Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is an herbal medicine used for centuries to treat anxiety, insomnia and cramping. Because the evidence for the herb's effectiveness is both anecdotal and early in the stages of data discovery, conventional medical practice has kept it at bay. As usual, one should always check with a physician before trying any herbal supplement.
Valerian Root as a Sleep Aid and for Relaxation
In a recent study, valerian was tested for its effectiveness as an antioxidant with the goal of examining its ability to alleviate insomnia caused by oxidative stress (JH Sudati et al., "In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Valeriana officinalis Against Different Neurotoxic Agents" Neurochemical Research, Feb.4, 2009, PubMed, Epub ahead of print ).
Oxidative stress happens when cells react negatively to oxygen, producing damaging toxins that break down the cells. The study exposed rat brain extracts to various chemical agents in order to mimic oxidative stress, particularly lipid peroxidation - a process that could be linked to insomnia.
The presence of valerian extracts was reported to prevent some lipid breakdown brought on by the oxidating chemicals, which led the group to conclude that valerian could help insomnia brought on by lipid peroxidation.
This new evidence is not necessarily applicable to human insomnia cases. The evidence simply points to the potential efficacy of the herb as an alternative to prescription medications and not the final say on valerian as a treatment. One should always use caution.
In a study by Taibi et al. ("A Feasibility Study of Valerian Extract for Sleep Distrubance in Person With Arthritis" 2008) a small sample of volunteers with arithritis and some sleep problems were given valerian treatments, but the evidence was also inconclusive. In other words, there were no significant changes in the sleep patterns of the volunteers after being treated with valerian. Though this study used a small sample size, other studies with larger samples resulted in similar conclusions.
Valerian as a sleep aid: Still inconclusive.
Valerian Root for Uterine Cramps
Additionally, valerian was tested on uterine muscle tissue to determine its effects on muscle contractions (F. Occhiuto et al., "Relaxing effects of Valeriana officinalis extracts on isolated human pregnant uterine muscle" Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Volume 61, Issue 2, 251-6, February, 2009).
The study team took uterine muscle "strips" from hysterectomies and produced conditions that would model uterine contractions. After the strips and their model environment were exposed to valerian extracts, the team recorded a reduction in muscle tissue contractions, noting that valerian's use for the treatment of menstrual cramps seemed legitimate.
More human trials and evidence are still needed before drawing any conclusions.
As a final word, It is important to consult with a physician before trying any herbal medicine.
