Introduction
Valerian is a plant with pink flowers. The root has been used to ease symptoms of anxiety and sleeplessness. Valerian has also been used to reduce hormone symptoms in women. It can be taken as a pill, powder, or extract. It can also be made into a tea or applied as a balm.
Dosages
250 milligrams 2 to 3 times daily
What Research Shows
May Be Effective
May Not Be Effective
- Dysmenorrhea —may not ease pain C1
Not Enough Data to Assess
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to use valerian on the skin and to take it in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. It is also not known whether it is safe to take by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse, such as:
- People taking medicine for diarrhea should talk to their doctor before taking valerian. It may interact with the medicine.
- People taking pain, anxiety, or sleeping medicine should talk to their doctors before taking valerian. It may interact with the medicine.
References
REFA Anxiety
REFA1 Miyasaka LS, Atallah AN, et al. Valerian for anxiety disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(4):CD004515.
REFA2 Chen JH, Chao YH, Lu SF, Shiung TF, Chao YF. The effectiveness of valerian acupressure on the sleep of ICU patients: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2012 Aug;49(8):913-920.
REFA3 Gharib M, Samani LN, et al. The effect of valeric on anxiety severity in women undergoing hysterosalpingography. Glob J Health Sci. 2015 Apr 2;7(3):358-363.
REFA4 Savage K, Firth J, et al. GABA-modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence. Phytother Res. 2018 Jan;32(1):3-18.
REFB Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
REFB1 Anheyer D, Lauche R, et al. Herbal medicines in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2017 Feb;30:14-23.
REFC Dysmenorrhea
REFC1 Pattanittum P, Kunyanone N, et al. Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 22;3:CD002124.
REFD HIV
REFD1 Ahmadi M, Khalili H, et al. Effect of Valerian in Preventing Neuropsychiatric Adverse Effects of Efavirenz in HIV-Positive Patients: A Pilot Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Ann Pharmacother. 2017 Jun;51(6):457-464.
REFE Insomnia
REFE1 Bent S, Padula A, et al. Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2006 Dec;119(12):1005-1012.
REFE2 Taibi DM, Landis CA, et al. A systematic review of valerian as a sleep aid: safe but not effective. Sleep Med Rev. 2007 Jun;11(3):209-230.
REFE3 Oxman AD, Flottorp S, et al. A televised, web-based randomised trial of an herbal remedy (valerian) for insomnia. PLoS One. 2007 Oct 17;2(10):e1040.
REFE4 Dimpfel W, Suter A. Sleep improving effects of a single dose administration of a valerian/hops fluid extract - a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled sleep-EEG study in a parallel design using electrohypnograms. Eur J Med Res. 2008 May 26;13(5):200-204.
REFE5 Taibi DM, Vitiello MV, et al. A randomized clinical trial of valerian fails to improve self-reported, polysomnographic, and actigraphic sleep in older women with insomnia. Sleep Med. 2009 Mar;10(3):319-328.
REFE6 Fernández-San-Martín MI, Masa-Font R, et al. Effectiveness of Valerian on insomnia: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Sleep Med. 2010;11(6):505-511.
REFE7 Barton DL, Atherton PJ, et al. The use of Valeriana officinalis (Valerian) in improving sleep in patients who are undergoing treatment for cancer: a phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study (NCCTG Trial, N01C5). J Support Oncol. 2011 Jan-Feb;9(1):24-31.
REFE8 Sarris J, Byrne GJ. A systematic review of insomnia and complementary medicine. Sleep Med Rev. 2011 Apr;15(2):99-106.
REFE9 Hu RF, Jiang XY, et al. Non-pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in the intensive care unit. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Oct 6;(10):CD008808.
REFE10 Leach MJ, Page AT. Herbal medicine for insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2015 Dec;24:1-12.
REFE11 Kim J, Lee SL, et al. Natural Products from Single Plants as Sleep Aids: A Systematic Review. J Med Food. 2018 May;21(5):433-444.
REFF Menopause
REFF1 Taavoni S, Ekbatani N, et al. Effect of valerian on sleep quality in postmenopausal women: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Menopause. 2011; 18(9): 951-955.
REFF2 Taavoni S, Nazem Ekbatani N, et al. Valerian/lemon balm use for sleep disorders during menopause. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2013;19(4):193-196.
REFF3 Jenabi E, Shobeiri F, et al. The effect of Valerian on the severity and frequency of hot flashes: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial. Women Health. 2018;58(3):297-304.
REFG Menstrual Cramps
REFG1 Mirabi P, Dolatian M, et al. Effects of valerian on the severity and systemic manifestations of dysmenorrhea. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2011;115(3):285-288.
REFH Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
REFH1 Pakseresht S, Boostani H, et al. Extract of valerian root (Valeriana officinalis L.) vs. placebo in treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized double-blind study. J Complement Integr Med. 2011 Oct 11;8.
REFI Restless Legs Syndrome
REFI1 Cuellar NG, Ratcliffe SJ. Does valerian improve sleepiness and symptom severity in people with restless legs syndrome? Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Mar-Apr;15(2):22-28.