BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
The botanical name and part used must match the profile; a photograph alone is not sufficient grounds for consuming a plant.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
01 · UNDERSTAND
Properties & uses.
Sleep and nervous tension
Well-established use of a specific ethanolic dry extract for mild nervous tension and sleep disorders.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
02 · UNDERSTAND THE ACTION
How does the plant act?
Valerian probably acts through several compounds and mechanisms; it cannot be reduced to one sedative molecule. The roots and other underground organs are the material studied. The EMA distinguishes a precisely defined ethanolic dry extract, with clinical data for mild nervous tension and sleep disorders, from other forms recognised on the basis of tradition. This framework does not mean that a herbal tea will produce the same effect as an extract.
Constituents to know.
Their presence and quantity depend on the plant part and preparation.
- Valerenic acids
- Sesquiterpenes studied in receptor modulation; their content does not account for all the activity of the extract.Read the reference
- Valepotriates
- Unstable compounds whose presence varies with preparation and storage; no single established clinical active ingredient.Read the reference
GABA inhibitory signaling
Cell experiments show interactions with GABAergic systems, which are involved in neural inhibition. Results vary with the extracts and do not prove a single mechanism in humans.
Read the referenceSleep and mild tension
Clinical results support a dry extract with a herbal substance/extract ratio of 3–7.4:1 obtained with 40–70% ethanol.
Read the referenceWhat this means for preparation.
The intended action may be gradual: the plant is not an immediate rescue treatment. Valerian medicines may impair the ability to drive or operate machinery, including in dry-extract form.
03 · EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Why the studied extract must be identified
- Type of research
- EMA assessment of clinical trials and their consistency.
- Preparation concerned
- Defined ethanolic dry extract of the underground organs.
- Observed results
- The data support the well-established use recognized for this preparation.
- Limitations to consider
- Sleep measurement methods and preparations differ; the results do not prove the efficacy of all powders, herbal teas or combinations.
What can we take from this?
Persistent insomnia can have several causes. The data in this profile do not demonstrate a treatment for severe anxiety disorders or equivalence with a hypnotic medicine; they do not justify improvised sedative combinations.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
04 · CHOOSE A PREPARATION
One plant, several preparations.
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
Dry extractUnderground organs · Route: oral
Defined ethanolic extract.
Please note: Results cannot be transferred to all extracts. Do not drive or use machinery.
Read the sourceHerbal teaUnderground organs · Route: oral
05 · BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications
- Allergy.
- Baths: avoid in cases of wounds, skin problems, high fever, infection or serious heart/circulatory disorders.
Medicine interactions
- No interaction described during the assessment; check other sedative products.
Adverse effects
- Nausea and abdominal cramps.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: medicinal use is not recommended due to insufficient data.
Children & adolescents
Not recommended under 12 years of age.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
06 · PUTTING KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE
Preparations & recipes.
A DOCUMENTED PREPARATION
Valerian root infusion — traditional sleep support
The infusion is a traditional preparation used to aid sleep. EMA’s well-established-use category applies to specified hydroalcoholic extracts, not to this herbal tea.
Plant part: Dried cut root
Ingredients & quantities
- 0.3–3 g dried cut root of Valeriana officinalis L.
- 150 ml boiling drinking water
Preparation steps
- Check the botanical name and plant part on a quality-controlled herbal tea; weigh the herb.
- Pour 150 ml boiling drinking water over the herb in a heatproof container.
- Steep for 5–15 minutes unless the product leaflet says otherwise. This is the EMA glossary’s general method; the monograph gives no preparation-specific time.
- Strain, then allow to cool to a comfortable temperature before drinking.
Use: Traditional EMA reference: one dose half to one hour before bedtime; the monograph mentions an earlier evening dose if needed. Follow the product leaflet. Seek advice if problems persist or worsen; do not transfer the 2–4-week course for particular extracts to this tea.
Storage: Prepare immediately before use, following the EMA glossary. The monograph provides no domestic storage period; do not prepare a stock batch.
Before you start. For adults aged 18+ in this collection. Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding because sufficient safety data are lacking. Contraindicated with valerian allergy. May impair alertness: do not drive or operate machinery if affected. Nausea and abdominal cramps are possible. Do not combine with sedative treatment on your own; ask a pharmacist. No interactions are reported in this monograph; this does not establish compatibility with medicines. Ask a pharmacist if you take medication.
07 · CHECK THE SOURCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — Valerianae radix: dossier and documentsAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Valerianae aetheroleum: dossier and documentsAccessed on 09/10/2026
- ANSES — precautions for herbal supplements, June 2023 tableAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — scientific assessment report: Valeriana officinalisAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Valeriana officinalis L., radix: monograph, preparation and precautionsAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Glossary on herbal teas: general methods, §4Accessed on 09/10/2026
Illustration: Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz — Otto Wilhelm Thomé (1885), via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.
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