Supplements & natural remedies
Herbal Calming Remedies for Dogs UK 2026: What the Science Actually Says
Valerian, chamomile, passionflower, ashwagandha, lemon balm: which herbal remedies for dogs UK have real evidence? We checked the dog studies for 7 calming herbs, ranked them by evidence quality, and flag the drug interactions your vet needs to know about.
Quick Answer
Ashwagandha and lemon balm have the most direct evidence in dogs, but it is one small study each, and the extract's maker was involved in both. Valerian and passionflower have only been tested in dogs as part of mixtures, and skullcap and chamomile not at all. Lavender has two studies, used as a scent only; the ASPCA lists it as toxic if eaten. Dorwest Scullcap & Valerian was licensed as a herbal veterinary medicine, but we couldn't find it on the VMD's current list in September 2026.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · 7 calming herbs ranked by the dog evidence, plus UK products and interactions
The Evidence Gap: What Most Sites Won't Tell You
Most herbal calming products for dogs are sold on the strength of human studies, rodent studies and tradition, not studies in dogs. We looked for studies that tested each herb in dogs. For most of them there are none, and where there are, they are small and often run or funded by the company selling the extract.
This guide ranks 7 popular calming herbs by what has actually been tested in dogs, lists the UK products that contain them, flags the medicines they shouldn't be mixed with, and explains the difference between a licensed herbal medicine and a supplement.
The Evidence Table: 7 Herbs Ranked
| Herb | Dog Evidence | Quality | Safety | Main Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwagandha | 1 placebo-controlled trial, 24 dogs (Kaur 2022) | Limited | No side effects reported in the trial | One trial; extract supplied by its maker |
| Lemon Balm | 1 study, 20 beagles, 5 per group (Roy 2025) | Very limited | ASPCA: non-toxic to dogs | Tiny groups; several authors work for the extract's maker |
| Lavender (scent) | 2 scent studies: 32 dogs in cars, 55 shelter dogs | Limited | ASPCA: toxic to dogs if eaten | Scent only; never give it to eat |
| Passionflower | Only in mixtures (Scandurra 2022; Ramos 2024) | Very weak | No dog safety data on its own | Its own effect can't be separated out |
| Valerian | Only in a mixture (Ramos 2024) | Very weak | Side effects very rare (Dorwest licence) | How it works in dogs is "not known" (licence) |
| Skullcap | None in dogs; one rat study | Very weak | Side effects very rare (Dorwest licence) | Dorwest's student project is unpublished |
| Chamomile | None eaten; 1 scent study in shelter dogs | Very weak | ASPCA: toxic to dogs (Roman chamomile) | We'd skip products built around it |
The Top 3: Herbs With Real Dog Evidence
"Real" here means at least one study in dogs. None of the three has more than one or two small studies, so none can be called proven.
1. Ashwagandha: One Small Placebo-Controlled Trial
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) has the best-designed dog study of any calming herb. In a 2022 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Kaur et al., Journal of Veterinary Behavior), 24 pet dogs got either a root extract (KSM-66) at 15 mg per kg of bodyweight once a day or a placebo for 4 weeks, 12 dogs in each group.
What the Trial Found
- Lower urine cortisol (a stress hormone) than on placebo
- Lower fear and anxiety scores on the C-BARQ owner questionnaire
- Lower pain scores
- No side effects reported
The caveats: it is one trial of 24 dogs, the extract was supplied by the company that makes it, and it has not been repeated. A second trial, of the same extract in 20 healthy dogs aged 8 and over, measured blood cortisol and other blood markers for 60 days but not behaviour (Bharani 2024).
In UK products: ashwagandha turns up in some calming chews, usually in a blend. The trial dose for a 20kg dog was 300mg a day of one specific extract, so check the amount on the label: a product with a different extract or a smaller amount isn't what was tested.
Safety: no side effects were reported in the trial. It hasn't been studied in pregnant dogs or alongside other medicines, so ask your vet first in those cases.
