Valerian

I worried when I added valerian to the herb wheel that it wasn't going to last very long in my garden. Cats are supposed to be so attracted to this plant they can't rest its scent and chew it into oblivion.
Either we don't have enough free roaming cats in the neigborhood or its reputation of being irresistible is exaggerated: other than a slight wilt, due to the latest dry streak, it seems to be fine for now. It bloomed too, and its flower umbrellas are delightfully fragrant.
Valerian's reputation as a medicinal herb is undisputed, it has been effectively used as a sedative and it is a relatively safe natural alte
ative for sleeping pills. The ‘relatively’ is due to the fact that on rare occasions it has the opposite effect, keeping people alert and irritable, and in large quantities it can generate gastrointestinal upset.
Some believe valerian was blessed with the gift of turning bad situations around and bringing advantage out of defeat.
Even though the root is the most commonly used, because it has the highest concentration of active compounds, all the parts of the plant share the medicinal qualities, which is a blessing considering the pungent smell makes valerian root quite unpalatable.
As with any herbal preparation, consult a physician before taking it and don't use while pregnant, it has mutagenic properties.