The healing benefits of Valerian for pets
Not just for cats, Valeriana officinalis is the most commonly vet-recommended herbal sedative for all domestic pets.
Numerous animal studies have shown the constituents of valerian to have anxiolytic, sedative, anti-seizure and other health benefits.
Like catnip, valerian is a cat attractant. Both plants contain components which initially stimulate and excite our feline friends. If your cat shows little or no interest in catnip, it’s not that unusual. Actually, it’s a genetic response and between 30-40% of cats don’t care for it at all.
Maybe give valerian a try. In my opinion, it’s an underrated option for feline enrichment. My two cats go completely nuts for it as you’ll see in the slideshow below.
Amongst guardians, Valerian is a lesser-known complementary medicine with big health benefits for many pets, even farm animals. And this is due to its calming effect on the central nervous system (CNS). Valerian is deeply calming.
It’s beneficial for nervous or anxious animals and facilitates sleep through relaxation. Valerian is particularly effective in the treatment of epilepsy and helps in cases of hyperthyroidism and those with behavioural issues. A smooth muscle relaxant, valerian also helps treat urinary and digestive complaints and provides pain relief.
Fascinating fact! In the 18th century, the Blackfoot indians, who were very experienced in the use of plant medicine, treated their horses with a local species of valerian for equine colic and distemper.
Constituents and actions
Valerian has been used as a medicinal herb for more than 2000 years. There are over 250 species but Valeriana officinalis or common Valerian is the most-used species for medicinal purposes and certainly, the variety recommended for pets.
The name valerian comes from the latin verb ‘valere’, to be strong and healthy. The plant flowers in late spring to summer producing delicately fragranced white to pale pink flowers. But the therapeutic value of valerian comes from the pungent volatile oil within the root. There’s absolutely no mistaking the the aroma of valerian, often compared with mouldy cheese and foot odour!
It’s still not exactly clear how or why valerian works. With over 150 constituents, it’s widely thought that multiple constituents act in synergy, all noted for their anti-anxiety or sedative effects.
However, two important components interact with the central nervous system to calm excitatory nerve cells and reduce anxiety.
GABA - Gamma aminobutyric acid is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which helps calm the body’s response to stress.
Valerenic Acid - helps to regulate GABA concentration in the brain and brings about a sedative and antispasmodic effect. It also binds to GABA receptors which reduce glutamate (the main excitatory neurotransmitter) activity. This reduces anxiety.
Valerian flowers, plant roots, dried and cut valerian root.
Recreational and home use
Valerian can be inhaled, taken orally or by absorption through the skin. Inhalation is not only safe and extremely effective but also incredibly easy to administer. Your fingers and flesh remain intact, always a bonus when medicating pets!
Animals seem to enjoy being in the ‘valerian zone’. And it’s not surprising. The olfactory system of cats, dogs, small furries, horses and even reptiles leaves us humans in the shade. Humans have around 5-6 million odour receptors. Bloodhounds and horses have approximately 300 million!
For simple recreational use at home, I use the cut and dried (organic) herb as seen above and 1-2 teaspoons is sufficient and safe. This will be effective with cats primarily. Valerian contains a cat attractant, actinidine. Cats love to sniff, roll and sometimes chew the root, quickly reaching Destination Euphoria!
After 20-30 minutes, they become beautifully relaxed and generally sleep for hours. Just as the science tells us.
Got a spare sock hanging around? You could also pop a couple of teaspoons inside and tie it off with some ribbon. It’s a very cheap toy with high value to our cats. Just be sure to supervise and don’t leave your cat unattended, especially with ribbon chewers!
Diffusers, hydrosol sprays, tinctures and wipes are also safe ways to introduce your pets to valerian when there are signs of anxiety or stress. Cats are naturally drawn to any method of transfer but dogs, rabbits, small furries, birds, reptiles and farm animals are more likely to benefit from methods other than the dried herb. Just be sure to follow product instructions. These will vary depending on the species of your pet.
Pet Remedy diffusers and other applications provide a calming, balancing blend of ingredients, primarily Valerian.
Therapeutic use
Regarded as a safe herb in small quantites, the previously mentioned use should cause absolutely no harm. If you feel that your pet would benefit from a therapeutic dose for an ongoing condition or behavioural issue, please seek the advice of a holistic veterinarian or veterinary herbalist.
Method and dosage amounts will vary depending on the condition and species. Likewise, if you’re considering essential oils, it’s important to consult with an aromatherapist who specialises in animals especially when working with cats.
If your pet is already taking medication, sometimes these can interact with even the safest herbs. Please discuss with your vet. This is particularly important if your pet is prescribed barbiturates or benzodiazepines.
Valerian should not be offered in the following circumstances:
Before surgery
To pregnant or lactating animals
If your pet has underlying health conditions (check first with your vet)
Valerian is pretty fantastic but it is potent. Please be mindful of pre-existing conditions, medication and circumstances that are not typical. If you’re unsure whether using valerian is safe for your pet, always speak to your vet.
