Why would Valerian hype up?

Answer 1

Valerian is high in salicylate. Some people can't metabolise salicylates well and react to things like Asprin, Orange Juice, strawberries. They may have histories of things like Asthma, hives, rashes, hyperactivity or fit ADHD. Salicylate is a natural plant toxin and some plants, such as Valerian, are high sources of it. Salicylate intolerant people can become hyped up, agitated, have racing thoughts, irritability when consuming high levels of salicylate. It can take around 3 days to reach a peak so the longer someone unable to metabolise or detox from salicylate is on something/s high in salicylate, the more this accumulates or backlogs in their system until they reduce the salicylate levels allowing the body to catch up. Hence, advice to stick with Valerian for several weeks when it is already hyping someone up, can be problematic advice if one has not first ruled out the possibility of salicylate intolerance. Someone already consuming high levels of salicylates may then experience associated insomnia, go get Valerian and only add to the problem.