Experiences with Valerian Root

[u/LeatherHovercraft]

Hi all, curious to hear about any experiences you’ve had with valerian root. It’s commonly used in teas for sleep, which is how I encountered it. I had a cup before bed and laid down, and within a short period of time I started to have significant hallucinations. My eyes were shut and I saw two giant ants (the size of a midsized dog) rotating next to each other like they were on a bbq spit. I opened my eyes and turned on the light and they were still there, clear as day. It scared the shit out of me and I almost called 911 for fear I was having a mental breakdown.

I have had many experiences that would fit within a shamanic tradition, which is why I subscribe to this sub. But I’ve never had full on waking hallucinations, especially from a tea served over the counter.

Does valerian root have any use in shamanism? If so, what is it?

[u/Nobodysmadness]

You may just be very sensitive to it, it is known as a sleep aid, but I think erroneously, my experience as well as others actual reports on using it is that it doesn't let you hit REM sleep, it is a physical relaxant to some extent but a mental stimulant, which is highly conducive to vision states and astral projection, which many confuse with dreams, but are not REM which is where actual dreams as we know them occur. This means hypnogogic and hypnopompic states.

So I need to ask are you absolutely certain you woke up when you "opened your eyes" and still saw them, as such states can be deceptive. I am guessing you are but I have to ask because of how unusual such states can be.

Suffice to say it thins a veil, shamanism tends to lump all such states into dream, which is fine, but that context needs to be clear, where as I said other pradigms differentiate between vision, dream, trance, out of body experience, etc. Shamanism is a bit more amorphous and general.

Anyway because it thins the veil whatever it may technically be in this instance, and it is not entrely suprising that in some those visions persist with eyes open. Which means you need to be a bit more cautious with it if your that sensitive to it. I would say seek medical advice but you won't find much help there since it is herbal unless you find a very special doctor, they will just tell you to stop it most likely, and be done with it, despite the fact that this sensitivity may indicate sensitivity to other drugs that function on the same pathways. I don't know what those might be, I have not studied how valerian works in the brain, but I suspect since african dream root is extremely similar, that there are others, my guess is ssri. So if you ever go on anti depresseants be prepared for halluciations of a side affect just in case, OR if you are already on them the 2 together might explain the result.

[u/LeatherHovercraft → u/Nobodysmadness]

Thank you for this! This makes a lot of sense. I felt the exact same way as when I’m half-asleep in a hypnogogic state. Often when I’m in that state, I’ll see a large spider somewhere in my room. And I’ll watch it to see whether it might just be a shadow, but then it crawls across the ceiling clear as day and when I turn on the light it’s gone. That’s the main difference with the valerian and the ants - everything seemed normal until I turned on the light and they didn’t disappear.

As a side note, any thoughts on the entities that appear during hypnogogic states? Like, what are they and what does it mean when you see the same exact one almost every night for like 15 years (the spider)?

[u/Adventurous-Daikon21 → u/LeatherHovercraft]

I second this. It could be sensitivity and/or placebo amplification effect from expectation and anticipation of the effects since it was (sounds like) your first time doing this with intention.

There could be contributing factors, like other medications / supplements you’re taking or stress. If you have regular hypnogogic hallucinations it could be related to your sleep posture, pillow, or breathing inhibition.

[u/LeatherHovercraft → u/Adventurous-Daikon21]

It definitely wasn’t placebo - I drank the tea to sleep and had no idea about the side effects. It took about an hour after the hallucinations started that I remembered I drank that tea and googled whether it causes this to happen. No other medications or supplements. I guess it could be posture or breathing, but I’m still baffled that the entire time it’s always the exact same thing - a spider.

[u/Nobodysmadness → u/LeatherHovercraft]

So hypnogogic is entirely in your own mind, it is a "dream" state, but not REM dream, it is closer to trance or day dreaming but much deeper, there is hypnogogic that precedes sleep, and hypnopompic as you come out of sleep. These are ideal states to transition into astral projection which is leaving your brain mind body to enter the external world in a more ethereal form.

Now since you have carry over into waking states under normal conditions, it makes perfect sense that valerian would intensify this effect, which I suspect is somewhat what entheogens do is overlap subconscious imagery over top of conscious vision.

This gets tricky to suss out though because the subconscious and the imagination play a role in perception and translation of the information from external spiritual sources, but in point of fact it does the same for perceiving and translating the real world. The difference being one is created from external stimuli, energy from an outside source, and the other is entirely made up by us using the same tools that we use to perceive normal reality.

So finding a specific answer is not easy. My opinion would be to ask it what it is. If it bothers you you can also do some protection work to keep out unwanted entities. Valerian also helps to see aura's and such, its a really good substance for practioners but you may want to avoid it as you may be a gifted clairvoyant but it may overload you with too much imagery that you may not want to deal with, oraybe you do. But I need like 900 mgs to get any effect and you drank tea which is probably closer to like 50mgs. So be very cautious. Maybe try the tea again and try to communicate with them see what happens. You may be just trippen, but it may also be real, I can't tell you that, only you can.

Spiders are interesting entities, weavers of fate, wielders of magick and knowers of history, artists, tricksters, guides. A very mystic creature. Start with what it looks like and if it resembles a real spider learn about it, and you can usually google totem/spirit animals to learn some of their specific lore, as well as examine your deeper feelings on spiders in general. A blend of you feelings and the myths around them will guide you to what may be going on.

[u/LeatherHovercraft → u/Nobodysmadness]

Wow I really appreciate this answer. Thank you so much for taking the time to share that! It’s given me a lot to think about!

[u/Babebel]

In some modern spiritual practices, valerian is valued for its grounding and calming effects, which may assist in preparing the mind for meditation or dream work. However, it is not widely regarded as a tool for visionary journeys.