Valerian seedlings are prolific and can invade
gardens or even yards. It is important to choose a
planting location carefully.
It is also possible to transplant secondary roots from a
plant, or a young blossoming plant. Plants are
transplanted in wet, fertilized soil, 30 cm apart, in rows
60 cm to 90 cm apart.
To promote rhizome growth, blooming tops can be cut.
Useful References Web Sites

AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA (AAFC)

FLEURBEC. 1985. Plantes sauvages des villes et des
champs, volume 2. Guide d’identification, Fleurbec,
ALBERTA AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL
Quebec, 208 p.
DEVELOPMENT:
http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/economic/market/he
ITEIPMAI (Institut technique interprofessionnel des
rbsarticle.html#13
plantes à parfum, médicinales et aromatiques). 1998.
Fiches techniques – valériane officinale. Chemillé,
LA CLEF DES CHAMPS. Herbalist:
France, 13 p.
http://www.clefdeschamps.net
LÉVESQUE, Y and WIELAND. 2001. Évaluation du
PURDUE UNIVERSITY. Valerian:
potentiel agroéconomique de la valériane et du
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/med-
millepertuis. Centre de recherche et de développement
aro/factsheets/VALERIAN.html
en agriculture, rapport final, Alma, 53 p.
RICHTERS HERB SPECIALISTS:
L’HERBOTHÈQUE. 1996 à 1999. Herbart, plante
http://www.richters.com/
médicinale - La valériane. Herbalist course, Ham-Nord,
55 p.
LE RÉSEAU PROTÉUS. Portail santé de médecine
intégrée :
MARIE-VICTORIN, Frère. 1995. Flore laurentienne, 3e
http://www.reseauproteus.net
édition revue par E. Rouleau et mise à jour par L.
Brouillet, S. G. Hay et I. Goulet (en collaboration avec
M. Blondeau, J. Cayouette et J. Labrecque pour
l’impression de 1997). Les Presses de l’Université de
This initiative was made possible with the participation of
Montréal, Montreal, 1,083 p.
Canada Economic Development and Natural Resources
Canada.
SCHNEIDER, A. 1999. Plantes sauvages médicinales :
les reconnaître, les cueillir, les utiliser. Les Éditions de
l’Homme, 302 p.

Personal Communications

FLYNN, Anne-Marie. La Clef des Champs, Val-David,

september 2003.

HÉBERT, Aline. Coop de solidarité Rocher-Percé, Val-

d’Espoir, september 2003.

Fact Sheets
Gaspé Peninsula’s Non-Timber Forest Products