Does Valerian Root Cause Erectile Dysfunction? (Find out here)

In this brief guide, we will look at the question “Does valerian root cause erectile dysfunction?”, as well as other related subjects like Valerian root side effects like weight gain, valerian root benefits and valerian root for anxiety.

Does Valerian Root cause Erectile Dysfunction?

No, valerian root generally does not cause erectile dysfunction, but it does have an effect on blood pressure which means that if someone has a rather significant blood pressure problem they may experience erectile dysfunction after taking Valerian root.

Valerian root has long been used to treat blood pressure related issues, and naturally because getting an erection is highly related to blood pressure conditions, one may naturally wonder if it might have an effect.

The truth is, some heart medications, especially those like Beta Blockers, can in fact cause trouble with lower sex drive and other heart related conditions, but because valerian root is herbal, and does not function in the same way as allopathic heart medicine, it does not cause any problems to the sex life.

One needs to remember that it might not always be the herbal supplement they are taking that is causing the erectile dysfunction, in some cases, the person may be taking them for an anxiety or depression condition, both of which have been linked substantially to erectile dysfunction.

When someone with these conditions takes valerian root and experiences erectile dysfunction, they may feel that it was caused by the valerian root, where in reality it may have been caused by anxiety or depression instead.

If you have felt that valerian root has caused your erectile dysfunction, try stopping it for a few days, it won’t hurt you to stop because it is a herbal supplement, and you could see for yourself if the two might be related in your case, given as there are not a lot of studies or evidence based cases where the two have been linked beyond doubt.

Another problem that may be causing erectile dysfunction is lack of sleep or lack of restful sleep, which is something else that people have taken valerian root for, so if you took valerian for sleep related issues and after that you were not able to get an erection or maintain one, it might be because you have not slept well yet, and you might want to look into that.

Lastly, if this is not the first time you have experienced erectile dysfunction, or if you have experienced any other side effects of valerian root along with the erectile dysfunction, you need to see a doctor because it could mean something serious wrong with your physical condition and it may not be just the valerian root.

Valerian Root Side Effects (Weight gain and others)

Even though valerian root is a herbal supplement, there are still some side effects of valerian root, and people often ask if weight gain is one of them as that is a side effect that is commonly seen in medicines and supplements.

A possible reason why weight gain may be considered a side effect of valerian root is probably because this supplement might be taken in depression and anxiety where it might be expected to help with the heart related somatic and psychological symptoms like breathing troubles or palpitations, but it might not have any effect on the appetite related problems.

For example, when someone with depression is taking valerian root, they may not realise it but they may be experiencing abatement of just the low mood or irritability, and they may still be eating more than they used to, leading to weight gain.

In such cases it might be an easy leap to assume that the valerian root caused the weight gain when in reality it is because of the underlying condition of depression.

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

Other side effects of valerian root include:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Skin itching
• Digestive upset
• Insomnia
• Palpitations (Particularly when taken with other medications)
• Nausea
• Stomach Pain
• Abnormal heart rhythm 
• Drowsiness in the morning or during daytime
• thinking problems
• dry mouth
• feeling excited or uneasy
• strange dreams

Additionally, some reports indicate that valerian root can also cause problems in the liver in individuals who have susceptibility to this problem, which may cause problems like:

• Nausea
• Pain in the upper stomach
• Itchiness of foot
• Yellowing of nails or whites of the eyes

Valerian Root Interactions

Here are some major Valerian root interactions that may cause adverse reactions and must therefore be taken with extreme caution and after medical advice.

• Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, diazepam, Ativan (lorazepam), or Halcion (triazolam)
• Barbiturates such as Luminal (phenobarbital) or Diprivan (propofol)
• Antidepressants or anxiolytics, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Opiates or narcotics, such as codeine, Vicodin (hydrocodone), OxyContin (oxycodone), Percocet (acetaminophen and oxycodone), methadone, or morphine
• Any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) sleep aids, including Ambien (zolpidem), Lunesta (eszopiclone), and Sonata (zaleplon)
• Dietary supplements including St. John’s wort, kava, and melatonin

Valerian Root Benefits

Some of the major valerian root benefits according to the ancient Greek and Roman physicians were in the following arenas:

• Insomnia
• nervousness
• trembling
• headaches
• stress

In the more modern times, the primary benefit of valerian root has been considered to be in heart related problems, specifically in high blood pressure, and many people consider it to be a godsend in terms of what it can do to relieve high Blood pressure issues.

Other uses of valerian root may usually be seen in depression or anxiety where it has been considered to reduce some of the more intense behavioral symptoms like irritability and stress.

Valerian root also has benefits related to sleep, and many people find that it helps them sleep, but when taken in high doses it can also give people vivid and bizarre dreams and make them feel sluggish in the morning.

Valerian Root For Anxiety

Valerian root for anxiety has been studied widely due to its relation with blood pressure and other cardiovascular symptoms that are often associated with anxiety, and its efficacy and safety for sleep has also been studied frequently.

There have not been conclusive positive results regarding valerian root for anxiety, for example in a 2009 placebo-controlled study, women suffering from insomnia took 300 mg of valerian extract 30 minutes before bedtime for two weeks.

No significant improvements were reported by any of the women taking valerian root in the onset or quality of sleep,which implied that it either did not help at all or there needed to be something else along with it to help them.

Another review of 37 studies found that most clinical trials of valerian root showed no differences between valerian root and placebo on sleep, and these studies were done in both individuals with insomnia as well as healthy individuals.

On the other hand, the reputed National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes an old study showing that 400 mg of valerian root extract did significantly improve sleep compared to placebo in 128 healthy volunteers.

Participants reported improvements in the time needed to fall asleep, quality of sleep, and number of middle of the night awakenings.

While valerian root for insomnia and sleep related issues in both anxiety and otherwise has been good, the research on valerian root for anxiety is somewhat lacking as was seen in one 2002 study in 36 patients with generalized anxiety disorder which found that 50 mg of valerian root extract given three times a day for four weeks significantly reduced one measure of anxiety compared to placebo. 

When other anxiety studies used slightly higher doses of valerian root, it was also seen that there was some effect, but again, the level of effect being so low it was next to negligible in the long run, especially compared to anti anxiety medication.

Conclusion 

In this brief guide, we looked at the question “Does valerian root cause erectile dysfunction?”, as well as other related subjects like Valerian root side effects like weight gain, valerian root benefits and valerian root for anxiety.

Valerian root may cause erectile dysfunction, or it may be a condition that arises out of the related condition for which the valerian root is being taken, but either way it is difficult to know for sure because of lack of scientific evidence.

Because there is such little solid proof for valerian root in regards to so many different things, it is wise to use it in smaller quantities, and keep it limited and rely on more widely used measures for sleep or anxiety issues.

If you have any questions or comments about valerian root or how it might cause erectile dysfunction, please feel free to reach out to us.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Does Valerian Root Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

Citations

https://www.drugs.com/mtm/valerian.html

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/valerian-root#effectiveness

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/wellbeing/erectile-dysfunction#:~:text=Some%20medications%20can%20cause%20erectile,blood%20pressure%20and%20heart%20failure).

https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/side-effects-risks-taking-valerian/