special subjects
Valerian
Does valerian work?
Studies have suggested thatvalerianimproves sleep quality and shortens the time needed to fall asleep. For example, in one study, menopausal women with difficulty sleepinghad better sleep quality when takingvalerian. However, whethervalerianis effective for insomnia is still not proven. There is not enough scientific evidence to determine whethervalerianis effective for headaches, depression, irregular heartbeat, and trembling. There is now interest in studyingvalerianto treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, and onestudysuggests thatvalerianhas some effects that counteract obsessive and compulsive tendencies. 