Introduction:
Valerian, a pink or white flowering plant that is native to Europe, is used as a treatment for sleeplessness and anxiety. In herbal remedies, the plant’s root is made into a tea or extract to be used primarily as a sedative. Valerian may be comparable in efficacy compared to diphenhydramine (the anti-histamine otherwise known as Benadryl, marketed as a sleep aide and allergy medication found over-the-counter).
Valerian-hops vs. diphenhydramine for insomnia:
In a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study over 28 days, 184 people with mild insomnia were randomized to either (a) standardized combination of valerian (187-mg native extracts; 5-8:1, methanol 45% m/m) and hops (41.9-mg native extracts; 7-10:1, methanol 45% m/m) or (b) placebo for 28 days (n = 65), or (c) 2 tablets of diphenhydramine (25 mg) for 14 days followed by placebo for 14 days (n = 60). Researchers tested quite a few aspects of sleep (such as time to fall asleep, length of sleep, number of awakenings) and found evidence of benefit in only a few. Compared to placebo and diphenhydramine, valerian-hops reduced the time to fall asleep. In the first 14 days of treatment, diphenhydramine significantly increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time compared to placebo. Individuals in the groups taking valerian-hops or diphenhydramine reported lower insomnia severity compared to placebo at 14 days. Additionally, quality of life was significantly better for those on valerian-hops at the end of the study period. (1)
