What is Zincum valerianicum?

Zincum valerianicum is a homeopathic remedy. It is made from zinc valerianate, a salt of zinc and valerianic acid. Homeopaths have given it for restless legs, twitching, nerve pain and poor sleep.

It is a single remedy, not a blend. The source is watered down again and again (diluted), with hard shaking at each step. At 30C, so much water has been added that none of the source is left.

Here is the short verdict. Trials do not show that it works better than a dummy pill (placebo). Long use in a tradition is not proof that a remedy works.

How does Zincum valerianicum work?

No one has shown a way that this remedy could act on the body.

Homeopathy rests on the idea of 'like cures like'. A substance that could cause a symptom in a well person is given in a tiny dose to treat that symptom. Makers water the source down over and over and shake it hard each time.

Homeopaths say the shaking leaves an imprint of the source in the water. Chemistry does not support this idea. At 30C there are no molecules (tiny particles) of zinc valerianate left in the pill.

Low strengths, such as 1X or 3X, are different. They can still hold small real amounts of zinc. That is why the safety and drug notes below matter.

What forms does Zincum valerianicum come in?

Most people buy it as small sugar pellets that melt under the tongue.

You may also see granules, tablets and liquid drops. Drops usually contain alcohol. Common strengths are 3X, 6X, 6C, 12C, 30C and 200C.

The 'X' and 'C' show how many watering-down steps were used. A higher number means more water was added, not more zinc.

Where it comes from:

Zinc salts came into homeopathic use in the 1800s in Europe.

Homeopaths ran 'provings'. Healthy people took a substance and wrote down what they felt. Zincum metallicum became the best known zinc remedy, and Zincum valerianicum is a smaller entry linked to jumpy, restless nerves.

Valerian root itself has a long history in Europe as a sleep herb. That history belongs to the herb, not to this watered-down remedy.

What does Zincum valerianicum help with?

• Restless legs at night: This is the best known homeopathic use for the remedy. Homeopaths pick it when the legs feel jumpy and will not stay still in bed. No human trial has tested it for this, so the claim rests on practice notes alone.
• Trouble falling asleep: Homeopaths link it to a busy, restless mind at bedtime. The valerianate part borrows its name from valerian, a herb studied for sleep. The watered-down remedy is not the herb, and it has not been tested for sleep.
• Nerve pain (neuralgia): Old homeopathic texts list burning or shooting nerve pain, often in the face or legs. There are no trials in people for this remedy. New or bad nerve pain needs a doctor, not a home remedy.
• Muscle twitching and jerking: Homeopaths choose zinc remedies when muscles twitch or the body cannot keep still. This comes from 'proving' reports, not from trials. Twitching that spreads or comes with weakness needs medical checking.
• Restlessness during menopause: Some homeopaths use it for hot, restless nights around menopause. No study has tested it for this. Hot flushes have treatments with real evidence, and it is worth asking your doctor about them.
• Tension headache with a jumpy feeling: Homeopathic notes mention a dull head pain with a wound-up, restless mood. This use has never been tested in a trial. A sudden, very bad headache is an emergency, not a case for this remedy.

Which foods are rich in Zincum valerianicum?

1. Oysters: one of the richest natural sources of zinc
2. Beef and lamb: steady sources of zinc in the diet
3. Pumpkin seeds: a good plant source of zinc
4. Chickpeas and lentils: smaller amounts of zinc
5. Valerian root tea: the herb behind the valerianate name, drunk as a sleep tea

Practical Tips:

These foods relate to the source material, not to the watered-down remedy.

What are the side effects of Zincum valerianicum?

• No effect at all, which is the usual result at 30C
• Upset stomach or a metal taste, from low strengths that still hold zinc
• Nausea, if a low strength is taken on an empty stomach
• Low copper in the body, after months of zinc-bearing low strengths
• A rise in blood sugar in people who eat many sugar pellets
• Gas or loose stools in people who cannot digest lactose (milk sugar)
• Throat sting or sleepiness from the alcohol in liquid drops
• A short flare of symptoms, which homeopaths call an aggravation
• Harm from delay, if you use it in place of care you need

Good to know:

Side effects are rare at 30C. No source material is left, so the pellet is mostly sugar.

Most of the risk comes from three things. The sugar in the pellets, the alcohol in the drops, and using the remedy in place of real care.

Low strengths are the exception. They can hold real zinc, which may upset the gut. Taken for months, zinc can push copper levels down.

How much Zincum valerianicum should you take?

• Recommended daily: No dose has been set by research, because no trial has tested this remedy in people. Homeopaths and product labels often suggest 3 to 5 pellets under the tongue, two or three times a day. Drops are often 5 to 10 drops in a little water. Follow the label on the pack you buy, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure. A higher number on the label means more water was added, not a stronger dose of zinc.
• Best time of day: Homeopathic labels often say to take it away from meals. For sleep and restless legs, people usually take a dose in the evening, near bedtime.
• With or without food: Usually taken on an empty mouth, about 15 to 30 minutes before or after food or drink. Let the pellets melt under the tongue rather than chewing them.
• Time to effect: Homeopaths often say people notice a change within a few days. There is no trial evidence to support any time frame. Any change you feel may simply be the natural course of the problem.
• How long to take it: Homeopaths usually suggest a short trial of a few days to two weeks. Stop and rethink if nothing changes. Do not keep taking a low strength, such as 1X or 3X, for months, because those can still hold real zinc. Long zinc use can lower copper in the body.