SynthesisThe American journal of medicine2006
Valerian for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in The American journal of medicine, 2006. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 83 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
83 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Identifying complementary and alternative medicine recommendations for insomnia treatment and care: a systematic review and critical assessment of comprehensive clinical practice guidelines.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- Efficacy and safety of non-benzodiazepine and non-Z-drug hypnotic medication for insomnia in older people: a systematic literature review.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2020Pooled it
- Non-pharmacological interventions for sleep promotion in the intensive care unit.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015Pooled it
- [Insomnias. II. Pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment options].Der Nervenarzt · 2009Pooled it
- Clinical guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic insomnia in adults.Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2008Guideline
- Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of evidence-based integrative medicinePooled it
- Efficacy and Tolerability of a Chemically CharacterizedNutrients · 2025Trial
- Standardized Extract of Valeriana officinalis Improves Overall Sleep Quality in Human Subjects with Sleep Complaints: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study.Advances in therapy · 2024Trial
- Rice bran extract supplement improves sleep efficiency and sleep onset in adults with sleep disturbance: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, polysomnographic study.Scientific reports · 2019Trial
- A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Clinical Study of the Effects of Alpha-s1 Casein Hydrolysate on Sleep Disturbance.Nutrients · 2019Trial
- Can Valeriana officinalis root extract prevent early postoperative cognitive dysfunction after CABG surgery? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Psychopharmacology · 2015Trial
- A dietary supplement to improve the quality of sleep: a randomized placebo controlled trial.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2010Trial
- A randomized clinical trial of valerian fails to improve self-reported, polysomnographic, and actigraphic sleep in older women with insomnia.Sleep medicine · 2009Trial
- Trial
- Efficacy and safety of a polyherbal sedative-hypnotic formulation NSF-3 in primary insomnia in comparison to zolpidem: a randomized controlled trial.Indian journal of pharmacologyTrial
- Tilia Tomentosa promotes sleep, preserving sleep structure.Npj biological timing and sleep · 2026Article
- Dietary Protocols to Promote and Improve Restful Sleep: A Narrative Review.Nutrition reviews · 2026Review
- Targeting Gut Dysbiosis and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Deficiency in Chronic Eczema: A Case Report.Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.) · 2026Article
- Medicinal Plants for Major Depressive Disorder.Brain sciences · 2026Review
- Nutritional Interventions for Enhancing Sleep Quality: The Role of Diet and Key Nutrients in Regulating Sleep Patterns and Disorders.Food science & nutrition · 2025Review
23 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Insomnia affects approximately one-third of the adult population and contributes to increased rates of absenteeism, health care use, and social disability. Extracts of the roots of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) are widely used for inducing sleep and improving sleep quality. A systematic review of randomized, placebo-controlled trials of valerian for improving sleep quality is presented. An extensive literature search identified 16 eligible studies examining a total of 1093 patients. Most studies had significant methodologic problems, and the valerian doses, preparations, and length of treatment varied considerably. A dichotomous outcome of sleep quality (improved or not) was reported by 6 studies and showed a statistically significant benefit (relative risk of improved sleep = 1.8, 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.9), but there was evidence of publication bias in this summary measure. The available evidence suggests that valerian might improve sleep quality without producing side effects. Future studies should assess a range of doses of standardized preparations of valerian and include standard measures of sleep quality and safety.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.