Valerian root is a popular herbal for helping people fall asleep. In 2002, about 2 million adults reported using valerian which makes it very popular. Even today it is a very popular herb for helping people fall asleep.
If you would like to see the results of a clinical trial with valerian on sleep you can read it here.
Here are some other articles about Valerian Root here. 
Can valerian root cause vivid dreams?
In short it is likely to be rare but there’s some more information you need to help answer this better. Certain OTC medications and herbals can increase the chances of experiencing ‘vivid dreams’. For example, this can happen with the OTC medication Benadryl (i.e. diphenhydramine). Valerian root has also been reported to cause this, however, like valerian this will be extremely rare. There are a few reports of valerian causing ‘vivid dreams’ which should be considered rare.1 The dose of valerian used in that study was 600 mg daily for six weeks, however, prior to this patients were taking 120 mg daily of Kava. There is a possibility that this combination of valerian and kava could explain the dreams.
When is Valerian most likely to cause vivid dreams?
High doses of valerian can increase the risk of vivid dreams. Doses greater than 600 mg have been reported to cause ‘vivid dreams’, however, this should be considered rare. Look for formulations where you can calculate the dose of valerian and if necessary you can always reduce the dose. For example, possibly a formulation with 400 mg of valerian root would be better.
If a person is known to experience vivid dreams when they take medications such as Benadryl they may be more likely to experience vivid dreams with valerian.
What are possible reasons why Valerian may cause ‘vivid dreams’?
One possible reason is that valerian will promote a deeper sleep and to cycle through the stages of sleep more appropriately. As a result this means that people will reach rapid-eye movement (REM) where brain activity is the highest and where dreams occur.
Valerian has also been found to have phytochemicals that can stimulate serotonin receptors which may be a possible reason for experiencing vivid dreams.
Does Valerian dream cause bad or good dreams?
Valerian can increase the chance of dream recall, meaning you actually remember what you were dreaming about. For some people this could be very pleasant or undesirable.
How likely am I to experience vivid dreams from valerian?
It is unclear because some studies have reported dreams as a side effect while other studies have not. As discussed above you want to make sure you take an appropriate dose as discussed above.
What phytochemicals are in Valerian?
Valerian contains compounds known as isovaleric acid, isovalerate, valerianol and valerenic acids. and others. Valerenic acids have been shown to bind the GABA receptor.
If you would like to learn more about Valerina here are some other articles about Valerian Root.
References:
- Wheatley D. Kava and valerian in the treatment of stress-induced insomnia. Phytother Res. 2001 Sep;15(6):549-51.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Ask the Pharmacist, Brain, Herbs, Plant Extracts, Sleep