Expired valerian drops: safe to use or skip?

Warm regards,

Please forgive me if I’ve missed the mark here; I am certain there is likely a specific thread for this kind of inquiry, but I will leave it to the moderators to move this to the appropriate section if necessary.
I simply don't have the bandwidth at this moment to hunt down the exact topic I'm looking for. 😢

The situation is this: I have two small bottles of valerian tincture that have unfortunately passed their expiration date.
I could really use them right now, but I find myself hesitating because, as I mentioned, they are technically expired.

I actually tried a tiny amount this morning, diluted in some water, and the taste seemed perfectly normal—just like the last time I used it.
But what about the actual effects? Am I risking poisoning myself? Will I fall into a slumber that lasts a hundred years? Or, perhaps most likely, will it simply do absolutely nothing at all?

Thank you all for your insights.

Warm regards,
dustybear14

dustybear14 said:Hey everyone,

First off, sorry if I'm doubling up on an existing thread—I haven't had the bandwidth to hunt through the subforums right now, so maybe the mods can move this if needed.
I don't have the time to dig for the exact thread I need at this moment, 😢

So, here's the deal: I've got two bottles of valerian tincture that are past their expiration date.
I really need to take them, but I'm a bit paranoid because they're expired.

I tried a tiny amount mixed with water this morning, and honestly, it tasted exactly like the last time I used it.
But what about the effects? Am I going to poison myself? Sleep for a century? Or will it just do absolutely nothing?

Thanks for any insight.

Warm regards Manubis
dustybear14

When did they actually expire?
Generally speaking, tinctures made at a pharmacy and kept in a cool, dark spot are usually safe to use for about 2-3 months past the printed date.
Either way, I highly doubt anything catastrophic is going to happen to you.

Wait, how long ago did the expiration date pass?

I don't think it'll actually hurt you. Usually, once those teas and tinctures go past their prime, they just lose their potency, so there's really no point in drinking them anyway.

Honestly, those drops aren't going to do much for you now.

Just grab some fresh ones; save yourself the $8.25 headache and the unnecessary stress.
It sounds like you don't use them that often since you mentioned having two bottles left over.
If they just recently passed their expiration date, there's really no reason to freak out or rush out to buy more right away.

Thanks for all the input

The box says 2011 🙂 specifically on the bottle

I haven't really needed them lately since I've barely used any
By some strange logic, perhaps the efficacy just fades away? I took a dose today and felt absolutely nothing—no positive effects, and certainly no negative ones—aside from the fact that the taste always makes me feel a bit nauseous!

But I suppose I'll pick up some fresh ones just to be safe 🙂
I’m currently out in Norway, and things are a bit... well, hit or miss here. It might be slightly harder to track down what I need, though I haven't actually gone looking for it yet, so I can't say for certain 🙂

If it expired back in 2011, then it’s completely worthless now. Just go out and buy some new ones.