title: [Valerian as a sleeping aid?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Valeriana is a herbal over-the-counter drug, in Norway mainly used for insomnia. It is estimated that in Norway only, annual sales of valeriana amount to NOK 20 m. With this considerable consumption in mind, we wanted to review the scientific basis for valeriana as a sleep aid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a literature search we identified 18 experimental studies examining the effects of valeriana on human sleep.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of studies reported positive effects of valeriana on subjective sleep parameters. Objective sleep measures yielded inconsistent results. All studies covered a short period of time. Few side effects of valeriana were reported. Only two studies compared valeriana to established hypnotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that valeriana may have some hypnotic effect. Long-term studies are clearly lacking, as well as studies comparing valeriana to well-established drug treatments for insomnia.
authors.affiliation: Institutt for samfunnspsykologi Universitetet i Bergen Christiesgate 12 5015 Bergen. staale.pallesen@psysp.uib.no
authors.forename: Ståle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pallesen
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bjorvatn
authors.forename: Inger Hilde
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Nordhus
authors.forename: Arvid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skjerve
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014632:Valerian
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D028321:Plant Preparations