Valerian, an Alternative to Xanax?

I hate to fly. Just looking up in the sky and seeing a plane makes me sick to my stomach. However, I love to travel and I had a trip to Las Vegas planned. I did some research (consisting of asking people what they do to make flying more enjoyable) and I found I had several options to try to make my flight more bearable. My brother suggested that I get completely wasted before the flight. I would surely enjoy this, but would it work? One friend recommended that I lie to my doctor about an anxiety issue I do not have in order to get prescribed Xanax. My roommate said I could just "borrow" a couple Xanax from her (that's what friends are for). Another friend of mine encouraged me to try an alternative remedy, Valerian. Being that I am into holistic therapies myself, I chose to purchase some Valerian before the flight.

Valerian, for those of you who do not know, is made from a native plant found in Europe and Asia. It has a horrid smell. It can be bought in several forms including: pills, tea and tincture. Valerian has been used for centuries to treat sleep disorders as well as headaches, gastrointestinal disorders and anxiety. After doing this "real" research (I use this term loosely because I chose the very first website that popped up after I Googled it), I figured why not try it. It has been used for so long by so many, it must be good right?