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This herb is also known as all heal and garden heliotrope. It is a plant, which is native to both Europe and Asia. All heal is found in North America as well. Its use as a medicinal herb goes back to ancient greek and roman times. Hippocrates described the herb's therapeutic uses.
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It has been used over a long period for anxiety and sleep disorders. Additionally it has been used to treat irregular heartbeat, depression (see herbal remedies for depression), headaches and trembling.
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The underground stems as well as the plant roots are used to prepare supplements, including tablets, liquid extracts, and capsules.
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Some of the human controlled studies that have been done showed that the people who took those who took all-heal had less insomnia as well as better sleep quality.
One random clinical study in Germany evaluated an all-heal plus St John's wort combination to a anti-anxiety drug called diamapanz in one hundred people who have anxiety symptoms. The trial showed that the people who took herbs showed significant improvement. Another German study did compare all-heal extract to a prescription sedative called oxazepam in two hundred adults over a six-week period. Those people who took all-heal reported an equal improvement in their sleep quality and the length of time they slept in comparison to the prescribed drug.
Several other studies have shown that all-heal cuts down the time taken to fall asleep. Studies have been done that looked at a single dosage of all-heal tended to show that there was not any sleep improvement. Longer studies suggested improvement during a period of two to four weeks. This would suggest that if all-heal is going to do any good, then it should be taken over a few weeks. Health officials in Germany have approved valerian as a mild sedative and sleep aid.
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There may be mild side affects from taking all heal such as morning fatigue, dizziness and headaches.
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