Valerian for Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Open accessAbstract
Insomnia affects approximately one-third of the adult population and contributes to increased rates of absenteeism, health care use, and social disability. Extracts of the roots of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) are widely used for inducing sleep and improving sleep quality. A systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled trials of valerian for improving sleep quality is presented. An extensive literature search identified 16 eligible studies examining a total of 1093 patients. Most studies had significant methodologic problems, and the valerian doses, preparations, and length of treatment varied considerably. A dichotomous outcome of sleep quality (improved or not) was reported by 6 studies and showed a statistically significant benefit (relative risk of improved sleep = 1.8, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.9), but there was evidence of publication bias in this summary measure. The available evidence suggests that valerian might improve sleep quality without producing side effects. Future studies should assess a range of doses of standardized preparations of valerian and include standard measures of sleep quality and safety.
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Available evidence suggests that valerian has small but consistent effects on sleep latency, with inconsistent effects on sleep continuity, sleep duration, and sleep architecture.
“Available evidence suggests that valerian has small but consistent effects on sleep latency, with inconsistent effects on sleep continuity, sleep duration, and sleep architecture.”
From Clinical Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Insomnia in Adults (2008) · cites this paper as [44]
The greatest amount of evidence is available regarding valerian extracts and melatonin.
“Of these, the greatest amount of evidence is available regarding valerian extracts and melatonin. 44-47”
From Clinical Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Insomnia in Adults (2008) · cites this paper as [44]
Meta-analyses have demonstrated that melatonin has small effects on sleep latency, with little effect on WASO or TST.
“Meta-analyses have demonstrated that melatonin has small effects on sleep latency, with little effect on WASO or TST.”
From Clinical Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Insomnia in Adults (2008) · cites this paper as [44]
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- Authors
- Bent, S., Padula, A., Moore, D., Patterson, M., & Mehling, W.
- Affiliations
- San Francisco VA Medical Center (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bent, Stephen
- Venue
- The American Journal of Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-12
- Volume
- 119
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1005-1012
- ISSN
- 0002-9343 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4394901
- OpenAlex
- W2056876373
- Cited by
- 387
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 3.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- The American Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- UCLA - Biblioteca de Ciencias de la Salud (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (1 K08 ATO1338-01)
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (K08AT001338)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
- Keywords
- Valeriana officinalis, insomnia, sleep quality, herbal medicine, root extract, publication bias, dose variation
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Phytotherapy, Plant Extracts, Valerian, Plant Roots
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