Quote:
>I have often wondered about the possible Valerian/Valium connection but
>have been assured many times that diazapam has nothing in common with
the
>active components present in Valerian.
>However, nobody has bothered to state what the active components in
>Valerian are.
That's because nobody knows for sure. Experimental results are
conflicting, and no single pure compound from Valerian has ever been
tested in a thorough fashion.
Quote:
>Hmmm. Do wonder how they came up with the name.
Me, too. It's a Roche tradename for a drug, discovered essentially in a
random search of compounds for tranquilizing properties, and which is
not related to anything in Valerian (so far as is known), though has
some similar effects. My guess is that somebody at Roche, when they
named Valium, either consciously or unconsciously had in mind Valerian's
reputation as a safe hypnotic and tranquilizer. Probably consciously,
as drug companies spend an inordinate amount of time on product brand
(trade) names for {*filter*}. Look at the brilliant "Elavil." A good name
can turn a perfectly pedestrian pharmaceutical into a superstar.
Steve Harris, M.D.
Doctors and "science"