Valerian for Anxiety and Insomnia

Valerian is an herbal remedy which is used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Winifred Conkling and David Y. Wong, MD write in "The Complete Guide to Vitamins and Herbs" that valerian is "probably best known for its ability to improve the quality of sleep, hasten onset of sleep, and reduce the number of nighttime awakenings. Valerian does not have addiction and withdrawal symptoms which are associated with barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Valerian can cause drowsiness and so you should not drive while taking it. Sometimes there are side effects from valerian such as excitability, headache, upset stomach, nausea, and blurred vision in which case this herb should be discontinued.