***BRAND COMPARISON***I originally bought this, plus passiflora, as a lower cost alternative to Dee Cee Labs' "Formula 303". Like so many herbals, MF303 is listed as "X parts #x strength". This doesn't actually mean anything. 1X, 2X, or whatever succession you use, means nothing if the base substance is not standardized. Don't get me wrong. MF303 is great, if stinky, but I like to know exactly what and how much I'm ingesting.
Ayur Sante's Valerian Extract product declares the actual amount (2%) of the primary chemical, Valerinic Acid. This way, you don't have to worry about whether the crops suffered irrigation issues one year, vs a deluge the next. Etc. Every time you get this, you know the capsules will have the same amount of the key, active ingredient. Any variances would be fairly minor.
With AS's Valerian, I can determine exactly how much I need (back strain, going to work, vs weekend recovery). "Two Pills" doesn't mean anything, but 10mg does. Because of this, I feel that this brand is one of the few, responsible producers of Valerian root extract. They take it seriously that people will want to know exactly what they're ingesting.
***USAGE***
Valerian has been in use for thousands of years, for PTSD, anxiety, stress, muscle spasm, and insomnia. Valerian's effects are provided by various sesquiterpenes, collectively known as Valeprotriates. Most of these have an extremely high margin of safety, and the rest are a very very small component of any extract (and vary more widely between crops). This higher margin of safety is why this herbal remedy is available so widely. The term used is "GRAS" or "Generally Recognized As Safe".
***DOSAGE***
This brand recommends 1 capsule as a single dose. Each 500mg capsule contains 10mg Valerinic Acid, which would be about 11mg Valeprotriates in total.
Valeprotriates are roughly 1/8 the strength of diazepam (valium) per mg. In other words, where a typical person (75kg) might have a typical valium dose (5mg, 3-4 times daily), which would compare to 40mg Valeprotriates (4 capsules) 3-4 times daily.
***SAFETY***
Valerian is a GABA reuptake inhibitor. Because of its GABA receptor activity, the long-term use of valerian may be associated with a benzodiazepine-like withdrawal syndrome. Because of this, consult with your medical doctor prior to and during any long-term self-treatment program.
Valerian may have a potentiating effect with other CNS depressants. Notify your MD prior to any surgery if you're taking valerian. Notify your doctor or pharmacist before using with any other sedatives, depressants, benzodiazepines, barbituates, etc.
Should not be taken at the same time with Skullcap (Scutellaria) due to risk of liver toxicity.
LD50 (lethal dose 50% chance) of valerenic acid is 300 mg/kg interperitoneally. Oral LD50 not established, but would likely be higher. To put this another way, for a person weighing 165LBS (75kg), that would be 2250 capsules of this brand. Anecdotal lab reports indicate that 1/4 LD50 for 6 days was also lethal. Suffice it to say, it would be very difficult to consume 562 capsules per day for 6 days, but keep this (and all drugs/herbs) away from children.
Onset of effect is typical with ingested herbs, with a peak around 2 hours. Serum half-life is 1.1 hours, but varies by 0.6H depending on the person. 2 hour fasting prior to taking a capsule would typically shorten delay to onset, increase the peak, and be in the shorter end of the half-life range.
***PERSONAL EXPERIENCES***
I found this preparation to be generally mild. Typical dosage for me (125kg) to treat back strain (6ish on pain scale) is 2 capsules (20mg) of this, and 2 capsules of passion flower extract (15mg) if I need to be clear headed, or double that if I can afford to be impaired a little bit. No stomach discomfort when taken on empty stomach, or with naproxen, or with food. Capsules hold in the smell pretty well. No burping. Lasts 3-4 hours.
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