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Valerian root

Is valerian safe to take every night?

Short-term use of 300–600 mg extract for up to about six weeks appears well tolerated in trials, but long-term nightly use has not been studied.

Valerian flowers and a dried root section
Trial safety data cover weeks, not years, of valerian use.

The short answer

NCCIH notes valerian appears safe for short periods, with headache, stomach upset, mental dullness and vivid dreams among the reported effects, while its long-term effects, including on the liver, are unknown. The EU monograph recognizes traditional use in adults and adolescents over 12 and advises seeking advice if sleep problems persist beyond two weeks. Persistent insomnia deserves evaluation rather than open-ended self-treatment.

Sources

  1. Valerian: Usefulness and SafetyNCCIH
  2. European Union herbal monograph on Valeriana officinalis L., radixEuropean Medicines Agency