Valerian Root

• GABAergic and sedative activity. Valerian contains compounds (notably valerenic acid and related constituents) that modulate the GABA system and other sleep-related receptors, producing a mild sedative/relaxant effect. That mechanism could reduce the nervous system hyperexcitability and the sleep disruption associated with RLS, which is why people use it for RLS-related sleep problems. EBM Consult
• Muscle relaxation and improved sleep. Because valerian can shorten sleep latency and sometimes improve sleep quality in some people, it may indirectly reduce the distress that makes RLS worse at night (better sleep can lower symptom burden). However, evidence is stronger for general sleep effects than for RLS specifically. SAGE Journals

Clinical trial (RLS): The clearest RLS trial used 800 mg nightly of valerian root extract (capsules) taken for 8 weeks and compared to placebo in a randomized, triple-blind design (37 participants). That trial reported improvements in sleep and in RLS symptom severity in some analyses (see study for subgroup details). If you’re looking for the protocol most directly tied to RLS research, this is the one. Accurate Clinic

Typical doses for sleep (general guidance): Most sleep studies and dosing references use 300–600 mg once daily at bedtime, although some trials and supplements report doses up to ~900 mg/day for short periods. Different extracts (whole root vs standardized extracts) and formulations (capsule, tea, tincture) change potency, so dose equivalence can vary. If following published RLS research you’d use the 800 mg/night protocol, but many clinicians start lower (300–600 mg at night) to assess tolerance. WebMD

Duration: Most clinical trials of valerian for sleep/RLS are short-term (weeks to a few months). The RLS trial ran 8 weeks. Long-term safety and efficacy beyond this timeframe are not well established. Accurate Clinic

Randomized controlled trial (small):

• Cuellar NG, Ratcliffe SJ. “Does valerian improve sleepiness and symptom severity in people with restless legs syndrome?” — Altern Ther Health Med. 2009. This was a prospective, triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (n≈37) using 800 mg nightly for 8 weeks. The authors reported improvements in sleep quality and in RLS symptom severity (noting subgroup effects for participants with higher daytime sleepiness). This is the main direct RLS trial. (Article / PDF available online). Accurate Clinic

Systematic reviews / overviews:

• Reviews of complementary/alternative treatments for RLS conclude insufficient evidence to recommend valerian as a primary RLS therapy; the evidence base is small and trials are limited in number and size, so higher-quality RCTs are needed. (Examples: a 2015 overview on alternative RLS treatments and more recent umbrella reviews on valerian for sleep). ScienceDirect
• Broader reviews of valerian for sleep disorders show mixed but sometimes positive results for sleep outcomes — however, results are inconsistent across studies, formulations, and durations. Those sleep effects are often cited as the rationale for trying valerian in RLS. SAGE Journals

Dietary supplement reviews for RLS: Recent reviews of supplements used in RLS (magnesium, iron, B-vitamins, etc.) list some supplements with positive RCT evidence (e.g., magnesium), while noting that herbal agents such as valerian lack robust, replicable evidence. Valerian occasionally appears in reviews as “preliminary/limited evidence” rather than proven. MDPI

Summary: there is at least one small randomized controlled trial specifically in RLS (800 mg nightly for 8 weeks) with positive signals, but the overall evidence base is small and not yet strong enough for clinical guideline endorsement. Larger, higher-quality RCTs would be needed to confirm efficacy. Accurate Clinic