The modern-day therapeutic uses for valerian stem from traditional Greek medicine which was originally documented by Hippocrates (ca. 460-377 B.C.E.) and later by Dioscorides (first century), author of the De Materia Medica. During World War I, Europeans afflicted with nerve symptoms from artillery, frequently took valerian. Valerian is non-habit-forming and enables a person to wake up feeling refreshed.

Valerian has been traditionally used in western herbal medicine:

• to relieve sleeplessness, restlessness and excess nervous energy
• as a calmative and nervous system relaxant
• as a nervine to support the nervous system (has antispasmodic action)
• to help reduce occurrence of irritability in healthy adults.