Valerian

Valeriana officinalis · Valerian root · Valerenic acid

Snapshot

Indications	Contraindications
Subjective sleep quality¹ Mild insomnia symptoms² Menopausal hot flashes³ Dental procedure anxiety^{4, 5} Mild nervous tension⁶	Alcohol or sedatives³ Pregnancy or nursing⁷ Liver or pancreatic disease⁷ Driving or operating machinery⁷

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial herb whose roots and rhizomes are sold as teas, tinctures, capsules, and tablets⁸. Its sedative effect is attributed to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling, though no mechanism is agreed⁸. People take it for calming and sleep, chiefly sleep-onset difficulty in younger adults, and for anxiety, stress, and menopausal symptoms, where evidence is sparse³.

For insomnia, an umbrella review found no evidence of efficacy. Valerian appeared to improve subjective sleep quality, but this was not shown on objective measures⁹. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended against valerian for chronic insomnia in adults³. A 2025 clinical practice guideline from that body also suggested against valerian for restless legs syndrome, with very low certainty of evidence¹⁰. Many products listing valerian appear in label data, mostly capsules and tablets; see Form comparison.

Additive sedation is the main reason for caution, and per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), valerian should not be taken with alcohol or sedatives³. LiverTox rates valerian a probable rare cause of clinically apparent liver injury, usually mild to moderate and resolving after stopping¹¹.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Read how we make monographs.

In the full monograph

86 sources, 68 studies

When to useThe situations practitioners use it for, each with the reason and the study behind it.
SafetyWho should avoid it, who needs extra care, and the side effects reported in studies.
InteractionsThe medicines and supplements it interacts with, the effect of each, and what labeling says to watch.
Protocol notesThe doses used in studies, how and when they were taken, and how the forms on the market compare.
How it worksWhat it is and how it works in the body, in plain terms.
Published studiesThe studies behind each use, popular claims checked against them, and trials still under way.
Word of mouthWhat patients and practitioners report online, kept separate from the clinical evidence.
Clinical perspectiveA closing read of where the evidence is solid, where it is thin, and what has not been studied.

Snapshot

In the full monograph

Sources