Natural Sleep Remedies
Valerian Tincture

What you need is a small bottle of valerian tincture by your bedside.

Using this natural sleep remedy in the evening before bed as well as during the night if you wake up is quick and convenient.

Valerian root has been used for centuries as remedies for insomnia. Many studies have been done on valerian indicating its use for restlessness and sleeping disorders. The beauty of valerian is it is not addictive and it doesn't interact with alcohol or other drugs.

Making a valerian tincture at home is very easy. Like all tinctures it takes about 3-6 weeks before you can actually use it but don't let that stop you. Check out my other natural sleep remedies while you are waiting for the completion of the tincture.

• 1 pint canning jar with screw top lid. Clean and sterilized.
• 20-40 grams valerian root, chopped fine (A clean coffee grinder works great!)
• 200 ml vodka (80-100 proof, this is the same as 40-50% alcohol)

1. Place valerian root in clean jar and add vodka. Stir well, label and cap. You want your label to contain the herb, the menstruum (which is vodka), the ratio of herb to vodka and the date.
2. Place in dark cupboard and shake daily.
3. After 3-6 weeks strain out the herb through a piece of cheesecloth placed in a strainer. Make sure you squeeze out all the liquid from the herb by gathering up the corners of the cheesecloth and squeezing the bundle with clean hands!
4. Then bottle the tincture. I use recycled jars for storing my tinctures in. Store out of direct sunlight and heat.

Using 40g of herb to 200 ml of alcohol gives you a tincture with 1:5 ratio. If you were to use 20g of herb to 200ml of alcohol you would have a 1:10 ratio. The 1:5 ratio is more potent than the 1:10 ratio.

The amount you can take varies. For the more potent ratio (1:5) start with 1/2 teaspoon and take slightly more if it isn't doing the trick. The German Commission E suggests 1/2 -1 teaspoon valerian tincture once to several times per day.