Dr Lesley Braun: Valerian safety profile

Last week I was interviewed about a well known herb called valerian and its safety profile. It’s a traditional herb used since ancient time which is very well-tolerated with few side effects.

It's most often used for insomnia and as a gentle relaxant, usually in combination with other herbs. The valerian ingredient is a listed medicine on the Australian Register of therapeutic goods which means it's been evaluated for safety and found to be suitable for use in over the counter supplements.