Valerian Root
Also known as Valeriana officinalis
Herb used since antiquity as a sedative; its valerenic acid is thought to modulate GABA-A receptors, though clinical evidence for reducing time to fall asleep is mixed.
Reported side effects:Nausea, abdominal cramps, frequency not known (EMA HMPC Valerian root monograph)Headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, excitability, uneasiness, and vivid dreams (NIH NCCIH)
Be careful if: certain ages, pregnant, breastfeeding, some medical situations
Ask first if you take: sedatives or sleep medicines
Suspect a side effect? Report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme ↗
What the research actually shows
We link to relevant studies and leave interpretation to you and your healthcare professional.
Safety and considerations
What sources report about side effects, who should be careful, and medicines to ask about first.
Reported side effects
| Reported effect | How often | Basis | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea, abdominal cramps, frequency not known (EMA HMPC Valerian root monograph) | unknown | Listed by EMA HMPC herbal monographs | European Union herbal monograph on Valeriana officinalis L., radix and rhizoma (EMA/HMPC/147533/2012 Rev.1, EMA herbal-medicine overview) |
| Headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, excitability, uneasiness, and vivid dreams (NIH NCCIH) | unknown | Listed by NIH ODS fact sheets | NIH (NCCIH) health information page: Valerian - Usefulness and Safety |
Serious effects reported
| Reported effect | How often | Basis | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal symptoms after abruptly stopping chronic use: anxiety, irritability, heart disturbances, insomnia, and in rare cases hallucinations (NIH NCCIH) | unknown | Listed by NIH ODS fact sheets | NIH (NCCIH) health information page: Valerian - Usefulness and Safety |
| Liver injury reported in very rare cases, most often in combination with other herbals; long-term effect on liver function unknown (NIH NCCIH, referencing LiverTox NBK548255) | rare | Listed by NIH ODS fact sheets | NIH (NCCIH) health information page: Valerian - Usefulness and Safety |
Be careful if you…
Medicines to ask about
| Severity | Medicine | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| caution | sedatives or sleep medicines — NIH NCCIH: because it is possible (though unconfirmed) that valerian might have a sleep-inducing effect, it should not be taken along with alcohol or sedatives. EMA HMPC: no interactions with other medicines have been described in the literature at the time of assessment.sources differ — under review | NIH (NCCIH) health information page: Valerian - Usefulness and SafetyEuropean Union herbal monograph on Valeriana officinalis L., radix and rhizoma (EMA/HMPC/147533/2012 Rev.1, EMA herbal-medicine overview) |
How much is too much
Suggested uses (unproven)
Where people report using it and what trials suggest
- Mixed evidenceSleep-onset / insomnia
Where the evidence is negative
Common claims the trials do not support
- The most rigorous RCTs (n=184-400) found no benefit vs placebo.
- Meta-analyses conclude evidence is inconclusive at best due to poor methods in positive trials.
- No anxiety-relieving evidence in clinical anxiety disorders.
Traditional sleep herb whose better-controlled trials have failed to separate from placebo; evidence overall is unconvincing.
Evidence grades reflect study quality and consistency, not marketing claims.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Effects of Dietary Supplementation in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome: A Systematic ReviewGonzález-Parejo P, et al. · Nutrients · 2024PMID 39064758 ↗02Medicinal herbs for the treatment of anxiety: A systematic review and network meta-analysisZhang W, et al. · Pharmacological research · 2022PMID 35378276 ↗03A Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Over-the-Counter Medications Used in Older People for the Treatment of Primary insomniaAlmond SM, et al. · The Senior care pharmacist · 2021PMID 33509331 ↗04Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders-A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisShinjyo N, et al. · Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine · 2020PMID 33086877 ↗05GABA-modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidenceSavage K, et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2018PMID 29168225 ↗06Natural Products from Single Plants as Sleep Aids: A Systematic ReviewKim J, et al. · Journal of medicinal food · 2018PMID 29356580 ↗Show all 16 studies
Published research summaries are unavailable.
Why people look into Valerian Root — and what they report
Associated conditions and community-reported outcomes, wrapped together on one page. Aggregates appear only once enough reports arrive.
Where to get Valerian Root (UK)
How this compound is sold in the UK, and where our readers typically find it.
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