Is valerian root safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about valerian root during pregnancy?

1. Little is known about whether valerian is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and human research outside of pregnancy has generally studied doses of 300 to 600 mg a day for up to six weeks. 1
2. Common side effects of valerian include headache, stomach upset, mental dullness, and vivid dreams, and stopping regular use can bring on withdrawal-like symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. 1
3. Valerian's calming effect is thought to come from compounds like valerenic acid and isovaleric acid acting on the same GABA pathway that many prescription sedatives use, which is also part of why combining it with other sedating substances can add to drowsiness. 2
4. A placental study found that valerian's main active compound barely crossed into the fetal side during early pregnancy, though it reached similar levels on both sides by full term, with no cell toxicity seen at the concentrations tested and what researchers described as a large safety margin. 3
5. Valerian is often not recommended during breastfeeding because certain valerian compounds showed cytotoxic and mutagenic activity in lab (in vitro) testing, and because no published research has looked at its effects on a nursing infant or on milk supply. 4

Is valerian root safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. The one placental study available found valerian's active compound barely crossed to the fetal side in early pregnancy, which is reassuring, but this is a single lab study, not a clinical safety trial, so check with your provider before starting it in the first trimester.
• Second trimester. There's no dedicated second-trimester research on valerian. If sleep issues continue, ask your provider whether a better-studied option fits before adding an herbal sleep aid.
• Third trimester. By full term, the same placental study found the active compound reaching similar levels on both sides of the placenta. If you've been taking valerian regularly, mention it to your delivery team, since sedating herbs are relevant to anesthesia and pain-management planning.