*A list of UK veterinary herbalists can be found on the last page.
A valerian mega-enrichment session with my two Bengal rascals, Rex and Juno.
Other things to consider
Have you ever used a natural herb or herbal product with your pet and felt it did absolutely nothing? It can happen and here are some of the reasons why...
The quality of your herb material is important and can affect results. The harvest age and origin can make a difference. For instance, soil quality in some locations is better suited to certain plants, producing a more potent yield.
Results may vary depending on the product type you choose. The dry herb may deliver more effective results for your pet than a diffuser, tincture and so on.
We touched on genetics earlier and that’s important. The age of the animal or even hormonal fluctuations should also be considered.
Finally, sometimes overexposure to the plant can cause habituation. This simply means that your pet has built up a tolerance to the herb. It’s more likely to occur with cats so perhaps offer every 10- 14 days to avoid desensitisation. Give them a little break and I’m almost certain they’ll be playing like demons and reaping the benefits next time around.
If you don’t have a satisfactory response with one valerian product, it doesn’t necessarily mean another valerian product won’t be helpful. Be prepared to try a few options. For me, quality is key and for that reason, I’ve included only stockists with great quality products on the final page linked to each website.
Success stories
Popcorn is a senior kitty client with quite a list of ailments including hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, arthritis and weakened immune system after many years of prescription drugs. He is particularly prone to pancreatitis which always knocks the stuffing out of him.
In the video below, Popcorn selects valerian from a variety of herbs when he was very poorly last summer. During a debilitating bout of pancreatitis, Popcorn had not eaten for four days and was in a very worrying condition. An emergency healing session was arranged to try and shift his energy and enhance his conventional treatments.
Popcorn accepted Reiki, Bach Rescue Remedy gently massaged into his paw pads and also responded immediately to dried Calendula as he laid almost motionless in his bed.
Miraculously and rather abruptly, after 45 minutes, he stood up, went directly to his bowl and ate… heartily! His Mummy couldn’t believe it. And Popcorn continued to eat all night long! I set up a herb garden with six herbs appropriate for his condition. He was interested in only one, Valerian.
After each visit to his food bowl, Popcorn returned to the Valerian. It was made available for the next few days until he was through the worst of his flare up. We knew that he was feeling better and out of danger when he stopped visiting the valerian garden. Animals know exactly what they need! This little champ is still going strong…
Another senior feline’s recovery was also enhanced by the calming properties of dried valerian root. Gussie had been very poorly with a urinary infection, cystitis and was incontinent. Antibiotics had not been sufficient to heal her.
The introduction of a high quality supplement and organic herbs helped her turn a corner. Initially, I prepared a herb garden with 3-4 herbs for her to choose from. For Gussie, valerian (closely followed by lavender) became her preferred place to sit. She seemed generally more comfortable and her mood shifted noticeably after spending time in the herb garden and I’m certain that valerian was helpful with pain relief. Here she is selecting Valerian from a group of six herbs.
For dogs, I particularly like Pet Remedy diffusers. They last for a month and provide a constant, low-level dose which helps to keep pets calm and relaxed. This product was a great help to a beautiful canine client of mine, Toffee with post-surgery discomfort and anxiety caused by strict crate rest. It helped her to relax and promoted sleep which facilitated the overall healing process including pain management. Here we are (both) inside her crate during her early recovery.
Valerian contains a potent, aromatic sedative, Bornyl acetate. In aromatherapy, valerian is proven to prevent seizures when used before an episode. It is extremely effective in calming anxiety-centred overstimulation such as separation anxiety, fear of fireworks, car travel etc, especially in dogs.
And of course, valerian has been a game-changer in my own home helping to manage epilepsy in my cat, Rex. I am never without the dried herb or Pet Remedy sprays and diffusers.
I hope that if you haven’t tried Valerian before, you’re now ready to explore some of the options presented. Cats will respond to almost any version of common valerian whether it be inside a toy, dried herb or wellbeing product.
In multi-pet households or when introducing a new pet to an established group where there is conflict and anxiety, the diffusers are fantastic because ALL the animals will benefit.
And if you have a dog, rabbit, small furry, bird, reptile or even a horse, Pet Remedy is a great place to start when there are mild anxiety issues.
I also recommend Caroline Ingraham’s website for further information on how animals self-select herbs for their health requirements. She has an excellent variety of safe and natural products available in her online shop including organic valerian root and valerian water.
I’d love to know how you get on with valerian. Please let me know some of your success stories or contact me if you have any questions.
Resources
BAVH - The British Association of Veterinary Herbalists
Caroline Ingraham - Zoopharmacognosy and animal self-medication
Dorwest - Herbal pet care since 1948
G Baldwin & Co - London’s oldest herbalist
Pet Remedy - Valerian based calming products
