← Back to Directory

Valerian Root

Valeriana officinalis, Garden Heliotrope

Visual ViewRaw DataInteraction Data

Meta Information

ID:valerian-root
Name:Valerian Root
Schema Version:1.5

Alternate Names

  • Valeriana officinalis
  • Garden Heliotrope

Intervention Type

therapeutic_agent

Expected Cost Mean

Low Cost:
10
High Cost:
25
Cost Type:
monthly
Description:
Widely available over-the-counter herbal supplement for sleep.

Summary

Valerian root is an herbal supplement thought to promote sleep and reduce anxiety by modulating the neurotransmitter GABA. Its primary relevance to healthspan is indirect; by potentially improving sleep quality, it supports foundational processes like cellular repair, glymphatic clearance, and hormonal regulation, which are critical for long-term brain and metabolic health.

Purpose

An herbal supplement used to improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety.

Card Summary

An herbal supplement that may improve sleep quality by increasing GABA, indirectly supporting cellular repair.

Drug Class

Drugs In Class

Empty Array

Impact

Score:
4.2
Justification:
Indirectly supports healthspan by improving sleep quality, a key recovery process.

Evidence

Grade:
B
Score:
5.5
Justification:
Multiple human trials and meta-analyses exist, but results are inconsistent and modest.

Safety

Score:
3
Justification:
Generally recognized as safe for short-term use with mild, infrequent side effects.

Flags

  • May interact with sedatives, alcohol, and other CNS depressants.
  • Long-term safety data beyond a few months is limited.
  • Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to lack of safety data.
  • May cause mild side effects like headache, dizziness, or stomach upset.

Verdict

A low-risk, low-cost option for mild sleep issues; evidence is mixed.

Created

2026-04-26T17:44:41.040864Z

Model

Gemini 3.1 Pro (High)

Delivery

Route:
oral
Scope:
  • systemic

Indication

Focus:
healthspan
Description:
Valerian root is an herbal supplement thought to promote sleep and reduce anxiety by modulating the neurotransmitter GABA. Its primary relevance to healthspan is indirect; by potentially improving sle...

Typical Protocol

  • Take 300-600 mg of standardized extract containing 0.8% valerenic acid 30-120 minutes before bedtime.