2. Lemon Balm: One Small Study in Beagles
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) was tested in a 2025 study in BMC Veterinary Research (Roy et al.). Twenty healthy laboratory beagles were split into four groups of five: a lemon balm extract (200mg per kg of food), rosmarinic acid, Zylkene (225mg a day) or a placebo, for 4 weeks. The dogs were then put through mild stress tests such as unfamiliar people, objects and a bicycle horn.
Behaviour scores changed by +2.0 points on lemon balm, +0.8 on Zylkene and −3.4 on placebo. Lemon balm's change was larger than Zylkene's, but the study did not find a significant difference between the two, so it did not show lemon balm is better. With five dogs per group, and several authors working for the company that sells the extract, treat it as an early result.
Safety: the ASPCA lists lemon balm as non-toxic to dogs. It is in YuMOVE Calming Support (120mg per tablet, alongside L-tryptophan) and VETIQ Serene chews.
3. Lavender: Only as a Scent, Never Eaten
Lavender has two dog studies, both of the smell, not of eating it. In one, 32 dogs that got excited on car journeys spent more time resting and sitting, and less time moving and barking, when lavender scent was in the car (Wells 2006, JAVMA). In the other, 55 shelter dogs rested more and barked less when lavender or chamomile scent was diffused in the kennels, while rosemary and peppermint had the opposite effect (Graham, Wells and Hepper 2005).
Lavender Ingestion Warning
The ASPCA lists lavender as toxic to dogs, naming linalool and linalyl acetate as the toxic compounds. Essential oil is far more concentrated than the plant. Never let your dog eat or lick lavender oil, and don't put it on the coat. If you use it as a scent, keep the source out of reach, keep the room ventilated, and make sure your dog can leave the room.
The Traditional Herbs: Less Evidence Than You'd Think
Valerian Root
Despite being one of the most widely used calming herbs for dogs, valerian has never been tested on its own in a published dog trial. The only placebo-controlled trial gave it in a mixture with tryptophan and passionflower: over New Year, fear of fireworks fell by 41% in 25 dogs on the supplement against 27% in 19 on placebo. The maker funded the trial, and valerian's own share of the effect can't be separated out (Ramos 2024).
Valerian is the herb most UK owners try first, usually as Dorwest's Valerian Compound drops, which Dorwest says act in about 30 minutes and last up to 2 hours. Dosage by weight, tablets vs drops, side effects and interactions are all in our valerian for dogs guide.
How it works: the Scullcap & Valerian product licence says how it works in dogs is "not known". Lab studies suggest its valerenic acid acts on the brain's GABA system, which is also the target of diazepam-type drugs.
Dosing: no dog dose has been worked out in studies, so follow a dog product's label. Doses quoted online in mg per pound have no source.
Safety: the Dorwest licence reports side effects only very rarely and does not recommend use in pregnant or nursing dogs. Tell your vet before an anaesthetic.
Can You Give Kalms to Dogs?
No. Kalms tablets are a human traditional herbal medicine, registered by the MHRA for adults on the basis of traditional use only. Kalms Day contains 26mg of dry valerian root extract per tablet, Kalms Night 96mg and Kalms Night One-A-Night 385mg, and the leaflets give no dose for animals. Kalms Day tablets also contain hops extract, and the ASPCA lists hops as toxic to dogs (signs include panting and a high temperature). Use a product made and dosed for dogs, and ask your vet first if your dog takes any medicine.
Chamomile
No study has tested chamomile given by mouth to dogs. The only dog study used it as a scent, alongside lavender, in shelter kennels (Graham, Wells and Hepper 2005). The claims for chamomile in calming treats come from human studies and tradition.
Safety concern: the ASPCA lists chamomile (Roman chamomile) as toxic to dogs. We'd skip products built around it.
