At a glance
- Common name
- Valerian
- Botanical name
- Valeriana officinalis
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Parts mentioned in historical records
- Rhizome and root
- Traditional correspondences
- Venus / Jupiter; Water / Earth
Historical record
Derived from Latin 'valere' (to be strong or healthy). Galen prescribed it for insomnia. During World War I and II, European doctors administered valerian tincture to soldiers and civilians to treat shell shock and bomb neurosis.
Folklore and mythology
Folk tales identify valerian as the secret herb carried in the pockets of the Pied Piper of Hamelin to entrance rats and children. Cats are entranced by its pungent root, which acts on feline receptors similarly to catnip.
In Norse mythology, connected to the quiet earth and tranquil sleep; hung in homes to ensure domestic peace and fidelity between warring spouses.
Tradition: Germanic & Celtic Associated figures: Pied Piper & Freya
Identified in folklore as the secret aromatic herb secreted in the coat of the Pied Piper of Hamelin to bewitch rats; sacred to Germanic hearth and love deities.
Sprinkled between bickering husband and wife to establish immediate tranquility; placed in wine to cement mutual affection.
Mystical correspondences
Correspondences vary by tradition and source.
Safety first
Historical and spiritual associations do not establish that Valerian is safe or effective. Do not use this page as instructions for ingesting, smoking, inhaling, or applying Valerian.
For current safety information, check a health authority or ask a qualified clinician or pharmacist, especially during pregnancy or lactation, while taking medication, or with an allergy or health condition.