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Ancient herb known as ‘nature’s Valium’ touted for improving sleep and anxiety

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Ancient herb known as ‘nature’s Valium’ touted for improving sleep and anxiety

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Valerian, an herbal supplement long used for sleep and relaxation, has been referred to as “nature’s Valium” — but experts are divided on whether it truly compares to the prescription sedative.

The herb, which is sold as a dietary supplement in the U.S., is a common ingredient in products marketed as “mild sedatives” and sleep aids, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

Valium, the brand name for diazepam, is used to treat anxiety, seizures and muscle spasms by calming the nervous system, Cleveland Clinic notes.

Valerian supplements are derived from the roots of Valeriana officinalis, a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia that has also naturalized in northeastern America, according to the American Botanical Council (ABC).

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The plant has a “long history of medicinal use,” per the ABC, with the primary goal of reducing anxiety and stress as well as improving sleep quality. It has historically also been used for migraines, fatigue and stomach cramps.

Valerian has historically been used for migraines, fatigue and stomach cramps. (iStock)

Dried valerian roots can be prepared as teas or tinctures, while other plant materials and extracts have been distributed as capsules or tablets, per the NIH.

The agency noted, however, that there is a “relatively small amount of research” investigating the herb’s impact on various conditions.

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However, Stefan Gafner, Ph.D., chief science officer of the American Botanical Council in Texas, confirmed that some clinical trials have explored valerian root’s effects.

A 2020 medical review published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine found that both powdered root and root extracts show a “clear” benefit in treating anxiety, Gafner told Fox News Digital.

Valerian root and other parts of the plant can be prepared as teas, extracts, capsules and tablets. (iStock)

The researchers concluded that valerian could be a “safe and effective herb to promote sleep and prevent associated disorders.”

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While valerian may have some benefits, Gafner said he doesn’t think it “makes sense” to compare it to diazepam (Valium). 

“I can understand that both are used to relieve anxiety, but valerian is a much milder ingredient, and is really used for mild cases of anxiety and sleep issues,” he told Fox News Digital.

Some valerian users have reported improved sleep and reduced anxiety, according to recent research. (iStock)

Unlike valerian, diazepam carries a risk of dependence and is generally prescribed short-term, the expert said, and the spectrum of potential adverse effects is “very different.”

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Gafner said he “absolutely” recommends the use of valerian root to relieve anxiety and stress and to improve sleep.

“I have used it myself and I believe it’s an ingredient with well-documented benefits, especially for people with problems falling asleep,” he said. “It is well-tolerated and very safe… although some sources caution [against] driving a car or using heavy machinery when using valerian.”

Valeriana officinalis, a herbal plant used as a mild sedative, in bloom. (iStock)

Dr. Joseph Mercola, a board-certified family medicine osteopathic physician and author of the new book “Weight Loss Cure,” said valerian’s comparisons to Valium may “exaggerate what the science actually shows.”

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“Valerian root contains compounds that appear to enhance calming brain chemicals, particularly the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps quiet nerve activity and supports relaxation,” the Florida-based expert told Fox News Digital.

“Some studies do report modest improvements in sleep quality or shorter time to fall asleep, while others find no meaningful difference compared with placebo.”

Valerian supplementation may not be right for everyone seeking better sleep, one doctor said. (iStock)

Side effects may include headaches, dizziness, digestive upset or next-day grogginess, Mercola noted, adding that he would not recommend it as a primary strategy for anxiety, stress or sleep.

“Because long-term safety studies remain limited, and supplement quality varies widely, you should approach valerian with caution rather than view it as a universal sleep solution,” he advised.

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“You should approach valerian with caution rather than view it as a universal sleep solution.”

“I encourage people to focus first on strategies that correct the underlying drivers of poor sleep,” Mercola advised. “When you fix those foundations, you often find that you no longer need an herbal sedative at all.”

“I encourage people to focus first on strategies that correct the underlying drivers of poor sleep,” one doctor advised. (iStock)

“Bright sunlight during the day helps regulate your circadian rhythm and signals your brain to produce melatonin later at night,” he said. “At the same time, complete darkness [at night] supports the hormonal signals that allow deep, restorative sleep.”

Certain nutrients can also promote relaxation and sleep quality, including magnesium, which helps to regulate the nervous system, according to the doctor.

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GABA may help to calm nerve activity, reduce stress markers and improve perceived sleep quality, Mercola said, while glycine — taken at about 3 grams an hour before bed — may support relaxation, promote the body’s nighttime temperature drop, and improve sleep onset and overall quality.

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“When you combine sunlight exposure, magnesium, GABA and glycine, you support the biological systems that control sleep instead of relying on a sedating herb with mixed evidence,” the doctor concluded.

Fox News Digital reached out to valerian root manufacturers requesting comment.

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LeAnn Rimes’ emotional reaction to jaw release therapy sparks widespread buzz

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LeAnn Rimes’ emotional reaction to jaw release therapy sparks widespread buzz

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Singer LeAnn Rimes has gone viral for her reaction while receiving jaw release therapy.

In a session with Garry Lineham, co-founder of Human Garage in California — a resource for self-healing practices — Rimes received an intra-oral massage, releasing the tension in her jaw. She seemed to instantly feel relief, sobbing on the table.

Jaw release therapy, which involves the massaging or stretching of muscles in the face, is popular for relieving TMJ pain, headaches and jaw clicking, according to experts.

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In an interview with Fox News Digital, Lineham shared that stress has an immense impact on human health, especially on muscle tension and pain.

