icon

Search

Better Sleep

Pain Relief

Decreased Stress

Improved Immunity

Learn more about our 4 Board-Certified MD founders

Learn how MDbio products restore your endocannabinoid balance and maximize health

Ashwagandha and Valerian Root: Synergy and Differences

Ashwagandha and Valerian Root: Synergy and Differences

Valerian root and ashwagandha are two herbs used as a natural medicine to improve sleep and reduce anxiety for years. While there are many similarities, there are also key differences that make each one unique. Before making a selection of which herb to use to aid your health, it's important to know what each herb is best for!

In this article, we'll discuss valerian root vs. ashwagandha's benefits, so you can make an educated decision about your health. Take a look at how ashwagandha and valerian root can help you reduce stress, manage anxiety, and improve your sleep quality. 

Ashwagandha

Commonly known as the “Indian Winter cherry,"ashwagandhais one of the most important herbs of Ayurveda (India's traditional system of medicine). Its wide range of health benefits is part of why it's been used for centuries to supplement health regimens and promote welfare.

It has been used in tonics for children to promote mental health and happiness, while older adults use it to aid digestion and increase longevity. The herb is also a powerful adaptogen, meaning it has various effects that counteract the neurological effects of stress in the body.

Reduces the Effects of Insomnia

While current medications attempt to treat insomnia, many people still continue to suffer from the disorder, whether as a symptom or from the disorder itself. Taking ashwagandha to supplement a health regimen can help improve the quality of sleep received every night. 

Onestudyshowed that sleep patterns in healthy individuals and those suffering from insomnia both benefitted from taking the herb in doses, helping both groups to reach a full night's rest. While many things contribute to your overall quality of sleep, a major component that affects sleep is stress, and ashwagandha can also help manage that.

Improves Stress Management

Taking ashwagandha in controlled doses can help reduce the stress hormonecortisol, according to a double-blind study. Stress is a normal physiological response to potentially dangerous or precarious situations, leaving the body tense. When taken responsibly, ashwagandha can counteract these responses to help alleviate tension.

When the stress hormone, cortisol, is reduced, it's easier to manage the symptoms of stress that plague the body. While prescription medication can help, there are more natural ways to tune into your body and help it heal without synthetic components. For stress management, ashwagandha may be able to help. 

Treats Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety is a serious problem across the nation. Rising stress levels are present, but the overwhelming feeling of anxiety requires something more to treat it. Symptoms of anxiety can leave one feeling restless, easily fatigued, irritable, or worried uncontrollably. Ashwagandha is known and commonly used to treat these symptoms and ease tension in the body.

As an adaptogen, ashwagandha helps the body cope and calm itself back down. It may take a few days before the effects are noticeable, but you can't deny them. Over time, this herb can help improve your daily routine, providing the necessary ingredients to stay calm and composed in stressful situations. The overwhelming fear that plagues those with anxiety will dissipate with continued and monitored use of ashwagandha.

MDcalm

While stress and anxiety can greatly affect your mood daily, you don't have to do it alone. There aresupplements with ashwagandha in them that can help relieve tension and lower stress levels. The MDcalm supplement contains ashwagandha and other adaptogens that are blended to create a powerful, natural remedy for stress in the body.

Paired with hemp oil, lavender, mint, and rishi mushrooms, this natural concoction is perfectly balanced to provide peace and mind throughout the body over time. These capsules contain everything needed to naturally manage stress, treat anxiety, and improve sleep quality. Give them a try for a natural solution.

Valerian Root

Native to Europe and Asia,valerian root has been used in ancient Greece and Rome as a medicinal treatment for insomnia and fatigue. While little research has been conducted, the historical use of the herb has been promising in treating future conditions. Much is still unknown about the extended and prolonged use of valerian root, but it is safe to consume in small doses over a short period of time.

Over the centuries, the root has been used fortherapeutic purposes with successes recorded throughout history. From ancient civilizations using it to treat insomnia to English folks in World War II using it to relieve the anxiety of air raids nearby, it has been a prevalent herb in traditional medicine.

Helps Manage Insomnia

Valerian roots are reported to have asleep-inducing effect, making it a great way to help reduce the effects of insomnia. It can both improve the quality of sleep overall and decrease the time it takes to fall asleep. Taking valerian root vs. ashwagandha before bed can reduce how long you lie awake, waiting for a full night's rest.

Those who have insomnia can find relief through monitored doses of valerian root. It can be brewed in tea for a relaxing and sleep-inducing drink before bed. Supplement capsules are available for those who don't like tea or would prefer a faster method of consumption for valerian root.

Reduces the Intensity of Anxiety

Valerian root can be used to reduce the intensity of anxiety symptoms. When it becomes overwhelming, valerian root mixed withkavacan reduce blood pressure and stress symptoms. Herbal remedies are a natural way to reduce anxiety and bring a sense of calm back to the body in high-stress situations.

Across the world, valerian root is used for nervousness and other symptoms of anxiety. Rather than wait out the symptoms or use synthetic medicines, this herb naturally has the ability to reduce the intensity of anxiety-induced stress so that you can relax and find peace. With this calming effect, it can also be easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Enhances Cognitive Function

The health of your brain is imperative for a long life. Cognitive function refers to various mental abilities a person has, such as learning, thinking, problem-solving, and remembering. Valerian roots have been shown to boost mental cognition in those who have seen a decline.

Consuming small doses of valerian root can improve several cognitive functions and make the user more alert and present without feeling fatigued or anxious. It's important to monitor the consumption of valerian root over a short-term period to ensure no negative side effects. Still, the plant has proven useful for many regarding their mental health and cognition.

MDsleep

Getting a good night's sleep without stress is essential to your health. Rest supports your physical, mental, and spiritual health, which is what MDsleep is designed for. Using a blend of botanical extracts from hemp oil, hops flowers, and valerian root, this supplement is sure to help you sleep better and longer.

These capsules contain everything needed to promote better sleep, improve cognitive function, and reduce levels of anxiety within one's body. If you're pregnant or nursing, it's important to consult a healthcare professional before adding valerian root to your regimen. While it is safe to consume, there are a few risks to be aware of if you are pregnant, nursing, or providing supplements to young children under the age of 3.

Valerian Root vs. Ashwagandha

While there are many similarities between ashwagandha and valerian root, there are a few differences to keep in mind. Both plants get their medicinal properties from the root, allowing them to manage stress and insomnia herbs together, but they differ in their amount of research. 

Ashwagandha has been researched more thoroughly with more positive results that show its prevalent power. On its own, ashwaganha can do miraculous things for your health. Valerian root, while powerful, needs a little help from other herbs to reach its full potential. Both promote healthy brain activity and function, but there is a more prominent difference in how the two herbs work.

Valerian root targets the nervous system, helping it to relax and unwind. The root targets the stressful center to help it calm and release the stress that holds the body captive. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that has anti-stress capabilities. Still, its primary function is to help the body learn to adapt and relax by normalizing the physiological responses to stressful stimuli. In short: valerian root calms the nervous system, and ashwagandha helps the body adapt to stress.

Both herbs have remarkable healing properties, but they are designed to target different and specific ailments. Their origins are also slightly different, but both have been used faithfully for centuries to treat a myriad of health problems like insomnia, anxiety, and stress.

Valerian Root and Ashwagandha: Final Thoughts 

Looking for the benefits of both ashwagandha and valerian root? MDbio has several products that utilize these natural herbs for wellness treatments. The easiest way to benefit from these herbs is to add them to your daily regimen. MDsleep and MDcalm come in convenient capsules for consumption, allowing you to resolve mental and physical stressors within the body naturally.

Shop our collection today!