Diazepam vs Valerian Root for anxiety
Short answer: For anxiety, users rate them about the same: 86% report improvement with Diazepam (14 reports) and 86% with Valerian Root (36 reports).
Diazepam has 198 meta-analyses and 1,345 randomized trials on PubMed; Valerian Root has 2 and 8.
Based on 42 reports about Diazepam and 233 about Valerian Root. Not medical advice.
| Diazepam Medication | Valerian Root Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 46%helped28 reports · medium confidence | 57%helped119 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mixed |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | BResearch: Moderate |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 198 / 1,345 | 2 / 8 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 70% (10) | 82% (109) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 86% (14) | 86% (36) |
| Common side effects | brain fog, sleepiness, slurred speech, decreased rem | vivid dreams, drowsiness, brain fog, tolerance |
| Typical dose reported | Not listed | 500 mg / before bed |
Effective medical and surgical interventions include anti-convulsants, bisphosphonates, botulinum toxin, botulinum toxin plus occupational therapy, botulinum toxin plus casting, diazepam, dentistry, hip surveillance, intrathecal baclofen, scoliosis correction, selective dorsal rhizotomy, and umbilical cord blood cell therapy. We have provided guidance about what works and what does not to inform decision-making, and highlighted areas for more research.
Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep, 2020 ↗“I only took 5mg every day for about a year and now I been tapering off...I feel mostly safe when I'm at home.”
In conclusion, valerian could be a safe and effective herb to promote sleep and prevent associated disorders. However, due to the presence of multiple active constituents and relatively unstable nature of some of the active constituents, it may be necessary to revise the quality control processes, including standardization methods and shelf life.
J Evid Based Integr Med, 2020 ↗“I really like lemon balm especially if combined with valerian root! Helps me sleep and relax at night.”
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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate