VALERIAN ROOT

Question
I take Valerian root as a sleep aid and a calmative.  I am on parole.  A friend told me that Valerian can show positive for benzodiazapines on drug tests.  Is this true?


Answer
Hello Marylee,



Your friend is correct.  It can possibly show up on a drug test as a "false Positive" or "inconclusive", but really only if you are taking a lot of it that it is a stable protein in your blood stream.  Herbs are metabolized a lot quicker and easier in the Liver and excreted as waste than pharmaceutical drugs.  So they don't stick around as long in the body.



But I have to ask, do you find Valerian works well for you as a sedative? Valerian, like St. John's Wort, is a nervine which shut down receptors in the brain, giving your a sedative effect.  But for sleep issues, I don't really use those herbs in my clinic.  



There are many different kinds of insomnia.  If you have no problem getting to sleep, but you wake up, say between 1-3am, Liver herbs such as Dandelion root, Peonie root, Turmeric and Buplerum may be better suited.  If you just lay in bed and can't fall asleep, heavier herbs such as conch shell, Angelica, Rehmania, epsom salt and especially Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium work better.



If you are having difficulty relaxing and sleeping I would strongly recommend getting on a Calcium and Magnesium combined supplement.  As well as about 1500mg of Potassium daily.  Also, avoiding caffeine, Vitamin C, alcohol, and Vitamin B complexes after Noon day or about 6 hours before sleeping depending on when your work schedule are etc.



One more thing, nervines such as Valerian loose there effectiveness over time.  So long term dosing is not always better.



Cheers,

Dr. C



ps.  here is a good website that has a list of commonly consumed items that may show up on a drug test.

http://www.askdocweb.com/falsepositives.html