Recent information summaries on valerian:

American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook.1997  Ed. by
McGuffin et al. (CRC Press) classifies herbs according to safety in
appropriate use.  The authors place Valerian officinalis and other Valerian
species as Class 1 ( "Herbs that can be safely consumed when used
appropriately") - i.e. did not place in 2c ( "Not to be used while nursing").
In text, they state German labelling of tincture requires statement that it
impairs driving but authors give reference that denies this impairment.

  The authors also consider reports of toxicity due to valepotriate
constituents as unfounded due to their poor absorption and quick degradation
into less toxic compounds.

Authors give reference reporting continual use as leading to minor side
effects: head ache, excitability, insomnia.

Newall et al. 1996 ( Herbal Medicines, a guide for the health-care
professional): reiterates lack of evidence for toxicity in humans. They also
state that there are no reports of side effects to valerian.  Also doubt
clinical significance of toxicity reports from in vitro studies.  They state
valerian may potentiate "existing sedative therapy" due to CNS depressant
action of herb.  State there are no reports of synergistic action with
alcohol. Hmm.

This book generally reads like a manufacturer's drug insert when it gets to
the lactation information.  Valerian is no exception:  " The safety of
valerian during pregnancy and lactation has not been established and should,
therefore, be avoided."

Bisset ( Ed. english edition, Herbal Drugs and phytopharmaceuticals 1994)
includes  excerpts of the German Commission E : does not contraindicate
valerian root tea/tincture during lactation nor during pregnancy for that
matter.

For quick website information on some common herbs ( referenced), check out
Jim Duke's Syllabus: MEDICAL BOTANY FOR PHYSICIANS

http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/PBIO/MEDICAL_BOTANY/index.html


Post from Jan 11:  "Aruyvedic Botanical Liv.52. "   What herbs are in this
product?  What dose is the mother proposing to take?


Sheila Humphrey  BSc(Botany)  RN  IBCLC
Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota where we got a pile of snow and now -20F (
that's cold in metric too), but at least we have electricity!