How does valerian extract improve sleep?

Valerian has been used for centuries to improve sleep and has even been listed as one of the more commonly used herbs in the United States, Europe, and other countries. According to the results of the national survey in the United States, 1.1% (about 2 million) of the adult population in the United States have used valerian root extract supplements as a sleep aid in the past week.

Valerian has a good effect on improving insomnia symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep and light sleep. Compared with general sleeping pills, it is less likely to have side effects of drowsiness after waking up.

The benefits of valerian extract for sleep:

How Does Valerian Extract Improve Sleep?

Valerian can promote the secretion of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) in the cerebral cortex, regulate nerve cells, reduce anxiety and exert a calming effect. This is because we have a neurotransmitter in our brain called GABA that promotes a calming effect. Valerian root extract contains chemical active ingredients such as valeric acid and terpenes, which can obviously stimulate the activity of GABA receptors, effectively inhibit rapid eye movement sleep and low-frequency waves, and promote rapid sleep.

Some studies have also shown that valerian extract can also improve sleep by mediating the inhibition of GABA enzyme destruction, thereby increasing the availability of GABA.