Valerian Dosage: An Introduction
It is important to note that unlike medications, for which the standard doses have been well established, there is less information for determining the best dose for supplements, including
valerian.
What Is a Reasonable Valerian Dose?
Some information about valerian dosing can be obtained from clinical studies and from practical experience with the supplement. For
insomnia, doses of 300 mg to 900 mg of valerian extract are sometimes recommended. It is best to try it at night first, 30 minutes to two hours before bedtime. If you find that it does not work quickly enough for you, then you may try taking it a little earlier in the evening. There is some evidence that valerian may take a while -- sometimes as long as a month -- to start working in some people. There is not enough evidence to recommend a valerian dosage for any other use, such as for
anxiety.
Because there is little strong evidence to guide you in your choice of a valerian dosage, a good plan is to start with a reasonable dose and see how your body reacts to it. If you find that you are groggy in the morning and have trouble getting up, or if you are experiencing other
valerian side effects, you may need to try a lower dose. If it seems to be working a little, but not quite well enough, you may want to try a higher dose, but not more than that recommended on the label. A safe maximum valerian dose has not yet been established.
