Valerian and me - not a match made for sleep
As you know, I’ve been on a journey to find natural sleep remedies.
When I first heard about Valerian, I was told it was an herb that helped many people drift off to sleep.
Naturally, I was excited to try it.
In my mind, I pictured a calm and peaceful night’s rest, gently carried off by this popular plant ally.
But what happened for me turned out to be the exact opposite! Rather than calming me down, Valerian seemed to give me an extra jolt of energy—a sudden alertness that made sleep feel far away.
At first, I wondered if I had brewed it incorrectly or taken too much. But, as I’ve come to learn on my herbal journey, different plants can affect each individual in different ways.
That’s the beauty (and sometimes the mystery) of working with herbs: they have their own personalities, and how they interact with your body can shift based on person to person and our unique body chemistry. This is what makes legislating and regulating them so difficult.
Of course, this doesn’t mean Valerian isn’t a wonderful support for many people.
Some folks swear by it, and it remains one of the most widely recommended herbs for promoting relaxation and easing into a restful sleep. But in my case, my biology wasn’t in harmony with Valerian’s typical sedative properties.
Instead, I felt wired, restless, and very much awake. It was almost as if Valerian said, “Oh, you think you’re going to sleep? Let’s see about that!”
I’ve found that the best way to approach moments like these is with curiosity and an open mind.
It’s tempting to label an herb as “good” or “bad” based on one experience.
However, there might come a season or a stage in my life when Valerian’s effects on me change again.
That’s part of the ongoing relationship-building process we embark on when we invite these plants into our lives.
This is why I recommend testing a bunch of different herbs and see which ones are the most effective. When I work with you on creating a custom blend, I include samples of the herbs, so you can do the experimentation for yourself.
While we can learn from books, mentors, and other people’s stories, our personal experiences are often the most valuable teachers.
This is why I believe in creating a genuine connection with each herb you try.
Observe how it smells, how it tastes, and how it feels in your body over time. Take note of your environment, your mood, and even the time of day you try an herb.
These little details can significantly impact how it interacts with your system. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution in herbalism—just a dance of plants and people finding harmony with each other.
Although Valerian wasn’t my ticket to dreamland, it didn’t discourage me from exploring other herbs for sleep.
In fact, it made me even more curious. I aligned with Passionflower, among others, and eventually found the right ally for me.
That’s the magic of herbal exploration: one door closes, another opens, and we learn something new about both the plant and ourselves.
So, if you try an herb like Valerian and don’t get the results you expect, don’t be disheartened.
Stay patient, keep listening to your body, and continue exploring other options that resonate more deeply with you.
Every herbal journey is unique, and every plant has its own lesson to teach us—sometimes in surprising ways. Remember to stay open, be curious, and trust that you’ll find the right match for your needs when the time is right.