Valeriana officinalis, Valerian

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, including insomnia, anxiety, and headaches. The active ingredients in valerian are thought to be valerenic acid and valeranone, which have sedative and anxiolytic effects. Valerian supplement is thought to work by increasing levels of a chemical called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate nerve activity. Low levels of GABA have been linked with anxiety and sleep disorders.

  • Origin: Plant Based
  • Source: Itself
  • Type: Herbs, Roots & Barks
  • Age Range: Adults, Seniors
  • Toxicity: May be toxic in high doses
  • Outcomes: Sleep, Sleep Latency, Sleep Duration
Valerian

What are Valerian benefits?

Valerian is a medicinal herb that has been used for centuries to treat sleep problems. The plant is native to Europe and Asia, and its roots are used to make teas and supplements. This herb contains chemical compounds that can help relax the body and mind, which can make it easier for you to sleep. Some studies have shown that the herb can be as effective as insomnia medications, without the side effects. Valerian can also be used to treat other health problems, such as anxiety, stress, and headache.

Table of relations

Health goal
Sub-health goal
Consistent effects
Strength of effects
Scientific articles
Sleep
Sleep Latency
See all 10 studies
Sleep
Sleep Duration
See all 10 studies

Valerian and Sleep

Sleep is a very important physiological process, as it regulates the body's functions. It is responsible for promoting / facilitating energy conservation, synthesis and secretion of hormones and proteins, learning and memory through brain changes. Sleep is mainly driven by the circadian cycle, which involves exposure to light, hormones such as melatonin, and hypothalamic activity. The compounds that help regulate sleep work in different pathways, they can facilitate the process of falling asleep, increase the duration of continuous sleep or improve the quality of sleep.

  • Sleep Latency

    Sleep latency is the time it takes between being awake and actually falling asleep. More importantly than many think, sleep latency is linked to and impacted by the stages of sleep. Fortunately there are natural solutions to improve latency and quality of nightly rest.

  • Sleep Duration

    Sleep duration refers to the total amount of sleep obtained, either during the nightly sleep episode or during the 24 hours. Getting a full, uninterrupted sleep can be difficult and is considered a disorder, but there are natural solutions that can help.

Table of negative interactions

Drugs
Acetylcarbromal, Alfentanil, Alprazolam, Amitriptyline, Amobarbital, Amoxapine, Apomorphine, Aripiprazole, Asenapine, Azatadine, Baclofen, Benztropine, Biperiden, Brexanolone, Brexpiprazole, Brivaracetam, Bromocriptine, Brompheniramine, Buprenorphine, Butabarbital, Butalbital, Butorphanol, Cannabidiol, Cannabis, Carbamazepine, Carbetapentane, Carbinoxamine, Cariprazine, Carisoprodol, Cenobamate, Cetirizine, Chlophedianol, Chloral Hydrate, Chlordiazepoxide, Chlormezanone, Chlorphenesin, Chlorpheniramine, Chlorpromazine, Chlorzoxazone, Citalopram, Clemastine, Clobazam, Clomipramine, Clonazepam, Clonidine, Clorazepate, Clozapine, Codeine, Cyclizine, Cyclobenzaprine, Cyproheptadine, Dantrolene, Desipramine, Desvenlafaxine, Deutetrabenazine, Dexbrompheniramine, Dexchlorpheniramine, Dexmedetomidine, Dextromethorphan, Dezocine, Diazepam, Dimenhydrinate, Diphenhydramine, Doxepin, Doxepin Topical, Doxylamine, Dronabinol, Droperidol, Duloxetine, Entacapone, Escitalopram, Esketamine, Eslicarbazepine, Estazolam, Eszopiclone, Ethchlorvynol, Ethosuximide, Ethotoin, Ezogabine, Felbamate, Fentanyl, Flavoxate, Flibanserin, Fluoxetine, Fluphenazine, Flurazepam, Fluvoxamine, Fosphenytoin, Gabapentin, Halazepam, Haloperidol, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphone, Hydroxyzine, Ifosfamide, Iloperidone, Imipramine, Isocarboxazid, Ketamine, Lamotrigine, Lasmiditan, Lemborexant, Levetiracetam, Levocetirizine, Levorphanol, Lithium, Lofexidine, Lorazepam, Loxapine, Lumateperone, Lurasidone, Maprotiline, Meclizine, Meperidine, Mephenytoin, Mephobarbital, Meprobamate, Mesoridazine, Metaxalone, Methadone, Methdilazine, Methocarbamol, Methotrimeprazine, Methsuximide, Metoclopramide, Metyrosine, Midazolam, Mirtazapine, Molindone, Morphine, Nabilone, Nalbuphine, Nefazodone, Nortriptyline, Olanzapine, Oliceridine, Opicapone, Opium, Orphenadrine, Oxazepam, Oxcarbazepine, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Paliperidone, Paraldehyde, Paramethadione, Paroxetine, Pentazocine, Pentobarbital, Perampanel, Pergolide, Perphenazine, Phenacemide, Phenelzine, Phenindamine, Phenobarbital, Phensuximide, Phenytoin, Pimozide, Pramipexole, Prochlorperazine, Procyclidine, Promazine, Promethazine, Propiomazine, Protriptyline, Pyrilamine, Quazepam, Quetiapine, Ramelteon, Rasagiline, Remifentanil, Remimazolam, Risperidone, Ropinirole, Rotigotine, Rufinamide, Secobarbital, Sertraline, Sibutramine, Stiripentol, Sufentanil, Suvorexant, Tapentadol, Tasimelteon, Temazepam, Tetrabenazine, Thalidomide, Thiethylperazine, Thiopental, Thioridazine, Thiothixene, Tiagabine, Tizanidine, Tolcapone, Topiramate, Tramadol, Tranylcypromine, Trazodone, Triazolam, Trifluoperazine, Trihexyphenidyl, Trimeprazine, Trimethadione, Trimethobenzamide, Trimipramine, Tripelennamine, Triprolidine, Valbenazine, Venlafaxine, Vigabatrin, Zaleplon, Ziconotide, Ziprasidone, Zolpidem, Zonisamide

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References

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, including insomnia, anxiety, and headaches. The active ingredients in valerian are thought to be valerenic acid and valeranone, which have sedative and anxiolytic effects. Valerian supplement is thought to work by increasing levels of a chemical called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate nerve activity. Low levels of GABA have been linked with anxiety and sleep disorders.