Calming herbs
Passionflower
4.0 (19 owner comments)
Taste & formCalming effect
“A mix of magnesium glycinate, Ltheanine and passion flower has helped me the most in terms of supplements.”
What owners report →Medical disclaimer: CalmVerdict summarizes what people say about supplements on Reddit. It is not medical advice, and nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement, especially if you take an antidepressant or other medicine, are pregnant, or have a medical condition. Do not stop or change prescribed medicine on your own. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (US) or your local emergency number. Full disclaimer.
Calming herbs · capsules or tea
Valerian root: What People With Stress, Anxiety or Low Mood Report on Reddit
Illustration, not a product photo.
Valeriana officinalis root, usually taken before bed.
3.4 CalmVerdict score
30 owner comments (17 with a clear rating) from r/insomnia, r/Anxiety, r/sleep, r/Supplements, r/Nootropics, r/Stress, May 2026 to October 2026. Top 63% of the 24 ranked supplements.
Owner sentiment3.6
Recommendations1.0
Tolerability4.5
ValueNot rated
Value: Not rated. The example products differ too much in dose to compare cost fairly. How we score.
The short version
Valerian root is rated about average among the supplements we track: 3.4/5. Of 17 rated owner comments, 12 were positive, 4 mixed and 1 negative; 2 mention an unwanted effect. People talk most about taste & form and calming effect.
Reddit comments are self-reported and unverified. They tell you what people noticed, not whether a supplement works or is safe for you.
Here is how the calming herbs differ in owner reports. Read which calming supplements need extra caution first. People also compare supplements for panic attacks on Reddit.
More on Valerian
What it is
- Valerian root is promoted for sleep, anxiety and stress. NCCIH says there is not enough evidence to know whether it helps anxiety, and a Cochrane review found too few trials to draw conclusions.[NCCIH][PubMed]
Safety and interactions
- Reported side effects include headache, stomach upset, mental dullness and vivid dreams. Do not combine with alcohol or sedatives; rare liver injury has been reported, mostly with herbal combinations.[NCCIH]
Supplements can interact with medicines. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you are pregnant, take prescription medicine, or have red-flag symptoms. See supplement safety and interactions.
Reports by concern
| Context | Rated owner comments | Positive | Negative | Unwanted effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety & worry | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Panic attacks | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Everyday stress | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What Reddit owners say
Commonly praised
- Calming effect: 4 owner comments
- Taste & form: 3 owner comments
- Falling asleep: 1 owner comment
Common complaints
- Side effects: 2 owner comments
- Cost: 1 owner comment
4/5 Taste & form“I started taking valeriana root pills daily and I never had panic attacks again.”
4/5“Separately, I'm taking small amounts of valerian root through the day (2 x 26mg twice a day after meals) to help with stress.”
4/5 Taste & form“I started taking valerian root pills (it's natural and not addictive), drinking more camomila tea, exercising and I stopped having them.”
2/5 Cost“Its valerian extract. You can get it cheaper and try it, for me personally it did nothing.”
+10 more owner comments
3/5 Taste & formStopped working“What actually helped my body get out of fight or flight mode after 3 years of near constant high levels of stress was an evening routine of washing my face, brushing teeth, drinking lavender tea with valerian, putting on a sound bath, and…”
4/5 Calming effect“I take Valerian and Magnesium which makes me super relaxed yet my body does everything in it's power to resist sleep.”
4/5“I took valerian root to curb the anxiety two days ago and that seems to be helping so far… we'll see.”
4/5 Calming effect“Valerian has a definite calming effect on me.”
4/5“I used to take valerian root when I felt a panic attack coming on.”
3/5 GrogginessSide effects“I take valerian before bed but a WAY weaker dose (am in the UK it's Kalms Day I take) - it's 2 tablets of an extract which is equivalent to 104-130mg.”
4/5“Try Valerian Root, it is known for anxiety and insomnia relief and has helped me a lot.”
3/5 GrogginessSide effects“I will say some things that have sometimes helped me before when waking up at odd hours before pregnancy (that were not overly sedating if you are worried about being groggy if baby wakes up) — chamomile tea with honey, L-theanine, valerian root.”
4/5“I take valerian root 2.4 grams, at night.”
3/5 Calming effect“I like valerian root better. Smells awful but genuinely relaxes me.”
Example products
These are examples of Valerian root products sold on Amazon. They are not ranked by Reddit and the score above is for the ingredient, not a specific product. Check the label for dose and other ingredients.
Example product · not Reddit-scored
NOW Supplements, Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) 500 mg, 100 Veg Caps
Price varies; check Amazon for the current price.
Example product · not Reddit-scored
Gaia Herbs Valerian Root, 60 Vegan Capsules, 30 Servings
Price varies; check Amazon for the current price.
Example product · not Reddit-scored
Nutricost Valerian Root Extract, 120 Capsules
Price varies; check Amazon for the current price.
Research to read
Published studies (we list them so you can read the evidence yourself; inclusion is not an endorsement):
- Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006: Valerian for anxiety disorders.
- J Evid Based Integr Med 2020: Valerian Root in Treating Sleep Problems and Associated Disorders-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
FAQ
What do people say about Valerian root for stress, anxiety or mood on Reddit?
Across 30 Reddit comments from people who say they have used it, 12 of 17 rated comments were positive and 1 negative, for a CalmVerdict score of 3.4/5. These are self-reported experiences, not clinical evidence.
Do people report side effects with Valerian root?
2 of 17 rated owner comments (12%) describe an unwanted effect such as drowsiness, headache, stomach upset or feeling flat. Check the safety notes on this page and ask a doctor or pharmacist before starting.
Who talks about Valerian root most?
Most rated owner comments come from people who describe anxiety or constant worry (9 comments, 5 positive).
Is Valerian root scored on clinical evidence?
No. The score summarizes Reddit owner comments only. Factual statements on this page link to NIH or PubMed sources, and nothing here is medical advice.
Related supplements
Calming herbs
Chamomile
4.0 (44 owner comments)
Taste & formCalming effect
“I mix it (it tastes sweet) with chamomile tea before bed.”
What owners report →
Calming herbs
Saffron extract (incl. Affron)
4.0 (115 owner comments)
MoodSide effects
“I've been taking Nootropics Depot saffron for over a year and it's helped me stay focused and feel less anxious.”
What owners report →Comparisons: Valerian root vs Passionflower · Valerian root vs Chamomile
Last updated 2026-11-04. Mentions scanned: 116 in 108 threads.