Britons are severely sleep deprived, leaving millions vulnerable to various health complications.
As the search for effective sleep solutions leads many to experiment with different remedies, social media platforms have become showcases for numerous approaches.
Pharmacist and social media influencer Ariana Medizade is an advocate for Valerian root as a superior alternative to melatonin for sleep issues.
"The fact that people don’t know that melatonin is a hormone blows my mind," she told viewers in a recent clip. "Stop taking melatonin, and use Valerian root instead."
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|Ariana claims that Valerian Root is a superior alternative to melatonin
She continued: "Valerian Root is an herb that acts as a natural sedative to your brain and nervous system.
“Valerian Root also has anxiolytic effects, meaning it reduces symptoms of anxiety.
“As someone who has struggled with anxiety my entire life, to the point where it does affect my ability to go to sleep and stay asleep, Valerian Root has been so useful for me."
Ariana emphasised its potency, noting: "By natural, I mean this stuff will knock you out."
"Not to mention, Valerian Root is a very gentle alternative to pharmaceutical sleep aids. It is non-habit forming, and you won’t wake up feeling groggy the next day.
"I’ve also personally found that I feel a lot less anxious when I wake up after using ingredients like Valerian Root, magnesium and l-theanine at night time.
"It is probably the best herb for sleep and one of my favourites."
While Valerian Root is generally well tolerated, side effects like drowsiness have been reported. Serious adverse reactions on the other hand, remain rare.
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GETTY | Scientific evidence supports the anecdotal benefits of Valerian Root
Scientific evidence supports the anecdotal benefits mentioned by Ariana.
In 2023, research published in Advances in Therapy assessed the effects of Valerian Root on adults with mild insomnia over eight weeks.
Scientists reported improved sleep quality, faster sleep onset and longer actual sleep time among participants, making it one of the most promising studies on the ingredient to take.
Further improvements, including reduced anxiety and improved next-day alertness, were all reported within two weeks of use, with no safety concerns throughout the study.