Passionflower
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has only been tested in dogs as part of mixtures. Besides the valerian mixture above (Ramos 2024), a supplement combining passionflower, ashwagandha, California poppy and hops was given to 13 of 21 anxious dogs for 30 days; 6 of 42 items on a behaviour questionnaire improved compared with the 8 dogs that didn't get it, and the maker funded the study (Scandurra 2022). We couldn't find the "2018 veterinary study" on passionflower that other sites quote.
In people, a 2020 review of nine small clinical trials found passionflower may help some anxiety symptoms, and called for larger studies (Janda 2020). That doesn't tell us how it works in dogs, or at what dose.
In UK products: Nutracalm's 2024 chew leaflet listed 675mg of passion flower per 3g chew, and NutriPaw lists 120mg per two treats. Ask your vet before combining it with sedatives or anti-anxiety medicine.
Skullcap
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora, "scullcap" on Dorwest's packs) has no dog trials. The research is one rat study, whose authors wrote only that certain compounds "may play a role" in its effect, and the Scullcap & Valerian licence says how the product works is "not known".
Dorwest cites a 2022 University of Cambridge veterinary student project in which 87% of 46 owners saw less fireworks anxiety on Scullcap & Valerian Tablets. The data has not been published, it was based on owners' reports, and there was no comparison group.
St John's Wort: No Dog Dose
There is no published dog trial of St John's wort for anxiety and no established dog dose, so there is no dosage chart we can give you. In people it interacts with many medicines, and the NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service warns that taking it with SSRI antidepressants can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. Fluoxetine (Reconcile) is an SSRI prescribed to dogs, so never give St John's wort to a dog on anxiety medication, and ask your vet before giving it at all.
UK Herbal Products Compared
| Product | Key Herbs | Regulatory Status | Can Make Health Claims? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorwest Scullcap & Valerian | Valerian, scullcap, mistletoe, gentian | Was AVM-GSL; not on the VMD's current list (Sept 2026) | Only while authorised |
| Dorwest Valerian Compound | Valerian, vervain, mistletoe | No authorisation found | ❌ No |
| YuMOVE Calming Support | Lemon balm, with L-tryptophan and GABA fermentate (no L-theanine) | Supplement (complementary feed) | ❌ No |
| Nutracalm Chews | Passion flower, with L-tryptophan and taurine (2026 formula) | Supplement (complementary feed) | ❌ No |
| Pet Remedy | Valerian, vetiver, sweet basil, clary sage (low-concentration oils) | Environmental calming product | ❌ No |
| Pooch & Mutt Calming Dental Sticks | Hemp, sage | Complementary feed | ❌ No |
Licensed vs Supplement: Why It Matters
An authorised veterinary medicine has been assessed by the VMD for quality, safety and efficacy (Dorwest's tablets held this status, but we couldn't find them on the VMD's current list in September 2026). Authorisation is the only way a product can legally make therapeutic claims for animals in the UK. Most herbal calming products are sold as supplements or complementary feed: they don't need to demonstrate efficacy and cannot legally claim to treat anxiety.
Critical Drug Interactions
This is the most important safety section. If your dog takes any prescription medicine, read this before adding a herbal product. Interaction studies in dogs barely exist (the Scullcap & Valerian licence lists no known interactions), so the cautions below come from human medicine and from how the drugs work.
High-Risk Combinations
Ask your vet before giving valerian, skullcap or passionflower to a dog taking:
- Benzodiazepines (diazepam, alprazolam): risk of extra sedation
- Gabapentin or trazodone: risk of extra sedation
- Sileo or Pexion for noise fear: risk of extra sedation
- Phenobarbital or other epilepsy medicine: your vet needs to know about anything that could affect seizure control
- Fluoxetine (Reconcile) or clomipramine (Clomicalm): also check any product with L-tryptophan in it, as both drugs act on serotonin
Highest risk: St John's wort. In people, taking it with SSRI antidepressants such as fluoxetine can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome (NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service). Never combine them.
Specific interactions to note:
- Valerian + sedatives or anaesthetics: tell your vet your dog takes valerian before any sedation or anaesthetic.
