By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    photo of hands with blue veins
    8 Proven Tips on Finding Difficult Veins
    November 12, 2021
    tips for getting over the pandemic blues
    4 Proven Ways to Get Over the Pandemic Blues
    February 22, 2022
    medical industry innovations
    How is CNC Machining Transforming the Medical Industry?
    June 2, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    July 31, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    comparative negligence
    Not Knowing About Comparative Negligence Can Worsen Your Medical Debt
    April 12, 2023
    racial disparities in healthcare
    Why We Need to Address Racial Disparities in Maternal Health Care
    August 26, 2021
    Enhancing Pharmaceutical Patient Compliance & Drug Efficacy
    February 12, 2024
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Using Valerian Root and Melatonin Together for Sleep Disorders
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > Using Valerian Root and Melatonin Together for Sleep Disorders
Global HealthcareHealth

Using Valerian Root and Melatonin Together for Sleep Disorders

Annie Qureshi
Annie Qureshi
Share
8 Min Read
Sleep Disorders
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - By Stock-Asso | stock photo ID: 1285836277
SHARE

Are you suffering from insomnia? This is a disorder that affects nearly 60 million Americans every year.

Contents
Understanding the Use of Valerian Root in InsomniaHow Do Valerian Root and Melatonin Interact Together?

There are a lot of different natural sleep aids to consider trying. Valerian root and melatonin are both remedies worth using to promote sleep.

Some people wonder whether you can use valerian root and melatonin together if you’re struggling with insomnia. Both sleep aids are safe and helpful alone. But do valerian root and melatonin interact with each other in negative ways?

We will cover a description on valerian root before talking about how it interacts with melatonin at the end of this post. You can always follow this informative health blog if you want to learn more as well.

More Read

VA claims decisions
Decoding VA Decisions to Get Treatment for Serious Illnesses
Global Trend in Bariatric Surgery
How to Choose the Right Medicare Supplement Plan
How To Help Japan: Earthquake Relief Options
Ten Effective Strategies for Avoiding Mosquito Health Risks

Understanding the Use of Valerian Root in Insomnia

Insomnia is a cause of distress and health problems for many adults, and it also worsens with age. Sufferers describe it as a feeling of dissatisfaction due to difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep or a short duration of sleep that’s not restful and doesn’t allow them to be well rested the next day. In some people, insomnia is related to the intensity of the stress they experience on a daily basis. In older people, the deep sleep phase, called the slow-wave phase, which is the most restorative phase, may be diminished or even disappear. Insomnia is considered chronic when it persists for more than six months. Some plants act as natural relaxants due to their composition, so they’re helpful for people suffering from insomnia.

Traditionally, herbal remedies, known in many countries as natural medicine, have been used to treat insomnia or sleep disturbances, thanks to their sedative properties. Valerian could be a good alternative in these cases. It has a moderate effect as a sleep inducer, without altering its structure. It has many properties that are similar to melatonin.

A prolonged treatment with valerian, a natural relaxant, is recommended, since its effectiveness tends to increase after two weeks. Valerian acts both in the induction of sleep, i.e., at the beginning and in the quality of sleep, increasing its duration and increasing the most restorative phase, which is the slow wave phase.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), traditionally used for its tranquilizing, relaxing and sleep-inducing action, is a plant that acts as a sedative agent, relaxing the nervous system and the brain, so it’s often recommended to treat sleep disorders or to relieve stress and anxiety. Its sedative effects are due to the acids and antioxidants in its root. Valerianic acid increases the amount of GABA* in our brain (main neurotransmitter that inhibits the central nervous system) and some antioxidants, such as hesperidin and linarin, contain sedative properties that help provide a state of relaxation and well-being.

This is one of the benefits that valerian root provides that melatonin does not. Melatonin isn’t highly effective as an anti-anxiety medication or relaxant. Instead, melatonin is a hormone that helps facilitate sleep. Therefore, it’s understandable why melatonin and valerian root could be useful together.

*GABA is a neurotransmitter that decreases nervous activity in the brain, causing relaxation and calmness. Low levels of this neurotransmitter can lead to sleep disturbances or anxiety.

Clinical studies conducted to evaluate the efficacy of valerian as a sleep inducer have shown that it promotes sleep onset and sleep quality. In addition, studies have been conducted in humans, which also demonstrate the anxiolytic and sedative action of valerian, which would help improve sleep disorders.

Plants with medicinal properties can be used alone, but in association, they have a synergistic and complementary action that enhances the results. This is the case of valerian, passionflower and California poppy, three plants that are natural relaxants whose indication for the relief of states of mild anxiety, nervousness, and sleep disorders has been corroborated after years of use and studies. Hence, the usefulness of phytotherapy, based on medicinal plants that not only act as sleep inducers, but also have sedative action.

Stress and anxiety are some of the factors that often precipitate sleep disorders. At the same time, insomnia has been shown to cause states of anxiety during the day, creating a vicious circle. Numerous studies have confirmed that adequate rest helps strengthen our body’s immune system and keeps our blood pressure under control. Some food supplements based on plant extracts for natural relaxation don’t cause dependence or drowsiness during the day.

Therefore, in those cases involving stress, nervousness, anxiety and/or mild/moderate insomnia, it would be practical to resort to treatments of more natural origin, such as phytotherapy, to alleviate symptoms and physiological disorders associated with situations of anxiety and/or sleep disorders. The role of the pharmacist as prescriber is crucial in the recommendation and management of these treatments.

How Do Valerian Root and Melatonin Interact Together?

It’s important to know how melatonin and valerian root interact with each other before using them. According to Drugs.com, there don’t appear to be any negative interactions between the two.

However, this doesn’t mean that it’s always best to take valerian root and melatonin together. You should always talk to your doctor first.

Although many people swear by the effectiveness of these sleep aids, it would be best to take things one step at a time and determine whether you’re having a restful sleep. For instance, snoring affects the quality of your sleep, causing irritability and daytime fatigue. So, if you tend to snore at night or you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), you can try using an oral appliance, such as an anti snoring mouth guard by VitalSleep. 

Replacing your bed and lights and changing your bedtime habits are also effective solutions you can use to sleep better. One change you can add is to develop regular bedtime rituals. For example, you can read a book, listen to your favorite music, or meditate before going to bed. Doing a pre-sleep activity will help you relax. Once you feel at ease, your body will know when it’s time to sleep. Using an air diffuser to fill your room with an essential oil like lavender is a method you’ll find soothing as well. 

Another good habit to follow is to avoid coffee and electronics. Since caffeine is a stimulant, drinking coffee will only lead to a restless sleep. Watching TV or using your gadgets, such as your laptop or phone, will make it harder for you to fall asleep and wake up the next day because blue light produced by electronics limits the production of melatonin.

Once you adopt healthy sleep habits, you’ll get better sleep and wake up refreshed.

TAGGED:sleep disorders
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025

You Might also Like

MRI sedation options
Global Healthcare

MRI Sedation Options: What You Should Know Before Screening

May 17, 2023
Chinese citizens practicing Tai Chi in the park
Global Healthcare

Passage to China: My View of an Evolving Healthcare System

July 25, 2012

Health Technology Assessment in the Americas

November 7, 2012

Strong Need for Vaccination in Low and Middle Income Countries

May 16, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?