Valerian vs Valerian Root for sleep
Short answer: For sleep, users rate them about the same: 80% report improvement with Valerian (74 reports) and 82% with Valerian Root (109 reports).
Valerian has 30 meta-analyses and 59 randomized trials on PubMed; Valerian Root has 2 and 8.
Based on 170 reports about Valerian and 233 about Valerian Root. Not medical advice.
| Valerian Supplement | Valerian Root Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| Users say it helped | 55%helped94 reports · medium confidence | 57%helped119 reports · high confidence |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mixed |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | BResearch: Moderate |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 30 / 59 | 2 / 8 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 80% (74) | 82% (109) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 93% (29) | 86% (36) |
| Common side effects | drowsiness, vivid dreams, liver damage, depressed mood | vivid dreams, drowsiness, brain fog, tolerance |
| Typical dose reported | 200mg / evening | 500 mg / before bed |
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 find valarian helps me stay asleep, if you can get past the smell.”
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.”
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