Valeriana officinalis - Valerian
"CONSTITUENTS: Volatile oil, valerianic, malic, acetic and formic acids; tannin, sugar, starch, mucilage, extractive, resin.
PREPARATIONS: Extractum valerianae fluidum, fluid extract of valerian. Dose: ten minims to two drams. Specific valerian. Dose: five to sixty minims. Tinctura valerianae ammoniata, ammoniated tincture of valerian. Dose: one to two drams. Oleum valerianae, oil of valerian. Dose: one to five minims.
Therapy: This agent has long been known as a nervine. It is gentle and soothing in its influence upon the nervous system, especially upon the spinal centers. It is applicable in the nervousness of depression because of its gentle stimulating influence, and in these cases its influence is heightened by combining it with stimulants.
This result is effectually obtained from the valerianate of ammonium, which is the most active of the valerian compounds. In conditions where the nervousness is induced by hyperactivity—actual increased nerve force—or where there is organic disease, it is not the remedy.
The agent exercises a good influence in combination with cimicifuga in the treatment of chorea. Its influence upon disordered motility, although not marked, is similar to that of cannabis indica, hyoscyamus and scutellaria.
In pruritus, with nervous excitement from feebleness, it is a desirable agent. It has been used in stomach disorders and in diabetes, but its influence is not marked in these cases.
(Finley Ellingwood: The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1915)"