Stress and anxiety are unavoidable facts of modern life. High-pressure jobs, grueling commutes, parents and kids to care for and an ever-growing pile of bills will eventually take their toll on you from time to time-leaving you sleepless at night and restless and anxious during the day. Sure, a few weeks lounging on a sunny beach sounds like a good solution-but when life gets busy, you’re lucky if you can get five minutes to catch your breath and slow down your racing mind.
The unfortunate reality is that you can’t always get away from it all when you need to the most. But the good news is that a vacation isn’t the only way to give your frazzled nerves a much-needed break. In fact, scientists think that the time-tested herb valerian (Valeriana officinalis) may interact with the calming neurotransmitter GABA to soothe occasional anxious feelings and promote a sense of serenity from the inside out-and new research is offering even more support for valerian’s potential role as a safe, natural stress-buster.
In a recently published animal study, researchers supplemented groups of rats with either valerian root extract, the active constituent of valerian (known as valerenic acid), a combination of valerinic acid and GABA, diazepam (better known as Valium) or ethanol as a control. Following administration, the scientists subjected each rat to a maze test, in an effort to evaluate their reaction to stress and consequent anxious behaviors.
Results showed a significant improvement in anxious behavior among the rats that received valerian extract or valerenic acid when compared with controls. What’s more, there was no significant difference in benefits among any of the three experimental groups-which means that valerian may curb occasional waves of stress and anxious feelings.
The researchers’ conclusion? Evidence points to valerian as a valuable alternative ally in your efforts to get daily rest and relaxation-no packing or plane tickets required. That’s why you’ll find it combined with the calming nutrients GABA, ashwaganda, L-theanine and passion flower in the natural formula Allay, available now from Vitamin Research Products. Think of it as a vacation in a bottle.
Reference:
Murphy K, Kubin ZJ, Shepherd JN, Ettinger RH. Valeriana officinalis root extracts have potent anxiolytic effects in laboratory rats. Phytomedicine. 2010 Jul;17(8-9):674-
