Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The main positive finding for valerian came from six trials that showed signs of publication bias — is it worth my trying it, or should we go straight to something with better evidence for my insomnia?
Top of the evidence hierarchy, independently funded. how we score evidence
Caveat on this rating: The high trust score reflects the quality of this meta-analysis as a piece of evidence synthesis, not the strength of the effect it found. The pooled benefit rests on a subjective, dichotomised outcome in six trials with demonstrated publication bias, and the authors' own conclusion is the hedged "valerian might improve sleep quality," followed by a call for better studies. Twenty years on, those studies have largely not materialised.
Valerian is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement under DSHEA, so it needs no FDA review of efficacy, safety, or potency before sale, and it has never been FDA-approved to treat insomnia, anxiety, or anything else.
Sixteen randomised placebo-controlled trials in 1,093 patients produced one pooled estimate: among the six trials that reported sleep quality as improved-or-not, people taking valerian were more likely to report improvement (relative risk 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.9). The authors immediately qualify it — most of the trials had significant methodological problems, doses and preparations varied considerably, and there was evidence of publication bias in that very summary measure, meaning negative trials are likely missing from the literature.
Worth asking
The main positive finding for valerian came from six trials that showed signs of publication bias — is it worth my trying it, or should we go straight to something with better evidence for my insomnia?
Source
Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Bent S, Padula A, Moore D, Patterson M, Mehling W. (2006)
Reputable peer-reviewed journal
Read the source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.02.026
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.02.026
How this was scored
- Study design
- Meta-analysis of randomised trials
- Funding
- Independently funded
- Published in
- Reputable peer-reviewed journal
- Sample size
- 1,093
- Preregistered
- No
- Conflicts disclosed
- No
- Independent of proponent
- Yes
- Retracted
- No
Read the full scoring rubric, including what it can't tell you.
Published August 19, 2026.
Questions
How strong is the evidence behind this?
Resolv rates this source "gold standard". Top of the evidence hierarchy, independently funded. It scores 85 out of 100 on our published rubric. One caveat travels with that badge: The high trust score reflects the quality of this meta-analysis as a piece of evidence synthesis, not the strength of the effect it found. The pooled benefit rests on a subjective, dichotomised outcome in six trials with demonstrated publication bias, and the authors' own conclusion is the hedged "valerian might improve sleep quality," followed by a call for better studies. Twenty years on, those studies have largely not materialised. The score is calculated from recorded facts about the source — study design, funding, publication venue, sample size, preregistration — not typed in by an editor.
What is the source for this?
Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Bent S, Padula A, Moore D, Patterson M, Mehling W. (2006). Published in: Reputable peer-reviewed journal. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2006.02.026. The full source is linked on this page so you can read it yourself.
Who paid for this research, and does that matter?
Study design: Meta-analysis of randomised trials. Funding: Independently funded. The researchers were independent of whoever benefits from the result. Industry sponsorship is one of the most reliably measured biases in medicine, which is why funding carries real weight in the score rather than sitting in a footnote.
Is valerian, valeriana officinalis, valerian root, all-heal, garden heliotrope, setwall, li 156, sedonium FDA approved for this use?
No. Its current status is: Not FDA-evaluated for this use. Valerian is sold in the United States as a dietary supplement under DSHEA, so it needs no FDA review of efficacy, safety, or potency before sale, and it has never been FDA-approved to treat insomnia, anxiety, or anything else.
Is this medical advice?
This is information to bring to your prescriber, not medical advice and not a reason to change anything on your own. Nothing here is an instruction to stop or reduce a medication. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
This is information to bring to your prescriber, not medical advice and not a reason to change anything on your own. Nothing here is an instruction to stop or reduce a medication. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.