Valeriana officinalis L. como alternativa terapêutica no tratamento da insônia: uma revisão.

Abstract

Insomnia has a significant impact on the quality of life of individuals, often triggering reduced productivity, compromising cognitive function and increasing the risk of accidents in traffic and in the workplace. In the treatment of this sleep disorder, sedative and hypnotic drugs, such as benzodiazepines and melatonin receptor agonists, are commonly used. Among these, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, popularly known as "Z drugs", stand out, as well as benzodiazepines themselves, which, although effective in inducing sleep, are associated with risks such as dependence and residual effects during the day. In search of safe and effective therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of insomnia, this study investigated the use of Valeriana officinalis L. as a viable option. Through a literature review, the databases Pubmed, Scielo, Google Scholar, Lilacs and CAPES journals were consulted, with the inclusion of articles published between 2014 and 2024 and available free of charge. Considering that insomnia directly affects the quality of life of individuals, this work is justified by presenting Valeriana officinalis L. as a natural alternative that, when administered in usual doses, demonstrates potential to improve sleep quality, promoting its maintenance and reducing the incidence of typical daytime residual effects of medications. Additionally, it presents few adverse effects and low risk of toxicity, according to the studies analyzed. In conclusion, it was observed that the isolated or associated use of Valeriana officinalis L. has the potential to induce sleep, although further studies focused on its mechanisms of action are needed.