Testimonials

"For the last 6 weeks or so, I have been using Dianna's Iduna salve. In the last few weeks I have actually gotten more than one complement on how I look. The reason? My skin on my face is ever so much tighter and younger looking, well, rejuvenated. The crater between my yes, on the bridge of my nose is slowly erasing. The creases around my mouth and nose are not as severe, and incredibly, my turkey neck is almost gone! I highly recommend this stuff. Smells so exotic. You rule Dianna!"

~ Kati Breeding ~

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I am 78 years old. I tripped and fell face down. I caught myself with my arm, cracked my ribs, and injured my shoulder.

I used Caridwen for inflammation. What relief! The Caridwen took care of the inflammation so my shoulder healed much quicker.

Thank you Dee!

~ Beth Sherlock ~

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Do you suffer from Insomnia or are you just sick and tired of not getting a decent night's Sleep? Did you know that there's an herb that has been used to ease Insomnia, Anxiety and Nervous restlessness since the second century A.D.? This natural and herbal Sleep aid is called valerian root.
Research indicates that valerian root is widely used and respected by the general population and physicians for its Sedative effects and anti-Anxiety capabilities.
You may have even had valerian root before and not even realized it. It's very common for valerian root to be included in Sleep-promoting tea blends, but it doesn't just offer a solid night's Sleep - it's also helpful for naturally remedying Anxiety and can even lower Blood Pressure, among other benefits.

What Is Valerian Root?
Valerian root is derived from valerian (Valeriana officinalis), a perennial flowering plant from the Valerianaceae family. The plant has sweetly scented pink or white flowers that bloom in the summer.
Valerian (often misspelled 'valarian') is native to Europe and parts of Asia and now grows in North America as well.
Valerian root contains volatile oils, including valerenic Acids, less volatile sesquiterpenes and valepotriates (esters of short-chain fatty Acids). These active constituents are likely responsible for valerian root's ability to produce a calming and Restorative effect on the body's central Nervous system.
The name of the herb is derived from the personal name 'Valeria' and the Latin verb 'valere' (to be strong, healthy).
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.
Valerian was also used as an early epilepsy remedy up until around the 19th century. Researchers found that isovaleric Acid, a chemical contained in valerian, may prevent Convulsions, similar to the effects of the anticonvulsant medication valproic Acid.

Benefits
Naturally Aids Sleep
Studies show that valerian reduces the time it takes to fall aSleep and improves Sleep quality, so if you can't Sleep, it may be just what you're looking for. Unlike many prescription Sleep medications, valerian has�fewer side effects and is a lot less likely to result in morning drowsiness.
In�one double-blind study conducted by the Foellinge Health Center in Sweden, the effects of valerian on poor Sleep were significant. Of the study participants, 44 percent reported perfect Sleep while 89 percent reported improved Sleep when taking valerian root.
In addition, no side effects were observed for this group.
Valerian root is often combined with other sedating herbs, such as hops (Humulus lupulus) and lemon balm (Melissa officianalis), to treat Insomnia. In one study of children with minor Sleep problems published in Phytomedicine, 81 percent of those who took an herbal combination of valerian and lemon balm reported Sleeping much better than those who took a placebo.
How does valerian root help you Sleep so well? Valerian contains a chemical called linarin, which creates a Sedative effect.

Calms Anxiety
Scientists have found that valerian root increases the amount of a chemical called gamma aminobutyric Acid (GABA) through GABA receptors. GABA helps regulate Nerve cells and calms Anxiety.
Drugs such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) also work by increasing the amount of GABA in the brain. The valeric Acid, valerenic Acid and valerenol contained in valerian root extract act as anti-Anxiety agents.
It's pretty amazing that an herbal remedy like valerian root�can have the same anti-Anxiety�effects of prescription drugs without all the serious side effects of psychotropic drugs. If you are taking other calming medications or Antidepressants (such as tricyclic Antidepressants like amitriptyline or tetracyclic Antidepressants), do not take valerian at the same time.

Lowers Blood Pressure
Now that you know that valerian root can be so calming to the mind and body, it's probably not surprising to hear�it can also help lower Blood Pressure, improving Heart health. The same active components�that make valerian root so effective�for Stress and Anxiety management can also help the body properly regulate its Blood Pressure.
High Blood Pressure is something you definitely want to avoid since it increases the chance of Stroke and Heart attack. Studies indicate that valerian root supplements can help naturally reduce Blood Pressure and keep it at a healthy level, which has a direct positive impact on your Heart health.

Eases Menstrual Cramps
The relaxing nature of valerian root can make it a smart choice for natural relief of Menstrual Cramps. It can reduce the severity and discomfort of Menstrual Cramps, which is a common problem for women who suffer monthly from PMS.
How exactly can valerian root help? It's a natural Sedative and�Antispasmodic, which means it suppresses Muscle Spasms and acts as a natural Muscle relaxer.
Valerian root can effectively calm the severe Uterine Muscle contractions that cause the terrible Pain many women experience during menstruation, as a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study from Islamic Azad University in Iran showed.

