{"entity":{"id":"valerian-root","kind":"technology","name":"Valerian root","aka":[],"tldr":"Valerian is a root sold to help sleep and calm nerves. In trials its effect on sleep was no better than a dummy pill, and a study in people with cancer found it did not improve sleep. It can cause drowsiness and has been linked to liver injury in case reports, so it should be stopped a week before surgery.","summary":"Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root extracts and teas are sold for calm and sleep. Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs summary reports some clinical improvements in anxiety and sleep quality, but sleep-inducing effects were not superior to placebo in several trials and valerian failed to improve sleep in a study of cancer patients; reviews judge the evidence for anxiety insufficient. Compounds from valerian were cytotoxic to cancer cells in the laboratory, while a case-control study associated valerian use with early-onset colorectal cancer; no clinical trial has tested either. MSK advises stopping valerian at least a week before surgery because of possible interaction with anaesthesia, not driving after taking it, avoiding it in liver or pancreatic disease because of hepatotoxicity case reports and a possible link with acute pancreatitis, and warns that abrupt withdrawal after dependency may resemble benzodiazepine withdrawal. It may add to the effects of benzodiazepines and barbiturates. For insomnia during and after cancer, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia is the evidence-based first step.","status":"phase-2","asOf":"2026-11-04","links":[{"label":"MSK About Herbs: Valerian (page last updated 21 November 2023)","url":"https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/valerian"}],"tags":["complementary","supportive-care","evidence:insufficient"],"related":["kava-kava","chamomile","lavender"],"cancers":[],"sections":["supportive-care"],"technologies":["integrative-oncology","dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions","cbt-insomnia-cancer"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":["b-toxicity-qol"],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"principle":"Valerenic acid and related compounds modulate GABA-A receptors, which is the proposed basis of its sedative effect.","strengths":["Mostly mild side effects in trials"],"limitations":["No better than placebo for sleep in several trials, including one in cancer","Liver injury and pancreatitis case reports","Interacts with sedatives and anaesthesia"]},"route":"/technologies/valerian-root/","neighbours":{"technology":[{"id":"chamomile","kind":"technology","name":"Chamomile","route":"/technologies/chamomile/"},{"id":"cbt-insomnia-cancer","kind":"technology","name":"Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)","route":"/technologies/cbt-insomnia-cancer/"},{"id":"dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions","kind":"technology","name":"Dietary supplements during cancer treatment: interactions and harms","route":"/technologies/dietary-supplements-treatment-interactions/"},{"id":"integrative-oncology","kind":"technology","name":"Evidence-based integrative oncology","route":"/technologies/integrative-oncology/"},{"id":"kava-kava","kind":"technology","name":"Kava","route":"/technologies/kava-kava/"},{"id":"lavender","kind":"technology","name":"Lavender (oral and aromatherapy)","route":"/technologies/lavender/"}],"section":[{"id":"supportive-care","kind":"section","name":"Supportive Care & Survivorship","route":"/fronts/supportive-care/"}],"bottleneck":[{"id":"b-toxicity-qol","kind":"bottleneck","name":"Toxicity and quality of life are undervalued","route":"/bottlenecks/b-toxicity-qol/"}]}}