Sleep challenges are more common than you may think, as over ⅓ of adults in the US are sleep deprived. But, that probably doesn’t make you feel any better as you’re lying there staring at the ceiling, wishing you could drift away as the clock ticks by.
Whether it’s a racing mind keeping you up at night or a restless body preventing you from falling asleep, poor sleep can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. The good news? There are plenty of solutions that support better sleep, including L-theanine vs valerian root.
We’ll compare and contrast valerian root and L-theanine in this guide to help you understand where they’re similar and where they diverge. Each has its place in your bedtime ritual, begging the question: can you take L-theanine and valerian root together? In fact, we recommend it.
This dynamic duo works wonders to ease your body and mind into a deep, restful state, so you can finally clock out for the day and get a good night’s sleep. But they’re just two ingredients we’ve brought together in our Sleep Tabs along with melatonin, kanna, saffron, and more.
Discover the difference our tongue tabs can make in your nighttime ritual today, or learn about how L-theanine and valerian root can transform your sleep habits below!
What is L-Theanine?
This amino acid naturally occurs in green tea leaves and is why you feel a calming wave of bliss crash over you every time you sip tea. L-theanine can slow down an overactive mind without compromising mental clarity. It’s commonly paired with caffeine to ease its rough edges.
But does L-theanine make you sleepy? Not exactly. Think of it more like easing your foot off the gas without turning off the engine. It works by stimulating alpha brain wave production, which is linked to a relaxed yet alert mental state.
So you’ll feel really calm, but you’re not zonked out by any means. L-theanine also plays nicely with neurotransmitters like GABA, dopamine, and serotonin. These chemical messengers help regulate your mood, stress response, and sleep-wake cycle.
Basically, L-theanine makes it much easier to unwind at night if your brain tends to run marathons when your head hits the pillow. It’s great for those of us who are “tired but wired.” It won’t knock you out like melatonin, but it creates the ideal conditions for sleep.
The best part? L-theanine brings daytime benefits too! You may experience smoother focus, less jitteriness (especially if you drink caffeine), and a general sense of mental ease without feeling sedated.
Our blog has additional resources on L-theanine vs melatonin or L-theanine vs ashwagandha if you want to learn more. In the meantime, let’s look at the other half of our L-theanine vs valerian root comparison.
What is Valerian Root?
This plant-based remedy has held a special place in sleep support regimens for centuries, and you’ll still find it in a lot of herbal sleep blends today. It has a pretty similar effect to L-theanine in that it eases mental noise and physical tension, evoking a sense of calm and clarity.
Valerian root interacts with your brain’s GABA system. GABA is a neurotransmitter responsible for regulating your nervous system, telling it when to calm down. Valerian root doesn’t supply GABA directly. Rather, it tells your brain to make more of it and keep it around for longer.
That translates into less mental overstimulation and more of a “ready for bed” signal from your body. So again, valerian root won’t feel super sedating, but you’ll just notice yourself feeling more chilled out with fewer hurdles between you and falling asleep.
Here’s what makes valerian root really powerful, though - it supports both sleep onset (falling asleep) and sleep maintenance (staying asleep). Some people say they experience far fewer middle-of-the-night wakings and feel more refreshed in the morning, not groggy.
Others rely on valerian for issues like muscle tension, menstrual cramps, or anxious restlessness during the day. The herb won’t have an immediate impact on your sleep quality, but its effects slowly but surely compound to make a dramatic difference in the long run.
You can learn more about valerian root vs melatonin in our blog, as these two sleep aids are commonly compared as well. But let’s take a closer examination of L-theanine vs valerian root below to figure out which makes the most sense for your sleep challenges.
L-Theanine vs Valerian Root: Key Differences to Consider
We want to be really clear in saying both valerian root and L-theanine have their place in any bedtime routine, and there’s actually quite a bit of overlap in terms of benefits. That’s why they work so well together, as we’ll explore in a moment.
But, there are some important nuances between L-theanine vs valerian root that we want to make crystal clear, starting with their mechanisms of action in the body.
Mechanism of Action in the Body
Think of L-theanine and valerian root as two different routes to get to the same destination. Each helps you wind down, though they go about it very differently.
L-theanine boosts GABA, dopamine, and serotonin levels while encouraging those calm-but-clear alpha brainwaves we touched on earlier. This puts you in a state where you feel relaxed but not sleepy. You’re not going to be more “tired,” but it may feel as if someone turned down the mental noise that keeps you up at night.
On the other hand, valerian root more directly interacts with GABA, boosting production and slowing its breakdown for a more pronounced calming effect. Its impact is felt both physically and mentally. L-theanine’s effects are mostly concentrated to cognition.
Which Works Faster?
You want to put insomnia behind you yesterday. So which is the more efficient solution between valerian root and L-theanine?