Improves Stress Management
By reducing Anxiety and improving the length and quality of Sleep, valerian root can significantly help with daily Stress management. Chronic Stress can make you feel anxious, but Anxiety can also make you feel more Stressed out.
By improving GABA levels, valerian makes it easier for both the mind and body to relax. Since Relaxation is the antithesis of�Stress, valerian root is an excellent natural way to help keep your Stress down and your quality of life up.
Further, valerian root has been shown to suppress both physical and psychological Stress by helping to maintain levels of serotonin, according to research in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.

Uses and Recommended Dosage
Valerian has been classified as generally recognized as safe in the U.S. Valerian root can be purchased as a supplement in a variety of forms online or at your local health food store. It's sold as a dry powdered extract in capsule form, a tea, tincture or fluid extract.
Valerian can also be used externally in essential oil form. (Valerian root's smell is strong, but its taste is less off-putting.)
Valerian seems to be most effective after you take it regularly for two or more weeks.�It may take a few weeks before the effects of valerian root supplementation are felt.
For Insomnia, it may be taken one to two hours before bedtime or up to three times in the course of the day, with the last dose near bedtime.
What's the best valerian root recommended dosage for Insomnia? Recommendations can vary slightly, but for Insomnia, it�can be taken in the following forms at these recommended dosages:
Tea: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 teaspoonful (2 to 3 grams) of dried root, steep 5�to 10 minutes.
Tincture (1:5): 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon (4 to 6 mL)
Fluid extract (1:1): 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (1 to 2 mL)
Dry powdered extract (4:1): 250 to 600 milligrams
Once Sleep improves, it's recommended that you keep taking valerian for two to six weeks.�For Anxiety, try 120 to 200 milligrams, three to four times per day.

Risks and Side Effects
Although valerian root is generally regarded as safe, side effects such as Headache, Dizziness or Stomach problems can�occur.�Sometimes people may have a reaction to valerian that's the opposite of what they were aiming for - feeling anxious and restless instead of calm and Sleepy.
Most studies show no harmful effects on fertility or fetal development, but more research is needed. Check with your doctor before taking valerian root if you are Pregnant or nursing.
You should also speak with a doctor before giving valerian root to children.
For the majority of people, valerian root does not seem�to cause any kind of dependency. It also does not�cause withdrawal symptoms for most people.
However, there are a few reports of withdrawal symptoms when valerian has been used over very long periods of time. If you want to stop taking valerian after a lengthy amount of time, then you should lower your dose gradually rather than stopping all at once to be on the safe side.
Since valerian can make you Sleepy, do not take valerian root supplements before driving, operating heavy machinery or doing any activities that require Alertness. If you have Liver disease, avoid taking valerian.
Valerian root may increase the effects of other Sleep aids so it�s not recommended to combine valerian with other Sleep aids. It�should also not be combined with depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and narcotics since valerian can increase the Sedative effect of depressants.
Valerian can also interfere with some prescription medications, and it may interact with or increase the effects of other natural supplements like St. John's wort, kava and melatonin.
Check with your doctor before taking valerian if you have any chronic health issues, and also to check to make sure whether valerian�will or won't interact with any of your other current�medications or supplements.
Final Thoughts
Valerian root is a safe and natural way to help with one of the most annoying and common health problems�� poor Sleep. With minor and rare side effects, it can really trump prescription Sleep aids when it comes to its overall effect on your health.
Many prescription Sleep aids leave you feeling groggy the following morning, not to mention all the other scary and more serious risks on those long labels. Valerian root works with your body's chemistry to help get your nightly rest back on track.
In addition, valerian root offers relief for many other common health concerns through its natural Sedative abilities. It�s helped many people with:
Anxiety
Nervousness
tension
Stress
Menstrual Cramps
high Blood Pressure

https://draxe.com/Nutrition/valerian-root/
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Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a flowering plant whose roots are used in a variety of herbal medicine practices to induce Relaxation and a sense of calmness (30Trusted Source).

Sometimes called 'nature's Valium,' valerian is used to treat Menopause symptoms like Insomnia and hot flashes. Strong evidence for its efficacy is lacking, but preliminary data is promising.

A small study in 68 menopausal women determined that valerian supplements were significantly more effective at reducing subjective hot flash severity than a placebo. Another small study in 60 menopausal women found similar results (31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source).

In yet another study in 100 menopausal women, a combination of valerian and lemon balm was significantly more effective at improving Sleep quality than a placebo (33Trusted Source).

Valerian has a decent safety record but is associated with mild side effects, such as Digestive upset, Headaches, drowsiness, and Dizziness (30Trusted Source).

Taking valerian is not recommended if you�re on any medications for Sleep, Pain, or Anxiety, as it may have a compounding effect. It may also negatively interact with supplements like kava, melatonin, and St. John�s wort (30Trusted Source).
https://www.healthline.com/Nutrition/Menopause-herbs#9.-Valerian