I just came across an article backed up by research which claims that valerian is good for RLS. Any thoughts?
Anyone having success with valerian? - Restless Legs Syn...
Anyone having success with valerian?
Hi, valerian has an established reputation for its calming effect and ability to aid sleep.
In that respect I guess you could say that it might be good for RLS in the same way other things that calm or aid sleep are "good".
If the article claims it reduces actual symptoms, that's another matter.
It would be easier to assess the credibility of this if it were possible to read the original research.
I used to use valerian... but with other natural herbs, creams, oils so hard to say how much of my success was due to the Valerian itself. It tastes gnarly assuming you'd be using a tincture. A trick I stumbled on was squirting the tincture into a glass of water and then adding lemon juice to it. Dumb luck... but it works! (Glad you reminded me of Valerian... I use all natural stuff and rotate through my arsenal. I'll add this back into my rotation. )
Valerian makes my husbands RLS worse. So it Just depends on the person.
It can enhance GABA production - getting you more sleepy and relaxed. It did nothing for me. Some of the teas with Valerian and other herbs like Passion Flower and Chamomile might help with sleep.
I am not a tea drinker but I have added Sleepy Time tea with valarian root for the last two weeks before bed. It hasn't hurt my RLS.
HelloValerian can help normal people sleep, without a diagnosis of any sleep disorder, a day when that person is a little more nervous than normal for any reason or simply because he wants to take it one night.
But for patients with RLS or severe insomnia from any other disease, taking valerian will do the same effect as if you have a cough and scratch an ear to avoid it: nothing.
But it will not get worse if you take it either, and many times the psychological effect works more than the chemical.