As we’ve said before, the scientific community is split when it comes to declaring whether valerian cures insomnia. Over time, this may change as new research is undetaken. Until then, nobody really knows how effective the herb is when it comes to overcoming your sleep deprivation.
One recent study however, gives valerian the thumbs up for menopausal women. Researchers in Iran gave 50 menopausal insomniacs two valerian tablets every day for a month. Another 50 were given two placebo tablets every day for a month.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that 30% of women given the valerian tablets saw an improvement in the quality of their sleep. Only 4% of the women given the placebo reported improved sleep.
Just remember, this is only a small study and it looked solely at the effects of valerian over the course of a single month for menopausal women. That being said, it’s always encouraging seeing more studies looking at the effects of valerian.
Source: Menopause
As always, there's more information and advice in our insomnia support forum.
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Valium is synthesized valerian. I’m told that the tinctures or other preparations, ohter than pills or capsules) of valerian taste really foul.
Those things can indeed put you to sleep. Due to an assault, my senior year roomie was taking valium afterwards. At first, she was taking one pill of the lowest dosage, but within thwo days, she started cutting back until she was only taking a 1/4 pill a day, and even that was leaving her groggy or asleep. Two weeks out, she decided she needed clarity of mind more than she needed a tranquilizer.
Meanwhile, our bodies began to fall in sync in response to the valium–even if I didn’t know she’d dropped off into a nap, I was falling asleep about the same time. I’ve never taken valium, partly because of that.
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