There are times in life when even counting sheep won't help you fall asleep quickly. Hectic and stress of a too busy day manifest themselves as inner unrest and you can neither fall asleep nor sleep through the night. And in the morning you wake up feeling exhausted. But restful sleep is an important prerequisite for balance, concentration and performance during the day.

Fortunately, the Nature There is a remedy here too. In the root of the real valerian contain active ingredients that release calming messenger substances in the human nervous system. in case of nervous restlessness and the associated difficulty falling asleep, valerian helps you to switch off and fall asleep quickly. Along with lemon balm and hops, valerian is one of Mother Nature's well-tolerated and gentle sedatives.

Which active ingredients provide the calming effect in which way has not yet been conclusively researched. It is therefore important that you use valerian products that contain all the components of the dried root. Medicom's soft capsules not only offer you a high-quality extract of all the active ingredients in valerian - they also combine it with calming hops extract. The ingredients in the female glands of the hop cones provide the beneficial ingredients. Hops work best without the combination with alcohol. As far as we know, hops work in a similar way to the messenger substance melatonin: the organism is sustainably calmed and healthy sleep is promoted through all phases. Medicom's valerian-hops capsules combine valerian and hops for optimally restful sleep.

Good to know: Valerian only develops its full effect after it has been taken regularly for some time - at least two weeks. Taking it together with other sedatives or sleeping pills is not recommended. You should also avoid alcohol if you want to fully enjoy the calming effect of valerian. If in doubt, a combination with other sleeping pills can be discussed with your family doctor.

Medicine knows valerian for over 2,500 years. In ancient Greece, real valerian (Valeriana officinalis) was used as a panacea. In the Middle Ages, it was said to help with eye problems in particular. At the end of the 18th century, doctors discovered the calming and sleep-inducing effects of the plant. Today, valerian is used for nervous sleep disorders, insomnia, nervous exhaustion and restlessness. The ingredients of the strong-smelling root are considered to be mild sedative for the mind. In combination with hops, lemon balm, passion flower or St. John's wort, valerian root develops its sleep-promoting effect particularly well.

The perennial valerian plant grows in moist meadows, on river banks and in moist forests. This medicinal plant is native to Europe and temperate climatic zones in Asia. Valerian grows up to 1.8 metres tall and bears feathery flowers in all shades between light pink and white. It blooms from May to September. The roots of the plant are medicinally effective. 0.3 to 0.8 percent of this consists of essential oil, which is made up of monoterpenes such as borneol and camphor, as well as sesquiterpenes such as ß-bisabolene. It also contains 0.5 to 2 percent valepotriates, mainly the ingredient valtrate and its degradation product baldrinal. Isovaleric acid is responsible for the smell of the plant, which cats are said to love but humans appreciate less. Finally, the root contains small amounts of lignans. According to laboratory experiments, these substances interact with special messengers and sleep-promoting substances in the brain. However, it is not yet clear which ingredients provide the calming effect and in what way.

Valerian is used as follows:

For nervousness-related sleep disorders and restlessness: Valerian is used alone or in combination with other herbal extracts such as hops as a mild sedative.

We now know that valerian Nervous sleep disorders, insomnia, nervous exhaustion as well as Restlessness can help. Valerian calms the soul. In combination with hops, the root of the herb develops its sleep-promoting effect particularly well.

Unlike chemical sleeping pills, valerian does not suppress the REM phase of sleep, which is so important for recovery. You wake up feeling refreshed and without any after-effects. Valerian can be taken as a tea, tincture or in capsule form. A valerian bath is also pleasantly relaxing. However, since it is still not proven which ingredient gives valerian its effect, it is best to choose a preparation that contains all the components of the dried plant. When preparing teas and baths, the fat-soluble ingredients are not taken into account. In capsule form, however, the water-volatile essential oils are also retained.

The perennial valerian grows in damp meadows, on river banks and in damp forests. Valerian grows to more than 1 meter high and bears feathery flowers in all shades between light pink and white. It blooms from May to September.

Only when dried does the special valerian smell that cats love so much develop.

hop has been known as an ancient cultivated plant since ancient times and is now mainly used for brewing beer. Hops are used in herbal medicine together with valerian and, as a combination preparation, are one of the most common herbal sedatives.

The extracts are obtained from the hop cones. These are the two to four centimetre long, greenish-yellow female inflorescences of the common hop (Latin: Humulus lupulus). Hops are a close relative of the hemp plant. The leaf shape is similar to that of vine leaves, but the edges are more jagged. Since hops love moisture, they grow in the wild mainly near rivers, on the edges of forests or in bushes. Hops are grown on meter-high racks, especially in southern Germany; the most important growing areas are the Hallertau in Bavaria and the Schussen Valley in Baden-Württemberg. The shoots of this climbing plant can grow up to twelve metres high. In July and August, hops produce male and female flowers.

The majority of the hop harvest is used to brew beer. The addition of hops gives the beer its typical bitter taste. Its ingredients also help to preserve the beer and create a stable head. Hops are also added to some liqueurs and schnapps for flavor reasons. In old libraries, hop cones behind the books keep moisture and vermin away.

Hops are used in herbal medicine together with valerian and, as a combination preparation, are one of the most common herbal sedatives.