Valerian has also been studied for menopausal and menstrual health.
One study observed improvements in the severity and frequency of hot flashes in menopausal and postmenopausal women who consumed valerian capsules (each containing 225 mg of valerian root) three times a day for eight weeks.[1] It’s worth noting that this study used a custom questionnaire to assess symptoms rather than a standardized test.
Additionally, valerian has been investigated for its antispasmodic properties. One RCT found that a 255 mg powder of valerian root, taken three times daily for 3 days from the first day of menstruation, reduced both pain severity and the occurrence of syncope (fainting) in young women with dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps).[2]
Valerian may also alleviate physical, emotional, and behavioral premenstrual symptoms, as was observed in one study using 630 mg of valerian root extract (taken twice daily in the last seven days of the menstrual cycle for three cycles).[3][4]
References
- ^Mirabi P, Mojab FThe effects of valerian root on hot flashes in menopausal womenIran J Pharm Res.(2013 Winter)
- ^Mirabi P, Dolatian M, Mojab F, Majd HAEffects of valerian on the severity and systemic manifestations of dysmenorrheaInt J Gynaecol Obstet.(2011 Dec)
- ^Shinjyo N, Waddell G, Green JValerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.J Evid Based Integr Med.(2020)
- ^Behboodi Moghadam Z, Rezaei E, Shirood Gholami R, Kheirkhah M, Haghani HThe effect of Valerian root extract on the severity of pre menstrual syndrome symptomsJ Tradit Complement Med.(2016 Jan 19)