Blue bell (Polemonium reptans) also known as Abscess Root, American Greek Valerian, False Jacob's Ladder and Sweatroot is a plant of the family Polemoniaceae. It grows in damp woods by creeping roots. The stem is about five centimetres long, much branched and bearing pinnate leaves with six or seven pairs of leaflets. The flowers are nodding, blue in colour and hang in loose terminal bunches. A tincture of the root is used in medicine as an expectorant. Research Blue Bell
Valerian is the Valeriana genus of plants of the family Valerianaceae having small fragrant flowers of white, purple or pink. The root was formerly used in medicine as a nerve sedative and antispasmodic. Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennialherb with a massive root system and a short rhizome, which bears angular, erect, furrowed, usually unbranched stems. It is native to Britain and Europe, where it grows on rough grassy and bushy places, often on damp soils. Research Valerian
Valerianaceae is the Valerian family of plants. They are chiefly natives of the north temperate zone and are herbaceous plants and shrubs having simple or compound, opposite leaves, clusters of small flowers, and dry, indehiscent fruit. Their medicinal properties as antispasmodics have been utilised from ancient days. Research Valerianaceae
Valerian (Publius Licinius Valerianus) was a Roman Emperor from 253 to 260. He was born in 190 and died in 266. A leading sen ator, and censor in 251, he was sent by the emperor Gallus against the upstart emperor Aemilianus on the Danube, but both Gallus and Aemilianus were murdered, and Valerian, who had been proclaimed emperor in Rhaetia, was acknowledged by the senate. A good soldier and administrator, he deputed his son Gallienus to rule the west, and, after defeating the Goths, in 257, he recovered Antioch from the invading Persians, and pursued their king Shapur I to the Euphrates, but was captured near Edessa, in 260, and lived for the rest of his life in ignominious captivity. Research Valerian
Valeric acid is a member of the series of fatty acids. It occurs in four isomeric varieties, two of which occur in plants such as valerian. It is an oily liquid with an odour like that of decayed cheese. Amyl and ethyl valerates are of importance in the preparation of fruit essences. Research Valeric acid
Valeric acid is one of the fatty acids. It occurs in four isomeric modifications: (1) normal valeric acid or propylacetic acid, obtained by heating normal butyl cyanide with potash ; (2) inactive valeric acid or isopropylacetic acid, found naturally in valerianroot or prepared by oxidising amyl alcohol; (3) methyl ethyl acetic acid ; and (4) trimethyl acetic acid. Inactive valeric acid forms salts known as valerates, those of ammonium and zinc being employed in medicine. Both the acid and its salts have a distinctive smell resembling that of old cheese. Research Valeric Acid
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Blue Bell
