DESCRIPTION
Product: Valerian Root
Latin Name: Valeriana officinalis
Plant Family: Valerianaceae
Other Names: Garden Valerian, Garden Helitrope, Cat’s Valerian, Phu, Great Wild Valerian, Heal-All, Setwall, Setewale, Capon's Tail, St. George’s Herb, Bloody Butcher, English Valerian, Vandal Root, Herbe aux Chats, Baldrian, Amantilla & Valeriana.
Description: Valerian is an herbaceous, perennial plant native to Europe and northern Asia. It reaches a height of 1-1.5 metres, it is primarily the rhizomous roots that are used. The roots are slender, tuberous, and brownish in colour with fine yellowy rootlets. The leaves are opposite, stalk-less, and comprised of 5-15 lanceolate leaflets with serrated edges. The small 5-petaled flowers are borne in terminal clusters and are pale pink to white in colour and sweetly scented.
SUGGESTED USE
The root is added to sleep blends and taken as a tea. As well as attracting cats, valerian attracts rats; it can be used as a humane and organic bait, if rats are a problem. The root or an infusion of the root can also be used as a compost activator and as a liquid feed in the garden.
SHELF LIFE
Shelf life of two years provided that goods are stored in an airtight container in ambient conditions.