User Reviews for valerian

I have been taking Valerian root capsules intermittently for many years for mild to moderate anxiety, stress and insomnia. I usually take two 400mg capsules. Sometimes I take this for a few days to a week in a row but not longer. Sometimes I take it with alcohol. I find it effective in reducing or eliminating mild anxiety or stress and reducing moderate anxiety making it tolerable. More serious stress or anxiety usually requires a stronger (Rx) med. I would compare the 900mg of Valerian to 2.5 - 5 mg of Valium or Librium. I am a daily drinker and take Lipitor (burden on liver) but have not noted any side effects or untoward effects of the Valerian (even with alcohol). Valerian gets me in the mood for sleep and often helps me drop off but it does not usually put me to sleep. I can function quite well while taking Valerian. It is a wonderful substance. Read More Read Less

After trial and error (I had been taking different things to sleep at the same time sometimes) I tried solely Valerian Root, at the recommended dose on bottle (2,100mg) (I had been taking half that with a unisom, or sometimes half a Valium, and always magnesium, and sometimes prescribed vistaril instead of unisom antihistamine) and BAM I realized why I felt like such crap in the morning - headache, hungover effect, depressed a bit even...this is no joke pill even though it's natural. The nights I didn't take it I felt so much better and now I know why. I advise caution. One star for ease of use because of hideous odor.Read More Read Less

Do not listen to the idiot that wrote the description of this drug. it does not cause anxiety, or any other said symptoms, unless you are already a hypochondriac and think you took too much, and then it's just your own brain playing tricks on you. Please rewrite.

It helps me a great deal with anxiety. I take 1 and it calms me. I also use it for insomnia. It works for me.

Helps me more compared to Lexapro, Celexa, Xanax, Vistaril, etc. without negative side effects. Only side effect experienced is tiredness, which is manageable compared to suicidal tendencies caused by other medications.

It is very effective on me, when i drink a valerian tea before going to sleep, when i wake up in the morning, i feel like i had an heavy sleep but a good one, you know like the nights you got in holidays when all your stress goes away and you sleep like a baby.

As I cannot take pharmeceutical sleeping piills, I find valerian a great substitute and now enjoy a much better night's sleep than formerly.

Both I and my husband have taken it for insomnia with 2 very different results. When my husband takes it, he feels relaxed and sleepy within 15 minutes, such that it would not be safe for him to drive after taking any. When I take it, I am sleepless and anxious; anxiety is not normal for me. So while I do recommend it, I also caution people to try it on a night when a full night's sleep is not a necessity. You may experience a relaxing effect, as my husband does, or you may experience the negative side effects, as I do. I just wanted everyone to know that it is an herbal remedy helpful to many, but not all.Read More Read Less

Guaranteed to knock you on your ass if you take with warm milk. Prepare for extremely vivid/lucid dreams. Sometimes it can bring on frightening nightmares, so if you're willing to risk some messed up dreams over sleep quality, that choice is up to you. An excellent pill for anxiety, insomnia, aiding withdrawal from alcohol... They call it "nature's tranquilizer" for a reason!

Guaranteed to knock you on your ass if you take with warm milk. Prepare for extremely vivid/lucid dreams. Sometimes it can bring on frightening nightmares, so if you're willing to risk some messed up dreams over sleep quality, that choice is up to you. An excellent pill for anxiety, insomnia, aiding withdrawal from alcohol... They call it "nature's tranquilizer" for a reason!

I've recently decided to quit smoking after many years! I already have a problem with anxiety and the attacks worsen whenever I try to quit, which consequently, causes me to give up on quitting. I decided this time to try using Valerian Root to help reduce the severity of the attacks. From one day to the next, I have been able to cut back from a half a pack to 4 cigarettes for the entire day with minimum discomfort. I do feel a bit tired but it's helping me to reach my goals while still being able to function at work. Read More Read Less

Since taking Valerian, I feel that the quality of my sleep has improved dramatically. I wake up feeling refreshed and rested. One thing: I have had some very weird dreams -- not scary, but more vivid. I take a low dose: 500 mg about an hour or so before I want to fall asleep. I am glad that my naturopathist recommended this product; it has been very effective for me.

I was wide awake 5-6 times during the night the first time I tried it.

At first it did work well, the past two times I have taken it it has caused really bad anxiety, and psychosis, and severely aggravated OCD I already had.

After increasing my dose to 2120 mg, I experienced a worse than usual episode of vocalizing and acting out while dreaming. I have this problem anyway but it was the worst night I've had according to my gf.

I make a large cup of tea if I cannot fall off to sleep. this usually makes the difference and I sleep well

I discovered Valerian root several years ago and it is the most effective sleep aid that I have ever used. One benefit is that it doesn't leave me with the hangover that many of the other sleep aids do. For me, it's much more effective than the 'Mega Priced' prescription drugs that are available, I buy a bottle of 100 capsules at Walmart for under $4 which lasts me about 6 weeks. I also like the fact that unlike many of the prescriptions that are available I have never developed any dependency on this all natural product. Read More Read Less

I have used valerian for years to help me to sleep with pain. It works very well, in making sure that I don't wake up in pain in the middle of the night I also gave 1/4 tablets to my cat for her epilepsy, and it worked well, and she was less drowsy than she had been on diazepam.

Recommended by my Dr. to use with melatonin as a sleep aide. The melatonin was too much and have been using Valerian only and was surprised to find that it keeps anxiety at bay so that I am able to fall asleep easily and upon waking in the morning, no anxiety. I love it.