17 Unbelievable Uses of Valerian Essential Oil

Valerian essential oil is excellent for insomnia, teeth grinding and restless legs, as well as anxiety and stress. It will help you get a good night’s sleep, improve your skin and relieve menstrual cramps. This oil has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Ancient Romans and Greeks used it to treat insomnia and other conditions.

During the 1500’s it was used to relieve nervous disorders, heart palpitations and headaches. It was also used to calm anxious people who lived in fear of air raids in England during WWII. I was thrilled to learn about valerian oil’s unbelievable uses and how its natural benefits are now being clinically studied.

1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Put 1 to 2 drops of valerian essential oil in your diffuser and run it for 1 hour before you go to bed. Its sedative properties will gently calm your active brain so you can quickly drop off to sleep for a good, restful night’s sleep. Do not put more than that in your diffuser as the odor, and the oil’s relaxing properties, are quite strong. You can also mix 2 to 3 drops into 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and massage it into your feet, chest or forehead. Another option with this oil is to take it orally or in a cup of warm tea. You can actually purchase valerian essential oil in capsule form. Don’t use it in conjunction with other sleep aids, though. They could make you too sleepy.

*Get only high-quality valerian essential oil that is processed for ingestion or therapeutic grade for topical applications or aromatherapy.*

2. Stop Teeth Clenching and Grinding (Bruxism)

Rub valerian essential oil into the bottoms of your feet to prevent sleep Bruxism or teeth clenching and grinding in your sleep. Mix a few drops of valerian oil into a teaspoon of carrier oil. Massage it into the bottoms of your feet 1 to 2 hours before you go to bed. Argan is an excellent carrier oil for this as it is absorbed into the skin quickly. You can also rub it into the skin over your jaw and upper portion of your neck. For added calming relaxation, mix a few drops of lavender oil into the blend.

3. Relieve Anxiety

Utilize valerian essential oil to relieve anxiety. It works like alprazolam and diazepam to increase the GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) levels in your brain, but that’s not all. It also blocks an enzyme that removes GABA. You can put a drop or 2 in your diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes to relieve anxiety but, be cautious. It really is a strong sedative. You should use it at night before bed or during the day when you don’t plan to go out for the first few times until you see how well it works for you.

*Do not take valerian EO right before you have to drive or operate any type of machinery.*

4. Reduce Stress

Use valerian essential oil to reduce stress. When you feel your stress level rising, put 1 to 2 drops in your diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes. Another option is putting 1 to 2 drops on your fingertips and gently massaging your temples with it for fast relief. Be careful not to get it in your eyes and remember, it is a sedative that affects everybody differently. It could knock you right out or simply relax you. Just be careful. You don’t want to drop off to sleep at your desk or during an important meeting.

*Valerian EO has a woodsy-musky odor that most people find unpleasant. Some people like the fragrance, though, and cats love it.*

5. Improve your Cognitive Function

Use valerian EO to help keep your mind sharp. It can improve cognitive function and even slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Most likely, this benefit is due to its ability to improve sleep and reduce stress and anxiety. Very few people can be “on their game” when they are sleep deprived or anxious. Practice valerian aromatherapy with 1 to 2 drops in your diffuser or blend it with a carrier oil and massage it into your feet.

6. Alleviate Nervous Disorders

Use valerian EO to treat nervous disorders and conditions like ADHD. Practice valerian aromatherapy or rub a valerian/carrier oil blend into the bottoms of your feet to take advantage of this incredible benefit.

*Do not take valerian essential oil if you have liver disease.*

7. Relieve Depression

Practice valerian oil aromatherapy to relieve depression. Use only 1 to 2 drops in your infuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Afterward, open a window, if you can, to let in some fresh air. You can also mix a few drops into a teaspoon of carrier oil and massage it into the bottoms of your feet. Be cautious of this oil’s sedative effects. Use it only when you can rest and relax afterward the first few times until you see how it affects you.

8. Calm Restlessness

Use calming valerian EO when you are feeling restless and unsettled. Aromatherapy will work for this. You may want to massage it into the bottoms of your feet, too.

*Do not use valerian EO if you are pregnant or nursing.*

9. Lower Your Blood Pressure

Take valerian essential oil to lower your blood pressure. It has coronary dilating effects that improve the health of your heart so it will function more efficiently and keep your blood pressure down. Practice valerian aromatherapy several times a day, rub it into your feet at night or take valerian EO capsules.

