Valerian

A legitimate sleep herb for some people, though its smell and individual response variability make it less universal than its reputation suggests.

A rough internal score reflecting quantity, quality, and consistency of human evidence. Not a clinical recommendation.

Trials show mixed but plausible benefit for sleep latency and subjective sleep quality, especially with repeated use rather than a single acute dose.

• May shorten sleep latency
• Reduces bedtime restlessness in some users
• Works well in some multi-herb nighttime formulas

Common extract or dried-root use ranges from 300-600 mg taken 30-120 minutes before bed.

• Grogginess
• Vivid dreams
• Headache

Can cause next-morning grogginess and should be used cautiously with alcohol, sedatives, or before operating machinery.

The response curve is individual, and some users paradoxically feel stimulated rather than sedated.

• Sleep55
• Anxiety30
• Stress30