- Tryptophan-containing herbal blends + SSRIs or clomipramine: many calming chews combine herbs with L-tryptophan (YuMOVE, Nutracalm, NutriPaw, VETIQ). Check the label and ask your vet.
How Herbs Compare to Other Options
| Option | Evidence | Best For | UK Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reconcile (fluoxetine) | Licensed: 229-dog placebo-controlled trial, 73% vs 51% improved | Separation-related problems, with training | POM-V |
| Sileo | Licensed for fear of noise | Fireworks and other noise events | POM-V |
| Ashwagandha | Limited: one 24-dog trial | Mild, ongoing stress (daily use) | Supplement |
| Lemon Balm | Very limited: one 20-beagle study | Mild stress (daily use) | Supplement |
| Dorwest S&V | Weak: no published trial | Noise fear, travel | Was AVM-GSL (not on current VMD list) |
| Valerian (standalone) | Very weak: never tested alone | Mild, one-off events | Supplement |
No herbal remedy should be considered a substitute for prescription medicine in moderate to severe anxiety. They may have a place for mild anxiety, or alongside behaviour work. In a survey of 1,225 owners of dogs afraid of fireworks, 35% of those who had tried herbal products rated them effective, close to what you would expect from a placebo, against 70% for prescription medication (Riemer 2020). See our dog anxiety medication guide for when professional treatment is needed.
Key Caveats for All Herbal Products
- Lack of standardisation: the amount of active compound can vary a lot between brands, and between batches of the same product.
- Different extracts: a trial result applies to the extract and dose tested. A product with a different extract or a smaller amount may not do the same.
- Maker involvement: most of the dog studies above were funded or co-written by the company selling the extract or product.
- Extrapolation risk: dogs metabolise many plant compounds differently from people. A herb that works in humans may not work, or may not be safe, in dogs.
- Placebo effect on owners: many studies rely on owners' ratings, which are open to expectation bias.
- "Natural" does not mean "safe": lavender, chamomile and hops are all plants the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs.
Bottom Line
No calming herb has good evidence in dogs. Ashwagandha and lemon balm have the most direct studies, one small study each, so if you want to try a herb, a product containing them is a reasonable trial, not a proven treatment. Dorwest Scullcap & Valerian was the one herbal calmer licensed as a veterinary medicine, though we couldn't find it on the VMD's current list in September 2026. Always tell your vet about any herbal product your dog takes, especially alongside other medicine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best herbal calming remedy for dogs?
No calming herb has good evidence in dogs. Ashwagandha and lemon balm have the most direct studies: one 24-dog placebo-controlled trial of ashwagandha (Kaur 2022) and one study of lemon balm in 20 laboratory beagles (Roy 2025), both involving the extract's maker. Valerian and passionflower have only been tested in dogs as part of mixtures, and skullcap and chamomile not at all. Treat any herbal product as a trial for mild anxiety, not a proven treatment.
Is valerian safe for dogs?
Valerian appears to be low risk at label doses. The licence for Dorwest's Scullcap & Valerian Tablets reports side effects only very rarely and does not recommend use in pregnant or nursing dogs. No dog dose has been worked out in studies, so use a product made for dogs and follow its label. Tell your vet before any sedation or anaesthetic, and before combining valerian with sedatives or anti-anxiety medicine.
Can I give herbal supplements if my dog takes anxiety medication?
Only after asking your vet. Valerian, skullcap and passionflower may add to the sedation from diazepam, alprazolam, gabapentin, trazodone, Sileo or Pexion. Many herbal chews also contain L-tryptophan, which acts on serotonin, as do fluoxetine (Reconcile) and clomipramine (Clomicalm). Never combine St John's wort with an SSRI such as fluoxetine: in people the combination can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.
What is the difference between a licensed herbal medicine and a supplement?
