Valeriana officinalis is the scientific name given to Valerian, a perennial flower that is native to Europe and Asia. Today, the flower is grown in different parts of the world, including the United States. The Valerian root has been used in aromatherapy applications for hundreds of years, but is also known to have some medicinal benefits as well. In fact, some people refer to Valerian root as a "heal all."
* Product and/or service provided for review without cost. As always, all opinions are my own.
Benefits of Valerian Root
Valerian root has been studied for centuries and most people attribute the root to higher sleep quality. It is said that Valerian root has components that trigger hormone release in the body to help balance our body's cycles—our sleep cycle in particular. Valerian root has been used to induce a restful sleep since ancient times.
Other uses of Valerian root include:
- Relieve anxiety
- Improve mood
- Ease upset stomach
- Induce healthy bowel movements
- Detoxify the body
- Reduce heart palpitations
It is because of this roots alleged ability to regular our body's cycles that it has so many applications.
Scential Health Review
Before reviewing the Valerian Essential Oil from Scential Health, I spoke to several friends of mine who are avid users of essential oils. They explained to me that Valerian oil would smell putrid and pungent, but that it is incredibly normal. I expected to open the bottle and immediately pull away, but that was not the case at all.
In fact, the Valerian Essential Oil from Scential Health was pleasant. It didn't have the earthy, herbaceous scent that I expected. In fact, it had strong hints of citrus that I didn't expect at all. Unfortunately, this made me question the purity of the oil.
I consider the women that I spoke with to be experts on essential oils. When I told them that the Valerian Oil smelled pleasant to me, they immediately suggested that it was not 100% Valerian Oil. They even suggested that the underlying citrus notes may indicate solvent extraction—something which I am totally against paying for.
To validate my suspicions, I tried to use the oil to induce sleep (as it is so often said to help with) last night. Unfortunately, the strong citrus notes gave way to an underlying solvent fragrance that gave me a headache. I immediately bottled the oil back up and placed it in my cabinet.
If you're still interested in trying the Valerian Essential Oil, know that it comes in a small amber bottle (15mL) with a Euro-style dropper cap. This cap is rubber, as to keep the beneficial properties of the oil inside. The bottle was fully filled, so you get what you pay for.
Sadly, I cannot give this oil a positive review. I have loved many of Scential Health's Essential Oils, but this one is not one of them.
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