Does valerian work for insomnia? An umbrella review of the evidence.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Umbrella review synthesizing systematic reviews and meta-analyses
PubMed 38359657 · doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.01.008
What was done
An umbrella review evaluated the efficacy and safety of valerian for sleep disturbances, specifically insomnia. Systematic searches across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PROSPERO, and CNKI retrieved 70 records, from which 8 systematic reviews (with or without meta-analyses) were included for qualitative analysis.
What was found
No quantitative effect sizes or numerical statistics were reported in the abstract. Qualitatively, valerian showed a good safety profile and appeared effective for subjective improvement of sleep quality. However, there was no evidence of efficacy for insomnia treatment when evaluated by quantitative or objective measurements.
Why it matters
Despite frequent prescription and use as a sleep aid, valerian lacks empirical evidence supporting objective efficacy in insomnia, highlighting a disconnect between clinical practice and the evidence base.
Limits
The abstract provides no numerical data. The underlying evidence base synthesized across the 8 included systematic reviews consists of scarce studies with low methodological quality, substantial heterogeneity, and a lack of objective measurements.
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