Ingredient glossary
Neurological
Valerian Root
Valeriana officinalis
Also known as: Garden Valerian, All-Heal, Setwall
Overview
A widely studied European herb with strong clinical evidence for improving sleep quality, sleep latency, and anxiety reduction through multiple GABA-A receptor pathways.
Proposed mechanism
Valerenic acid binds to GABA-A receptor subtypes (β3) and inhibits GABA reuptake and degradation, increasing inhibitory neurotransmitter availability. Also reduces adenosine breakdown.
Mechanisms describe how researchers think a compound may act, often from laboratory work — a proposed mechanism is not proof of a clinical effect in people.
Traditional & studied uses
Sleep SupportMood Support
Related pathways
Chronic Stress Physiology
Pathway tags are a research aid for browsing the glossary — they are not a claim that this ingredient treats any condition.
Traditional medicine systems
Western Herbalism