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Valerian

Supplement botanical sleep
Aka: Valeriana officinalis, valerian root
Brands seen in Singapore: NOW Foods, Swanson Vitamins, Nutricost, Nature's Way, Nature's Answer
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Sold as a mild sleep aid · trial evidence is inconclusive
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Few adverse events reported in clinical trials
  • Side effects in trials also showed up on placebo
  • Trial doses sat around 400–900 mg of extract
Cons
  • Evidence for insomnia is inconclusive (NIH ODS)
  • 900 mg left some people sleepier the next morning
  • Additive effects with sedatives are possible
Sources
  1. NIH ODS — Valerian fact sheet (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Valerian is a common ingredient in products promoted as mild sedatives and sleep aids for nervous tension and insomnia … Evidence from clinical studies of the efficacy of valerian in treating sleep disorders such as insomnia is inconclusive.”
  2. NIH ODS — Valerian fact sheet (Health Professional), safety section · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Few adverse events attributable to valerian have been reported for clinical study participants. Headaches, dizziness, pruritus, and gastrointestinal disturbances are the most common effects reported in clinical trials but similar effects were also reported for the placebo.”
  3. NIH ODS — Valerian fact sheet (Health Professional), doses used in clinical studies · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “450 or 900 mg of an aqueous valerian extract … 600 mg of a standardized commercial preparation of dried valerian root … In one study an increase in sleepiness was noted the morning after 900 mg of valerian was taken.”
  4. NIH ODS — Valerian fact sheet (Health Professional), interactions and special populations · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Valerian might have additive therapeutic and adverse effects if taken with sedatives, other medications, or certain herbs … Women who are pregnant or nursing should not take valerian without medical advice … Children younger than 3 years old should not take valerian”
  5. HSA — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines, GL-CHPB-1-012 (Oct 2025), Annex A/B — searched, no row for this ingredient · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.”
  6. HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines (January 2026), clause 4.8 and Tables 4–5 (vitamins and minerals only) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “HS for use by the general adult population should not contain vitamins and minerals exceeding the stipulated limits stated in Tables 4 and 5.”
  7. iHerb Singapore — Supplements > Herbs > Valerian category page, default order (1 - 47 of 47 results); first 5 distinct brands: NOW Foods, Swanson Vitamins, Nutricost, Nature's Way, Nature's Answer · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “NOW Foods, Valerian Root, 500 mg, 250 Veg Capsules … Swanson Vitamins, Full Spectrum® Valerian, Chamomile & Hops … Nutricost, Valerian Root, 120 Capsules … Nature's Way, Valerian Root, 180 Vegan Capsules … Nature's Answer, Valerian Root Fluid Extract, Alcohol-Free”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.