“We hold emotions in our body,” he said. “Emotions cause a sympathetic response or a stress response in the body.”

“When you release the jaw, instantaneously you come out of that fight or flight mode,” Lineham said. (iStock)

“Stress is one thing that impacts every disease, whether it’s emotional or physical, whether it is genetic,” he went on. “Stress is the thing that makes genetics pop. If you take away stress, those genetic markers no longer express themselves.”

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Clenching the jaw can create stress, which happens naturally with physical and emotional exertion, according to Lineham.

“If you clench your jaw and hold it there for three to five minutes … you’ll actually fire adrenaline and norepinephrine (hormones and neurotransmitters),” he said.

This sends a message to the body that you’re bracing for an “attack,” releasing hormones like stress, Lineham added.

“When you release the jaw, then instantaneously you come out of fight or flight mode.”

How jaw release works

Jaw release therapy targets the fascia, or the connective tissue that supports the body’s muscles, organs and joints. Stretching the fascia also allows the muscle to stretch, providing relief, Lineham said.

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“When you release the jaw, then instantaneously you come out of that fight or flight mode,” he said. “And if you’ve been there for a long time, like most people have, it instantaneously shocks the nervous system in a good way.”

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Dr. Justin Richer, oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Riverside Oral Surgery in New Jersey, shared the benefits and risks of jaw release treatment with Fox News Digital.

Jaw release therapy can help with facial pain and muscle tightness. (iStock)

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Certain muscles in the body, such as the shoulder or back, can tense up and “overreact to problems that are going on within them,” said the doctor, who did not treat Rimes.

“Jaw release is almost like a massage or similar technique, to put pressure on the muscles and let the tension that’s built up just kind of relax away,” he said. “It’s not something that a lot of people do.”

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The procedure is most beneficial for those with symptoms of TMJ, facial and muscle pain, and tightness, according to Richer.

Some physical therapists and massage therapists offer this treatment, but Richer recommends seeking help from an oral-facial pain specialist or surgeon who “really understands the anatomy of the jaw joint.”

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Dr. Richer recommends seeing an oral surgeon or specialist before seeking the procedure. (iStock)

“If it’s done properly, there’s very minimal risk,” he said. “What we get concerned about is undue manipulation of the joint, so either cracking or distorting or trying to forcefully move the joint . . . that can actually cause undue harm from an orthopedic perspective.”

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Despite the benefits, Richer stressed that this kind of therapy may be a temporary fix, as it could be treating only the symptoms of an underlying problem.

“Get a diagnosis first before you go ahead and start manipulating things,” he advised.

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Study reveals one simple eating habit that may help boost weight loss

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Study reveals one simple eating habit that may help boost weight loss

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Losing weight might be as simple as sticking to the meals you know, a new study found.

People who ate the same meals more often lost more weight during a 12-week weight-loss program, according to a new study published in Health Psychology.

“Maintaining a healthy diet in today’s food environment requires constant effort and self-control,” lead author Charlotte Hagerman of the Oregon Research Institute said in a statement. 

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“Creating routines around eating may reduce that burden and make healthy choices feel more automatic.”

Experts say maintaining muscle after 50 may require more protein than the minimum federal guideline. (iStock)

Hagerman and fellow researchers from Drexel University and the Oregon Research Institute analyzed food logs from 112 adults who were overweight or obese who tracked their meals in an app and weighed themselves daily, according to the study.

The researchers measured “routinized” eating in two main ways —how much participants’ daily calorie intake fluctuated and how often they repeated the same meals and snacks over time, according to the paper.

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Those whose diets included more repeated foods lost an average of 5.9% of their body weight compared to 4.3% for those whose eating patterns were more varied, according to a press release from the American Psychological Association.

A man shows how much weight he has lost by holding out the waist of his jeans, symbolizing his successful diet. (iStock)

People who kept their daily calorie intake more consistent also lost more weight, according to the researchers.

Liza Baker, a Vermont-based nutrition expert and founder of Simply: Health Coaching, said the findings line up with what she has seen firsthand in more than a decade of working with clients.

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“Removing the mental load of ‘What’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner?’ can make the wellness journey much more sustainable,” Baker told Fox News Digital.

A breakfast of oatmeal porridge with summer berries. (iStock)

She said repeat meals can reduce decision fatigue and make it easier for people to stick to healthier habits, especially when they are packing lunches, cooking at home and following a simple routine.

Baker said people do not necessarily have to repeat every meal to see benefits.

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“One can start by eating one meal that is repetitive, usually breakfast or lunch,” she said. “As results start to show, it’s then more conducive to increasing to two to three repetitive meals a day.”

At the same time, experts cautioned that the findings do not prove cause and effect. The study was observational, meaning it found an association between routine eating and greater weight loss but could not show that repetition alone caused the better results, according to the researchers.

Consistency — not variety — may be key when it comes to weight loss, researchers found. (iStock)

Baker also warned that repeat meal plans can backfire if they are not nutritionally balanced or if they trigger perfectionism.

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“Unless someone is well-versed in nutrition, setting up a repeat meal plan can quickly become a nutritional nightmare that leads to becoming deficient in one or more nutrients,” she said.

The study authors similarly noted that too little variety could come with trade-offs. Future research is needed to determine whether a more repetitive diet should be actively recommended as a weight-loss strategy, they said.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the study’s authors for comment.

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Prayer for Weight Loss Works: How Faith Can Help You Shed Weight Faster

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Prayer for Weight Loss Works: How Faith Can Help You Shed Weight Faster


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How Prayer for Weight Loss Can Help You Shed Pounds Faster




















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