Opinions - valium subsitute: Valerian?

[calmascanbe]

If SWIM off topic or on the wrong forum please delete. SWIM heard many people say valerian root is compairable to valium and has anyone used or suplimented for valium?

[Forthesevenlakes]

valerian root can aid in getting to sleep, but it is certainly no substitute for valium in terms of its relaxation properties. swim has taken valerian many times and it feels to him more like a natural tiredness, aiding in sleep under normal conditions. it does not help swim for stimulant comedowns, it is simply not as powerful. valium on the other hand can put the user to sleep even in adverse circumstances, make the user less anxious, or be used recreationally.


if swiy is looking for a sleep replacement for valium, then valerian could work despite how comparitively weak it is. if swiy is looking for a recreational replacement for valium, then kava kava might be the way to go. please read up on this plant if swiy hasnt, its worth checking out.

[Benzhead]

Originally Posted by calmascanbe

If SWIM off topic or on the wrong forum please delete. SWIM heard many people say valerian root is compairable to valium and has anyone used or suplimented for valium?

SWIM's experience parallels SWIFTSL's. SWIM has tried Valerian - both extract and powdered root - and has found that VR is no substitute for a benzodiazepine such as Valium(diazepam). In fact, SWIM found that in any dosages tried Valerian was maddenly ineffective.

However, SWIM must add that SWIM's experiences are not the last word in VR's potential for either therapeutic relaxation and/or as a sleep aid.

SWIM cannot comment on the following:

1) The veracity of the claims of the manufacturer regarding effective strength.

2) The dosing (which would really be a subset of the above)

3) How effective others are likely to find Valerian for relaxation/sleep enhancement properties. (some of the effect people report is likely due to expectations, rather than an effect of the plant..isn't the human brain a wonderful organ?)

SWIM is certain that there are a host of other things that he is foretting, but since SWIcalmascanbe is a member of this forum, SWIM is sure you can fill-in all the myriad of blanks that SWIM has left. People here are smart.

SWIM has also tried Kava, both root and extract; and again - with all of the above disclaimers still in effect - found the experience to be a non-experience.

SWIthe "Evil Troll" moderator, Nagognog2, stated in this post that SWINagognog2's friend recently went to Tonga and used Kava in the traditional method(a report may be forthcoming). There seems a lot more support for Kava on this forum than Valerian. A quick hop over to the 'Kava-Kava' module should give SWIY plenty to read about at the very least.

SWIM hopes that SWIY finds relaxation via a truly natural pathway. A pathway that has eluded SWIM in over a decade of searching.

[calmascanbe]

thanks for all the help. Both of you have made SWIMS mind up.

Reputation Comments on this post:

good question. please post a report for swim when these alternatives are tried =]