Valerian
Also known as: Valeriana officinalis
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a root traditionally used around sleep and relaxation. NCCIH describes the evidence on whether it helps sleep problems as inconsistent, and notes the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends against using it for chronic insomnia. The key safety point is that it should not be taken with alcohol or sedatives, and it can cause drowsiness or next-day mental dullness. It is informational here, not a treatment for insomnia or any condition.
Snapshot
What this page can tell you: What NCCIH says about valerian — that sleep evidence is inconsistent and that it shouldn't be combined with alcohol or sedatives.
What it cannot: That valerian reliably improves sleep or treats insomnia — NCCIH's evidence is inconsistent and a sleep-medicine body recommends against it for chronic insomnia. Informational only.
🧩 Stack insights — how this fits into a schedule
Alcohol / sedatives (CNS depressants) — NCCIH: valerian should not be taken with alcohol or sedatives, and it can cause drowsiness or next-day mental dullness. Be cautious about activities needing full alertness.
Sedative / CNS-depressant caution category.
Sleep evidence — NCCIH: the evidence on whether valerian helps sleep is inconsistent, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends against it for chronic insomnia. Not a treatment claim; commonly taken shortly before bed.
Relationship insights are informational only — they describe what is commonly discussed or studied, not what you should take. Not medical advice; review your routine with a clinician or pharmacist.
🕒 Timing
When: Bedtime
Food: With or without food
Commonly taken shortly before bed; because it can cause drowsiness, it is not combined with alcohol or sedatives.
💊 Common use range
Extracts vary by product
No formal upper limit; abrupt discontinuation after long-term use may cause withdrawal-type symptoms — follow product guidance.
Ranges are informational, not a recommended dose. Talk to a professional about what is right for you.
🤔 Worth considering?
Evidence vs. effort: Mixed evidence relative to burden
Commonly used for sleep, but NCCIH describes the evidence as inconsistent and a sleep-medicine body recommends against it for chronic insomnia. The main caution is not combining it with alcohol or sedatives; drowsiness and next-day dullness can occur.
A general summary, not a recommendation. Whether something fits your situation is worth discussing with a healthcare professional.
⚠️ Commonly noted interactions (supplements)
None listed.
Often about absorption or timing rather than danger — separating doses is common. This list is not exhaustive.
🧭 Caution level
Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use.
- Pregnancy / breastfeeding caution
- Commonly discussed as relaxing/sedating
- Sedative / CNS-depressant interaction
Caution level is an informational summary of commonly discussed caution categories and doses — not a safety rating, approval, or medical advice. Low caution does not mean safe for you.
🩺 Medication caution categories
- Sedatives / CNS depressants
- Pregnancy or nursing (health condition)
🏥 Surgery & procedure caution
Because it can add to sedation, tell your anesthesia/surgical team if you use it before any procedure.
If you have a procedure scheduled, bring your full supplement list to your surgical and anesthesia team. Do not stop prescribed medication unless your clinician tells you to. Do not start or stop supplements based only on this app.
✅ Quality checklist
- Prefer products with third-party testing or a certificate of analysis (COA).
- Check the label for the exact form and the elemental or active amount per serving.
🧩 Commonly paired with
None listed.
🔁 Alternatives
🗣️ Questions for a professional
- I take a sleep or anxiety medication (or drink alcohol) — is valerian safe to combine with those?
🛡️ Safety notes (source-reviewed)
- NCCIH: do not combine valerian with alcohol or sedatives.
- Side effects: headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, excitability, vivid dreams; drowsiness and next-day dullness can occur.
- Withdrawal-type symptoms may occur if stopped abruptly after long-term use.
⚖️ Evidence limitations
- NCCIH: the evidence on whether valerian helps sleep is inconsistent; the AASM recommends against it for chronic insomnia.
❓ Frequently asked
Does valerian help you sleep?
NCCIH says the evidence on whether valerian helps sleep problems is inconsistent, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends against it for chronic insomnia. This page makes no treatment claim.
Can I take valerian with a sleep or anxiety medication?
NCCIH advises not combining valerian with alcohol or sedatives. Review any combination with a clinician or pharmacist.
🔬 Evidence snapshot
NCCIH says the evidence on whether valerian helps sleep is inconsistent, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends against it for chronic insomnia. It should not be combined with alcohol or sedatives.
🚦 Commonly noted cautions (auto)
Pregnancy / nursing caution category. This item carries a pregnancy/nursing caution category. If you are pregnant, nursing, or planning pregnancy, consider discussing it with a healthcare professional. This is a general caution, not a diagnosis or medical instruction.
🧪 Forms & quality
Needs evidence review — no source-reviewed information yet. We only show dose and monitoring details after they have been checked against reputable sources.
See the supplement glossary for what form names like "L-", chelated, or standardized extract mean.
📏 Dose & monitoring
Evidence vs. burden: Mixed evidence relative to burden
😐 Commonly reported side effects
- Headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, excitability, uneasiness, vivid dreams
- Withdrawal-type symptoms (anxiety, irritability, insomnia) if stopped abruptly after long-term use
Non-exhaustive and individual.
🔄 Cycling & breaks
Stopping abruptly after chronic use may cause withdrawal-type symptoms; changes are commonly made gradually.
📅 Daily use notes
Do not combine valerian with alcohol or sedatives. Because it can cause drowsiness and next-day dullness, be cautious about activities that need full alertness.
📋 Source review status
Source-reviewed — last reviewed 2026-07-03
Reviewed against the NCCIH valerian page; editorial pass still pending.
Research backlog (queries to verify):
- valerian insomnia randomized controlled trial evidence
- valerian sedative interaction alcohol benzodiazepine
📚 References
- NCCIH — ValerianNCCIH — Verified inconsistent sleep evidence and AASM recommendation against it for chronic insomnia; do-not-combine-with-alcohol/sedatives caution; side effects (headache, GI, mental dullness, excitability, vivid dreams) and withdrawal after chronic use; pregnancy/breastfeeding little known.
Verified against the source shown. See the research-status page for how review works.
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