Valerian

Research corpus coverage

Chemistry notes

• CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include valerenic acids; iridoids; volatile oil; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.

Traditional / historical use

Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.

• TRADITIONAL: Valerian has been used for insomnia; nervous tension; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.

  MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

Modern evidence

• EVIDENCE: For the major use set (insomnia; nervous tension), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Limited/mixed trials and systematic reviews for sleep; methodological quality is variable.

  MODERATE · systematic review/meta-analysis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

  Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.

Forms used traditionally

A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.

Cats & dogs

• Caution

  Overdose of valerian root used in calming treats may cause sedation, incoordination, decreased body temperature, and vomiting; agitation may occur with large exposures.

  Intrinsic toxicity · ORAL · calming treats containing valerian root · MODERATE · poison_control_database · Keep Calm: What to Do If Your Pet Gets into Calming Aids or Treats

• Caution

  Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) generally has a wide margin of safety, but ingestion of too much may cause unsteadiness, low body temperature, and sedation in pets.

  Intrinsic toxicity · OTHER · valerian root herbal supplement · HIGH · poison_control_database · Rest Easy: Getting the Facts on Pet Safety and Sleep Aids - ASPCA

Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)

Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.

• SAFETY: Major issues include Drowsiness; headache; rare liver injury reports. Contraindications/cautions include Avoid before activities requiring alertness.

  HIGH · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements

• SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Additive sedation with alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, antihistamines, and anesthetics.

  MODERATE · observational/case series and expert review · LiverTox: Herbal and Dietary Supplements

  Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.

• SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Insufficient pregnancy/lactation evidence.

  MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance

  Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.

• Overdose of valerian root used in calming treats may cause sedation, incoordination, decreased body temperature, and vomiting; agitation may occur with large exposures.

  MODERATE · poison_control_database · Keep Calm: What to Do If Your Pet Gets into Calming Aids or Treats

  The page spells the ingredient 'Valarian root,' refers to pets without distinguishing cats from dogs, and does not name a toxic constituent.

• Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) generally has a wide margin of safety, but ingestion of too much may cause unsteadiness, low body temperature, and sedation in pets.

  HIGH · poison_control_database · Rest Easy: Getting the Facts on Pet Safety and Sleep Aids - ASPCA

  The page refers to pets generally and does not provide separate cat- or dog-specific findings.

Taxonomic identity note

• Valerian is treated here as Valeriana officinalis L. in the family Caprifoliaceae; recorded older names include Valeriana exaltata Mikan.