Valerian and Pregnancy: An Overview
Valerian is an herbal supplement. It is most often used to treat
insomnia, but it is supposedly useful for treating other conditions as well. As with most supplements, it is not known if valerian is safe for use during pregnancy.
Is Valerian Safe for Pregnant Women?
There are no reliable studies that show valerian is either safe or unsafe for use during pregnancy, because the supplement has not been adequately studied in any pregnant women or animals.
Many women try to avoid medications during pregnancy and turn to herbal remedies as an alternative, assuming that "natural" automatically means "safe." However, natural products can be quite toxic. For instance, many poisons and toxins are natural products. It just does not make sense to use an herbal supplement for which there is no information available about its safety during pregnancy.
Keep in mind that just because other pregnant women have used a natural product without any problems, it does not mean that it is safe. It takes a large group of pregnant women taking a particular medication or herb to see if it increases the risk of problems, such as miscarriages or birth defects, as these problems usually occur infrequently.
Valerian and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts
If you are pregnant, it is always a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any medication or supplement. You and your healthcare provider can consider the possible risks and benefits of using valerian in your particular situation, as well as any other treatment alternatives. Your healthcare provider is also a good resource on safe ways of treating insomnia during pregnancy.
