Valeriana: A Natural Solution for Insomnia in Homeopathy

Source: Vegetable Kingdom
Common Name: Valerian
Family: Valerianaceae
Prover: Dr. Hahnemann
Miasm: Psora
Temperament: Nervous, Restless
Diathesis: Rheumatic, Nervous
Thermal: Warm, Better in cool environments
Duration of Action: 1 to 3 days
Active Principle: Valerenic acid
Inimical to: Coffea cruda
Side Affection: Left-sided complaints more than right

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INTRODUCTION

Valeriana is a great remedy often used for nervous conditions. It is known for its sedative effects on the nervous system and is beneficial for treating conditions of restlessness, overexcitability, and anxiety. Valeriana is frequently used in cases where the nervous system is highly sensitive and where the patient suffers from insomnia and restlessness.

GUIDING SYMPTOMS

• Restlessness: Great restlessness, especially at night, needing to move constantly to relieve discomfort. The patient can’t stay in one position for long and must shift to find relief.
• Nervousness & Anxiety: The patient is extremely anxious, especially at night, and suffers from mental restlessness. They feel apprehensive and may be unable to calm their mind.
• Insomnia: Cannot fall asleep due to overactive thoughts or nervous energy.
• Pains & Aches: Chronic pain, particularly in the joints, which is worse at night and better from motion. The pain is often described as burning, stinging, or aching.
• Headaches: Headaches accompanied by mental exhaustion and a feeling of heaviness or pressure on the forehead.
• Vertigo: Sensation of dizziness, particularly when standing, with a sense of instability.
• Menstrual Disturbances: Painful menstruation with a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen. The pain is often accompanied by irritability and mood swings.
• Gastrointestinal Issues: Complaints of bloating and indigestion. The patient may have a strong craving for cold foods and drinks.
• Sweating: Profuse sweating, especially on the scalp and face, often during rest or when lying down.
• Chilly Sensation: Tendency to feel chilly, even in warm environments. The patient may feel better from warmth but has a strong aversion to drafts.

MENTAL SYMPTOMS / PSYCHOLOGY

• Mental Restlessness: The mind is restless, jumping from one thought to another, and unable to concentrate.
• Mood Swings: A tendency towards sadness or irritability, with sudden outbursts of tears, especially in the evening or during periods of anxiety.
• Forgetfulness: Difficulty in remembering recent events or concentrating. The patient may feel mentally exhausted or overworked.
• Fearfulness: Fear of darkness, being alone, or of impending doom. The patient is especially anxious during the night.
• Delirium: Mental confusion with a tendency to talk about things that do not make sense, often accompanied by restlessness and fear.

FEVER

• Intermittent Fever:

• Before Chill: Chilly sensation, with a desire to be covered, followed by restlessness.
• During Chill: Great restlessness, a feeling of heat in the body, and an urgent desire to move.
• Heat Stage: A feeling of heat in the face, with a throbbing headache and mental confusion. The fever is accompanied by intense thirst and dryness in the mouth.
• Sweat Stage: Profuse sweating, particularly on the scalp and neck, leading to exhaustion and relief from the fever.

• Continuous or Remittent Fever:

  • Often occurs with great restlessness, agitation, and anxiety. The fever may be accompanied by a mental cloudiness and an inability to rest.

RHEUMATISM

• Causation: Damp or cold weather, exposure to wet conditions, or after a period of mental exhaustion.
• Sensation: The patient feels as though the bones are scraped or bruised. The pain is worse in the joints and may feel deep or internal, especially on the left side.
• Location: Commonly affects the joints, especially in the left side of the body.
• Concomitants: Pain is associated with stiffness and a strong desire to move to relieve discomfort. There is also mental restlessness and irritability.

SKIN

• Skin Sensations: Burning, itching, or stinging sensations in the skin, particularly after mental exertion or emotional stress.
• Eruptions: Vesicular eruptions that are painful and itchy. The eruptions may be associated with burning and swelling, and are worse at night or in damp conditions.
• Rash: Eruptions may occur after a period of intense nervous tension, particularly affecting the face, chest, or back.

MEMORIZING TIPS

• R: Restlessness, particularly at night.
• E: Eruptions with burning and itching, worse at night.
• S: Sensitivity to cold, especially in damp conditions.
• T: Tension and anxiety, especially before sleep.
• L: Left-sided pains, more prominent than right-sided.
• A: Anxiety and fear of impending doom.
• N: Nervous exhaustion and mental cloudiness.
• C: Craving for cold drinks and foods.
• E: Eruptions that are burning, itchy, and worse at night.