Herbal supplements including Valeriana officinalis improve sleep quality in patients with anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
This narrative review found that herbal supplements such as Valeriana officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, and Withania somnifera demonstrated sedative effects and improvements in sleep quality in clinical studies. The review highlights that these benefits are accompanied by risks including excessive sedation and herb-drug interactions.
This article is automatically generated from the structured evidence profile behind the claim above. Scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical advice.
Herbal supplements including Valeriana officinalis improve sleep quality in patients with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 32/100 (low).
The Claim
Herbal supplements including Valeriana officinalis improve sleep quality in patients with anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
This conclusion is most relevant to: Patients with anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Efficacy and Safety of Herbal Supplements with Anxiolytic, Antidepressant, and Sedative Action: A Review of Clinical Data and Toxicological Risks. (Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Modulation of GABAergic pathways
- ▸Modulation of monoaminergic pathways
- ▸Regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
- ▸Sedative and anxiolytic effects leading to improved sleep quality
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Patients with anxiety, depression, and insomnia
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Narrative review design without systematic meta-analysis limits quantitative synthesis of effect sizes
- ▸Significant heterogeneity in study designs, dosages, and herbal preparations across included studies
Frequently Asked Questions
Which herbal supplements were found to improve sleep quality?▼
Valeriana officinalis, Passiflora incarnata, and Withania somnifera were among the supplements showing sedative effects and sleep quality improvements.
What are the main safety concerns with these herbal supplements?▼
Key risks include excessive sedation, cytochrome P450-mediated drug interactions, serotonin syndrome, and toxic effects from adulterated products such as hepatotoxicity and cardiovascular events.
How do these herbal supplements work to improve sleep?▼
Proposed mechanisms include modulation of GABAergic and monoaminergic pathways, serotonergic activity, and regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Should these supplements be used without medical supervision?▼
No, the review emphasizes that clinical monitoring is necessary due to potential herb-drug interactions and safety concerns, especially with over-the-counter use.
References
- 1.Căuș MN, Lupoae M, Chițescu CL. “Efficacy and Safety of Herbal Supplements with Anxiolytic, Antidepressant, and Sedative Action: A Review of Clinical Data and Toxicological Risks..” Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. PMID: 41901246 DOI: 10.3390/ph19030399