A plant with small flowers whose root is dried and used to make a natural remedy for sleep problems and anxiety.
From Latin 'valeriana,' possibly named after the Roman emperor Valerius or derived from Latin 'valere' meaning to be strong. The herb has been used in traditional medicine for over a thousand years across Europe and Asia.
Valerian root smells absolutely terrible—like dirty gym socks—but medieval monks grew it in monastery gardens and used it as a sedative so much that they probably walked around the monastery smelling awful but very relaxed!
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