Evidence supporting the use of: Valerian root
For the health condition: Hysteria

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) has a long history of use in traditional European medicine as a remedy for various nervous disorders, including what was historically termed "hysteria." The term "hysteria" was once used to describe a wide range of psychological and somatic symptoms, predominantly in women, and included symptoms such as anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, and emotional disturbances. Valerian was frequently recommended in 18th and 19th-century herbal texts and pharmacopoeias as a calming agent for these complaints. Its sedative and anxiolytic properties were recognized by early practitioners, although their understanding of mental health was limited by the knowledge of the time.

Modern scientific studies have focused on valerian’s effects on anxiety and insomnia, with some evidence supporting its mild sedative action. However, "hysteria" as a diagnosis is now obsolete, and there is little direct modern research on valerian for this specific condition. The use of valerian for hysteria is therefore primarily justified by tradition rather than robust scientific validation. The evidence rating is moderate (2/5) because while there is historical use and some overlap with related symptoms (like anxiety), rigorous clinical trials targeting the broad and outdated concept of hysteria are lacking. In summary, valerian root’s use for hysteria is based on traditional European herbal medicine rather than contemporary scientific research.

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