Effects of Valeriana officinalis on mood and physiological responses to a multi-tasking stressor

Valeriana officinalis (valerian) is a plant native to Europe that is widely used in the UK. Extracts of this plant have a long history of traditional use as sleep aids and anxiolytics and are subsequently a leading dietary supplement used in the self management of anxiety and insomnia. The majority of experimental research to date relates to Valerian as a treatment for insomnia. Although the evidence to date suggests that Valerian can improve sleep quality, the results are not conclusive. Research focusing on the putative effects of Valerian as an anxiolytic has largely been in conjunction with other herbal extracts and although positive anxiolytic effects were found, decrements in performance were also observed. It also remains unclear whether the observed improvements were following a combination of treatments or whether valerian alone has anxiolytic effects. The current study was therefore aimed at elucidating the anxiolytic effects of valerian extracts upon stress-related psychological and physiological parameters and aspects of performance.