An authorised veterinary medicine has been assessed by the VMD for quality, safety and efficacy, and it's the only way a product can legally make therapeutic claims for animals in the UK. Dorwest Scullcap & Valerian tablets held this status (AVM-GSL), but we couldn't find them on the VMD's current list in September 2026. Most herbal calming products are sold as supplements or complementary feed, which don't need to demonstrate efficacy and cannot legally claim to treat anxiety.
Is lavender safe for dogs?
Not to eat. The ASPCA lists lavender as toxic to dogs, and essential oil is far more concentrated than the plant, so never let your dog eat or lick lavender oil or put it on the coat. As a scent, two studies found dogs rested more with lavender in the air, in cars and in shelter kennels. If you use it, keep the source out of reach, ventilate the room and make sure your dog can leave.
Is lemon balm safe for dogs?
The ASPCA lists lemon balm as non-toxic to dogs. One 2025 study gave a lemon balm extract to laboratory beagles for 4 weeks, five dogs per group; their behaviour scores under mild stress improved, though not significantly more than on Zylkene. In the UK it is in YuMOVE Calming Support and VETIQ Serene chews alongside L-tryptophan, so ask your vet first if your dog takes an antidepressant.
Can you give Kalms to dogs?
No. Kalms is a human traditional herbal medicine registered for adults, and the leaflets give no dose for animals. Kalms Day tablets also contain hops extract, and the ASPCA lists hops as toxic to dogs. Use a valerian product made and dosed for dogs, such as Dorwest's, and ask your vet first if your dog takes any medicine.
UK picks from this guide
Herbal calmers sold in the UK
The herbal evidence in dogs is thin, so treat these as a trial. Dorwest's drops for events and tablets for daily use, YuMOVE (lemon balm with L-tryptophan) as a daily tablet, and ADAPTIL Chew as a non-herbal event chew.
Dorwest Herbs
Valerian Compound for Dogs and Cats (30ml)
Fast-acting liquid valerian drops for event-led anxiety — fireworks, vet visits, travel. Three-herb extract (valerian, mistletoe, vervain) given on food or directly, working within around 30 minutes. The low-cost way to try valerian before committing to daily tablets.
£12.90
Buy on Amazon UK
Dorwest Herbs
Scullcap & Valerian Tablets + Valerian Compound (Bundle)
Scullcap & Valerian herbal tablets for daily use, plus 100ml Valerian Compound liquid for events. Long-established UK herbal range.
£47.21
Buy on Amazon UK
YuMOVE
Calming Support for Dogs
Once-a-day calming tablet: 200mg L-tryptophan with GABA fermentate, lemon balm and B-vitamins. Subscribe & Save at YuMOVE with free UK delivery.
£17.86first 2 Subscribe & Save orders, then £28.58; £35.72 one-off
Buy from YuMOVE
ADAPTIL
ADAPTIL Chew - Fast Acting
Event chew given about 30 minutes before fireworks, travel or a vet visit. L-tryptophan, green tea extract (L-theanine), thiamine and colostrum.
£25.18
Buy on Amazon UKCaptain Calm earns a small commission from qualifying purchases through these links at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are based on independent research and review. Prices are pulled from each retailer and refreshed through the day; the price shown at checkout applies.
Keep reading
More on supplements & natural remedies
Melatonin for Dogs UK 2026: Dosing, Safety & Anxiety Relief
Can you give dogs melatonin in the UK? Only on a vet's prescription: melatonin is prescription-only here. The dose ranges vets use by weight, side effects, the xylitol risk, and the legal alternatives you can buy.
L-Theanine for Dogs (2026): Dosage Chart, Safety & How It Calms
L-theanine for dogs: dosage chart by weight from the Anxitane label, side effects, safety, what the dog studies actually show, and UK supplements that contain it.
L-Tryptophan for Dogs UK: Dosage, Evidence & When It Actually Helps
L-tryptophan turns into serotonin and is in many UK calming supplements, but dog trials are mixed. Label doses by weight, what each study found, and which medicines it must not be mixed with.