10. Control Heart Palpitations

Valerian EO can also help stabilize the rhythm of your heartbeat. Use any of the treatment options for lowering blood pressure.

*Valerian EO is not likely to cause a reaction, but you should put a drop on your skin in an inconspicuous area and wait a few hours to see if it causes irritation.*

11. Improve Digestion

Use valerian EO to improve digestion. It has an anti-spasmodic effect on your stomach and digestive tract. This oil relieves indigestion and stimulates the appetite. It gets the whole digestive tract functioning properly, alleviating constipation, diarrhea and even ulcers. You can do aromatherapy after meals or mix a few drops into a teaspoon of carrier oil and massage it into your abdominal area.

12. Improve Skin Health

Use valerian essential oil to help prevent or reduce wrinkles. Add 2 to 3 drops to your facial skin cream or a carrier oil and apply it to your skin twice a day. Just be careful not to get it in your eyes. Argan oil is a great carrier oil for this with skin benefits of its own. It is a light oil that absorbs quickly. Coconut oil is also a good carrier oil with skin-improving benefits but it can be a bit greasy. I like to use a teaspoon of coconut oil and a squirt or 2 of argan oil for the best of both oils. The argan, along with the essential oil, absorbs quickly while the coconut oil seems to seal in all the benefits.

*Discuss valerian EO with your physician before taking it if you are taking any medications.*

13. Relieve Skin Conditions

Mix a few drops of valerian EO into a teaspoon of carrier oil to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It quickly cools and soothes as its antibacterial properties begin to heal your skin.

14. Relieve Insect Bites and Stings

Blend a few drops of valerian oil into a teaspoon of coconut oil to treat itchy, painful bug bites and stings. Its fast-cooling action with give quick relief.

*Valerian EO will magnify the effects of alcohol and other sedative-type substances*

15. Speed Healing

Use a few drops of valerian oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil to protect and help heal wounds, cuts, sores and burns. Its antibacterial properties prevent infection and speed healing. Simply apply the oil after gently cleaning the wound. Keep the wound covered with a bandage.

16. Kill Viruses and Bacteria

Use your valerian oil/carrier oil blend to moisturize your skin and prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. This oil has natural antibacterial properties that can help keep you healthy. Argan oil is ideal for this.

17. Relieve Menstrual Cramps

Mix 2 to 3 drops of valerian oil into 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil and gently massage it into your lower abdomen and back to get relief from menstrual cramps. It is an anti-spasmodic that calms your muscles and reduces cramping. Its mood elevating and stress-relieving properties can also help alleviate mood swings and irritability. You can practice bed-time valerian aromatherapy for relief, too, or put a few drops in a warm, soothing bath.

Was this list helpful to you? In today’s fast-paced world, so many of us suffer from insomnia, chronic stress and anxiety. I am so glad there is an essential oil that is so good for alleviating these problems. A good 7 to 8 hours of sleep is so important for the health of your body and mind. If you haven’t already, try some valerian essential oil so you can experience its unbelievable uses first hand. You will get the rest and relaxation you need, improve your digestion and get healthy, radiant skin.

Please leave a comment to let me know if this list helped and tell me about your own personal experiences with valerian essential oil. We’ll just keep adding to the list of its great uses. Be sure to share, too, so that others can become aware of all the uses for this amazing essential oil.

References:

1 US Dept. of Health & Human Services: NIH: Valerianhttps://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Valerian-HealthProfessional/

2 Amazon: Valerian Essential Oil (See Customer Reviews Re: rubbing on bottoms of feet)https://www.amazon.com/Valerian-Therapeutic-Essential-Edens-Garden/dp/B005CIKOEW/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1492719044&sr=1-5&keywords=valerian%2Bessential%2Boil&th=1

3 Dr. Axe: Valerican Root Solves Insomnia, Anxiety & Even Blood Pressurehttps://draxe.com/valerian-root/

4 Ayurvedic oils: Valerian Root Essential Oil​http://ayurvedicoils.com/tag/health-benefits-of-valerian-root-essential-oil

5 Essential Oils Informer: 9 Valerian Essential Oil Uses and Benefits that will Surprise You​http://essentialoilsinformer.com/9-valerian-essential-oil-uses-and-benefits-that-will-surprise-you/