CARDIOLA

CARDIOLA – a perennial herbaceous plant ranging from 30 to 100 cm in height, featuring pinnate leaves and fragrant flowers gathered in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. The plant's rhizomes reach maturity after two years and serve as the primary medicinal raw material due to the strong aroma of the thin roots.

In folk medicine, valerian is widely used as a calming agent for nervous disorders, insomnia, gastrointestinal spasms, headaches, and even heart pain. Additionally, the plant possesses anticonvulsant and anthelmintic properties.

Culinary use of valerian includes adding fresh leaves to salads as a spicy garnish for meat dishes and soups, as well as preparing medicinal tinctures or tea from the rhizomes. The plant is easy to cultivate: it is moisture-loving, does not require specific soil, and can grow under various climatic conditions.