Valerian and Melatonin
Can you take or mix them together?
Let’s talk about Valerian and Melatonin.
If you are an avid insomniacor you have afriend or family member who has a sleep problem, you haveprobably heard of both sleepaids. They are both sleep Aids. Valerian is a herbal sleep aid andmelatonin is a sleep supplement.
Valerian and Melatonin have both won thehearts of sleep seekers around the world.
Valerian has been used as asleeping aidfor centuries.
Tough Choice?
It dates as far back as the Greek and Roman empires.Melatonin onthe other hand was only discovered in the 50’s and hasalso been as effective.But the fundamental questions still remain. . .
- How do they work?
- What are they used for?
- Which is more effective?
- Can I use them together?
My response? I’d say it’s a tough choice.
They both have their uses and each comeswith its ownside effects.
Valerian.
Valerian is derived from dried roots andplant materials from thevalerian plant. It used to treat sleeping disorders, nervousness,headaches,anxietyandpanic attacks.
When Valerian was first introduced, it camein tea form but laterdevelopment put it into pills and liquid forms and it isnow been soldas a dietary supplement in most countries.
Valerian’s side effects includedizziness,milddepression, agitation, stomach aches, allergic reactions, anxiety andrecently liver failure. It also is sometimes used bypregnantwomen thoughresearch is inconclusive on the side effects it could have on the unborn child.
People taking allergy, cholesterol,cancerandantifungal medications should not take valerian.
MelatoninSupplements.
Melatonin on the other hand is one of the gentlestsupplements that can be used as a sleeping aid. It is used to supplement the naturalmelatonin hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, in cases ofsleepdeprivationandinsomnia.
Melatoninbenefitsa lot of people and is being used in thetreatment of jet lag,migraines (due to its anti-inflammatory effect), sleepdisorders andneurodegenerative disorders.
Recent studies are beginning to show thatit can also be used in the treatment ofbreast cancerin women and prostatecancer in men.
The only problem is melatonin druginteractions.
For a list of drugs that have serious druginteractions with melatonin, visit mymelatoninand drug interactionspage. For more information onmelatoninsupplementsside effects, dosage, side effects, its use in children, FDAregulations visit mymelatoninsupplementspage.
Melatonin is preferable over valerian and isrecommend more by medical professionals because of it’s safety and mild sideeffects in cases of overdose.
Can Itake the two?
Even though Valerian and Melatonin are bothsleeping aids and sold as supplements athealth stores, they should not betaken together.
The resulting effect of taking the twoincludes heavy drowsiness, nausea, confusion and headaches.
Ifyou are on either of the two and want toswitch or stop your dosage Iadvise that you see your doctor for a properconsult and prescription.
