One of the problems with anxiety and depression is that they can often impair sleep. This In turn can then cause the symptoms of the conditions to worsen, or produce a range of other symptoms that can further prevent the individual from leading a normal life. Using natural remedies to induce sleep may therefore be particularly beneficial for the treatment of both anxiety and depression. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a herb that has been traditionally regarded as a hypnotic and a sedative, and in this regard its use dates back to ancient civilisations, at least to Roman and Greek times. A number of studies have investigated the effects of valerian on sleep and generally mild sleep inducing effects have been reported. For example in one review study, researchers investigated the effects of valerian root on the sleep quality on patients with insomnia. The results showed that valerian did have a significant benefit on the quality of sleep in the insomniacs and that these effects were present without side effects.
Valerian appears to be an effective natural remedy for improving sleep quality. Valerian shows a good safety record and is well tolerated. In comparison with some hypnotic drugs, valerian shows similar effects, but with the benefit of having fewer side effects.
In another study, researchers assessed the effects of an aqueous extract of valerian root on sleep in healthy subjects. The subjects reported better quality sleep with the valerian root compared to without it, in both self reporting questionnaires and through night time motor activity recordings. There was a dose dependent effect for the valerian root extract. In another study, researchers compared the effects of a valerian root extract with the benzodiazepine drug oxazepam in patients with insomnia. Both valerian and oxazepam both improved sleep quality compared to the baseline as determined by a number of sleep assessment scales. However fewer individuals reported adverse effects in the valerian group, and all were rated as mild to moderate in severity. In a randomised double blind controlled trial, valerian root was shown to improve sleep structure and sleep perception in patients with insomnia. The authors commented on the very low number of side effect reported through use of valerian by the subjects.
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