Valerian root takes a bit longer to kick in and works best after being taken consistently for a few nights. It’s not a knockout ingredient. You’re training your system to recognize when it’s bedtime and slow down activity accordingly.
That said, how long does L-theanine take to kick in? Usually, you’ll feel calming effects with 30 to 60 minutes - but it’ll be pretty subtle at first. You may notice your tension starting to lift without a dramatic drop in energy. Think of it like slowly turning down the volume on a loud stereo.
Comparing Side-Effects and Dependency
It’s always important to look at the potential downsides of any compound you’re considering adding to your regimen. Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about much with valerian root and L-theanine. Each is considered fairly gentle and well-tolerated for regular use.
You’re unlikely to feel groggy, dizzy, or “off” the next morning with L-theanine. There’s no evidence it causes any sort of dependency, and you don’t need to cycle it or “take a break.”
The same could be said for valerian root, though it can be a bit trickier for some people. It may cause headaches or a mild sense of sluggishness if the dose is too high. It’s also not something you want to take occasionally and expect dramatic results. It’s a long-term play.
Ideal Use Applications for Valerian Root and L-Theanine
So, which is better between valerian root and L-theanine? This is where things get personal, as it really comes down to what’s keeping you up at night. Go with L-theanine if:
- Your brain spins out with racing thoughts.
- You’re feeling mentally overworked, not necessarily physically tired.
- You want something you can also take during the day for calm focus.
- You drink caffeine and want to offset jitters without losing alertness.
On the other hand, valerian root might make more sense if:
- Your body feels physically restless at night.
- You fall asleep but wake up often.
- You want to slowly build up deeper, more consistent sleep quality.
- You’re dealing with general nervous tension or irritability in the evening.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t necessarily have to be a matter of choosing between L-theanine vs valerian root! So, can you take L-theanine and valerian root together for the best of both worlds?
Can You Take L-Theanine and Valerian Root Together?
The short answer is yes - in fact, we highly recommend you take valerian root and L-theanine together if you want to address sleep issues from all angles.
L-theanine helps dial down the mental chatter so you feel calmer and more focused. Valerian root lets your body fully exhale, shifting you into that slow, restful state where sleep comes more naturally.
This is to say you can address both the mind and the body without any sedative crash by combining L-theanine and valerian root. This gentle tag team works especially well if your sleeplessness comes from a mix of racing thoughts and physical restlessness.
As always, though, you’ll want to be really thoughtful in combining these two sleep supports. Start low and slow, especially if you’re new to either ingredient. So, when is the best time to take L-theanine and valerian root? A light dose of each taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed is usually enough to feel the benefits without overdoing it.
You can also layer in other ingredients that support better sleep from multiple angles if you want to take that synergy a step further. Here are some other ingredients that pair well:
- Melatonin: Regulates your sleep-wake cycle without grogginess the next day. We keep it to just 0.3mg per tab for that reason.
- California Poppy: Gently eases nervous tension and restlessness.
- Kanna: Lifts mood and promotes deep relaxation.
- Saffron: Known to support emotional balance and ease late-night stress.
- Chamomile: Classic calming herb that rounds out the formula with its soothing touch.
Our blog has more resources on CBD vs melatonin for sleep if you want to explore the wide world of sleep support solutions. Otherwise, it’s time we introduced you to the last supplement you’ll ever need in your bedtime ritual: Our Sleep Tabs.
Put Sleepless Nights in the Past With Our Sleep Tabs
Our Sleep Tabs were built for people who want to feel calm, relaxed, and grounded at night without grogginess the next morning. Each tab blends proven ingredients like L-theanine and valerian root with California poppy, kanna, saffron, and a microdose of melatonin (just 0.3mg).
It’s everything you need to help your body and mind ease into real, restorative sleep. You’ll also love how easy they are to use. Just place a tab on your tongue, let it dissolve, and feel the shift within 5-10 minutes. You can take one or two, depending on how much support you want.
No sugar or junk - just clean, sleep-focused ingredients. The banana caramel cream flavor is amazing, so you’ll actually look forward to your new bedtime ritual, too!
You can round out your regimen with our Mood Tabs, Stress Tabs, and other products. There’s something for all of life’s challenges here at Tabs. So, give your body the support it needs straight from Mother Nature. The sleep you’ve been daydreaming about is a few clicks away!
Wrapping Up Our Valerian Root and L-Theanine Guide
Here’s the bottom line on L-theanine vs valerian root: each has a place, and it’s not a matter of choosing between one or the other. So, can you take L-theanine and valerian root together? In closing, yes - and we make it easy for you here at Tabs.
L-theanine helps calm your thoughts. Valerian root helps relax your body. Cover both sides of the sleep equation at the same time with our Sleep Tabs, which also bring poppy, kanna, saffron, and low-dose melatonin to your nighttime routine.
Tuck yourself in the right way, with Tabs. See what keeps customers coming back for more!