Effective tincture of valerian--if you like valerian
I'm not sure whether to review this product specifically here or to review valerian as a medicinal supplement more generally. If you like valerian, this is an effective tincture (produces strong, pronounced valerian effects in the doses suggested) and probably superior to any of the tisane blends or dry herb capsule formulations on the market. The effects come on slowly, but last for quite a long time. It works as a hypnotic/anxiolytic in a pinch, I guess, but personally valerian doesn't really agree with me--makes me feel numb, cognitively-impaired, groggy and slightly depressed (even a little dissociated at high doses--i.e., "spaced-out") when taken in the day/waking hours as an anxiolytic sedative, and while it initiates and sustains sleep effectively for me it gives me dreadful vivid nightmares when used as a hypnotic at bedtime. My preferred use I've found is to take just a few (<10) drops in order to potentiate other primary sedative-hypnotics, such as benzos and z-drugs to minimize the necessary dosage of the latter. It's probably a good option for children and others who can't tolerate anything stronger. None of this is to knock this particular product by any means--if valerian works for you, this is quite concentrated and as good a formulation as any. But as just about everybody knows, there are far better mild sedatives out there, including of an herbal or herbal-adjacent/extracted variety (ethylbromoisovalerate, one of the components of Corvalol, for one, motherwort and arguably lavender).
