Valerian History: From Greek and Roman Use to Sleep Trials
Valerian has been used medicinally since early Greece and Rome, but its sleep evidence is still weak. A 2017 guideline and two reviews do not support valerian for insomnia, and their safety findings differ.
The history of valerian starts in early Greece and Rome, and the evidence for its sleep use is still weak. That record runs from early use to the reviews that frame the question today. **Jump to:** [Ancient use](#what-the-greek-and-roman-record-shows), [Sleep reviews](#what-the-sleep-reviews-found), [Guideline](#what-the-sleep-guideline-says), [Disagreement](#why-the-results-disagree), [FAQ](#frequently-asked-questions), [Bottom line](#bottom-line) ## What the Greek and Roman record shows The [National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/valerian) says valerian has been used medicinally since the times of early Greece and Rome. It was historically used for insomnia, migraine, fatigue and stomach cramps. The roots and rhizomes are the parts used. NCCIH lists the Latin name as *Valeriana officinalis* and the common names valerian, all-heal and garden heliotrope. The plant is native to Europe and Asia and also grows in North America. The sources we could verify do not name the ancient writers who recorded it, so this page does not name them. ## What the sleep reviews found According to PubMed, the [2024 umbrella review](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.01.008) notes that valerian is one of the most used herbal agents for sleep disturbances, particularly sleep-onset difficulty in young adults. Two systematic reviews anchor the current picture. According to PubMed, [Leach and Page (2015)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2014.12.003) pooled 14 randomized trials with 1,602 people with insomnia, covering four herbs: valerian, chamomile, kava and wuling. No herb differed significantly from placebo or an active control on any of thirteen efficacy measures, and valerian was linked to more adverse events per person than placebo. According to PubMed, [Valente and colleagues (2024)](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.01.008) reviewed eight systematic reviews in an umbrella review. They found a good safety profile and no evidence of efficacy for insomnia. The apparent benefit was in subjective sleep quality, which they report had not been shown with quantitative or objective measurements. | Source | Year | Scope | Main finding | |---|---|---|---| | Leach and Page | 2015 | 14 randomized trials, 1,602 people, four herbs | No herb significantly different from placebo or active control; more adverse events per person with valerian than placebo | | AASM guideline (Sateia et al.) | 2017 | Drug treatment of chronic insomnia in adults | Suggests clinicians not use valerian, a weak recommendation | | Valente et al., umbrella review | 2024 | Eight systematic reviews | Good safety profile; no evidence of efficacy for insomnia; benefit only in subjective sleep quality | ## What the sleep guideline says The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's 2017 guideline on drug treatment for chronic insomnia in adults included valerian among the agents it assessed for that condition. [According to PubMed](https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6470), the guideline suggests that clinicians not use valerian for sleep-onset or sleep-maintenance insomnia. The comparison is with no treatment, the panel used the GRADE process to grade the evidence, and the recommendation is weak. The guideline also covers melatonin, which our [melatonin monograph](/ingredients/melatonin) examines separately. ## Why the results disagree Three features of the record stand out. The trials are heterogeneous, and the 2024 umbrella review describes their methodological quality as low. The outcomes differ: people report feeling better, but the 2024 review found that the benefit has not been shown with quantitative or objective measurements. The 2015 review pooled four different herbs, so one herb's result says little about the rest. For the wider sleep picture, see our [sleep and stress guide](/health/sleep-stress-complete-guide). ## Frequently asked questions ### Did ancient physicians write about valerian? [NCCIH](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/valerian) says valerian has been used medicinally since the times of early Greece and Rome, so the use is old and documented in general terms. We did not confirm any ancient author by name from a primary text, so this page does not name one. Readers who need a named source should check the primary texts directly, since the summaries we could reach do not give the chapter and passage a citation would need. ### What did the sleep reviews actually measure? The apparent benefit reported in the [2024 umbrella review](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.01.008) is subjective: how people rate their own sleep. That review reports that the effect had not been shown with quantitative or objective measurements. The [2015 review](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2014.12.003) pooled 14 trials of four herbs and found no herb significantly different from placebo on any of thirteen efficacy measures, and valerian carried more adverse events per person than placebo. ### Why do valerian trial results disagree? The [2024 umbrella review](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.01.008) calls the existing studies heterogeneous and of low methodological quality, and it asks for high-quality randomized trials. The outcome also matters: the apparent benefit shows up in subjective ratings and has not been shown with objective measures. The [2015 review](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2014.12.003) pooled four herbs, so one result says little about the rest. Those gaps are why the reviews keep asking for better trials. ### What does the AASM guideline recommend about valerian? The [2017 guideline](https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6470) suggests that clinicians not use valerian for sleep-onset or sleep-maintenance insomnia in adults, compared with no treatment. The recommendation is weak, which means the right choice can depend on the patient's circumstances and preferences. It is guidance for clinicians rather than a rule for buyers. Anyone with insomnia should discuss treatment options with their own practitioner before starting a product. ### Is valerian safe to take? [NCCIH](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/valerian) says valerian appears generally safe for short-term use by most adults, with apparent safety at 300 to 600 milligrams daily for up to six weeks, and its long-term safety is unknown. Reported side effects include headache, stomach upset and vivid dreams. Liver injury has been reported in very rare cases, most often with other herbal products. Valerian should not be taken with alcohol or sedatives, and little is known about use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. ### Is valerian regulated like a drug in the United States? No. [NCCIH](https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/valerian) notes that many herbal products taken by mouth are sold as dietary supplements, and these are not approved by the FDA before sale. Manufacturers are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products, and the FDA can act when public health concerns arise. We did not verify how other countries classify valerian, so this page does not describe them. For a practical guide to reading a label before you buy, including how third-party testing works, see our [supplement safety guide](/health/vitamin-d-complete-guide/supplement-safety-quality-testing-guide). ## Bottom line Valerian has a long documented use and a mixed modern record. The reviews found a reasonable safety profile in some analyses, but no proven benefit for insomnia. If you read a claim about valerian and sleep, check whether the study measured objective sleep or how people felt about their sleep. People were using the root in early Greece and Rome. The 2024 review found that its reported sleep benefit has not been shown with objective measurements. **Next reads** - [Sleep and stress guide](/health/sleep-stress-complete-guide): the wider evidence on sleep and the habits around it. - [Turmeric and Curcumin: From Eastern Texts to the Capsule](/blog/history/history-of-turmeric-and-curcumin-from-ayurveda-to-isolation): another herb's history, from texts to isolation. ### Related reading - [holy basil's history from temples to adaptogen](/blog/history/history-of-holy-basil-from-hindu-temples-to-adaptogen) - [melatonin's history from the pineal gland to sleep supplements](/blog/history/history-of-melatonin-from-pineal-gland-to-sleep-supplement)