V

Vaccaria (Vaccaria pyramidata)

• The seed is anodyne,
• discutient,
• diuretic,
• emmenagogue,
• galactogogue,
• styptic and vulnerary,
• a decoction is used to treat skin problems, breast tumours, menstrual problems, deficiency of lactation and sluggish labour, inhibition of luteal cells, skin diseases, psoriasis, itching.

Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis)

• Valerian is a traditional herbal sleep remedy that has been studied with a variety of methodologic designs using multiple dosages and preparations. Research has focused on subjective evaluations of sleep patterns, particularly sleep latency, and study populations have primarily consisted of self-described poor sleepers. Valerian improves subjective experiences of sleep when taken nightly over one- to two-week periods, and it appears to be a safe sedative/hypnotic choice in patients with mild to moderate insomnia. The evidence for single-dose effect is contradictory. Valerian is also used in patients with mild anxiety, but the data supporting this indication are limited. Valerian probably did possess the potential for an anticonvulsant effect, but the uncertain chemical composition and content of valerian preparations, and their odor and taste, made it unlikely that they could ever prove satisfactory in widespread use.
• Sedative,
• hypnotic,
• antidepressive activity,
• antispasmodic,
• hypotensive,
• insomnia,
• stress-induced insomnia,
• anxiety,
• cramp, colic,
• migraine,
• rheumatic pain,
• inhibits breakdown of GABA in the central nervous system,
• useful in delirium tremens.

Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens)

• The ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda, traditionally uses Mucuna pruriens to treat Parkinson's disease.
• Mucuna pruriens exhibited divalent iron chelating activity and did not show any genotoxic/mutagenic effect on the plasmid DNA. These results suggest that the neuroprotective and neurorestorative effect of Mucuna pruriens may be related to its antioxidant activity independent of the symptomatic effect. In addition, the drug appears to be therapeutically safe in the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease.
• Mucuna seed powder formulation, as a natural source of L-dopa, might possess advantages over conventional L-dopa preparations in the long term management of Parkinson’s disease. Unlike synthetic levodopa treatment, Mucuna pruriens cotyledon powder treatment significantly restored the endogenous levodopa, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin content in the substantia nigra.
• Treatment with Mucuna pruriens increased sperm concentration and motility in all the infertile study groups. Oligozoospermic patients recovered sperm concentration significantly, but sperm motility was not restored to normal levels in asthenozoospermic men.
• Mucuna has expressed hypoglycaemic activity, diabetes, prevention of diabetic cataract,
• antioxidant, against the oxidative stress, free radical scavenger,
• attenuates progression of renal damage in diabetes

Vervain (Verbena officinalis)

• Sedative,
• epilepsy,
• depressia,
• nerve tonic,
• potentiating activity on nerve growth factor,
• anti-inflammatory activity,
• antitussive activity,
• neuroprotective agent against neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease since significantly attenuates the toxicity of beta-amyloid peptide cortical neurons.

 Viola (Viola odorata)

• Migraine, headaches,
• expectorant, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis.