Valerian in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

Research suggests that valerian is generally safe for short-term use by most adults. It has been used with apparent safety in doses of 300 to 600 milligrams daily for up to 6 weeks. The safety of long-term use of valerian is unknown. Side effects of valerian include headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, excitability, uneasiness, and vivid dreams. Some may experience withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, irritability, heart disturbances, insomnia, and in rare cases, hallucinations, if stopped abruptly after chronic use. In very rare cases, liver injury was reported when taking valerian, most often in combination with other herbals; however, valerian’s long-term effect on liver function is unknown. Because it is possible (though not proven) that valerian might have a sleep-inducing effect, it should not be taken along with alcohol or sedatives. If you take any type of medicine, talk with your health care provider before using valerian or other herbal products; some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use valerian during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

Knowledge about valerian is limited because a relatively small amount of research has looked at valerian’s effects on various conditions. There is not enough evidence to determine whether valerian is useful for any health conditions.

What the research has found

The evidence on whether valerian is helpful for sleep problems is inconsistent. In its 2017 clinical practice guidelines, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommended against using valerian for chronic insomnia in adults. Three small studies suggest that valerian might be helpful for menopause symptoms, but there is not enough evidence to know for certain. There’s not enough evidence to allow any conclusions about whether valerian is helpful for anxiety, depression, premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), stress, or other conditions.

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.