antidepressants cause insomnia

Chamomile (Matricaria camomilla) is a common flowering plant which grows in various parts of central and southern Europe (Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Croatia, and Germany), as well as in north western Asia. Chamomile is also now widely cultivated in Egypt, Australia, North Africa, the United States, and Argentina.

Normally packaged as a tea, the dried leaves and flowers can be bought over the counter in both loose and bagged form.

For many hundreds of years Chamomile has been a very good sleep aid and it can be used in a variety of ways including being brewed as a tea and used in a sachet placed under your pillow.

Unlike some other sleep remedies, chamomile does not need to be used regularly to enjoy its effects as a sleep aid. It can be used when needed to provide quick relief for both sleeplessness and anxiety.

Chamomile tea, which is brewed from the dried flowers and leaves of this common plant, commonly proves most effective when taken a half an hour to forty-five minutes before going to bed.

Chamomile can be especially valuable in easing the symptoms of mild insomnia (often referred to as transient insomnia).

Chamomile can also reduce the histamine-based swelling produced by some allergic reactions, and is an excellent solution when congested sinuses or food allergies contribute to sleeplessness.

You should note that hay fever sufferers who exhibit an allergic reaction to ragweed and its close botanical relatives (such as chrysanthemum and aster) usually demonstrate a similar reaction to Chamomile.

Lemon Balm is an herbaceous perennial in the mint family. It occurs naturally in southern Europe and northern Africa where it grows on disturbed land, in landfills and along roadsides from sea level up into the mountains.

It grows in any well-drained soil and is especially tolerant of poor, sandy soils. It can also withstand the full force of the sun.

Lemon Balm demonstrates an effective sedative action and is generally made into a pleasant, lemony-tasting tea.

Try making a tea with 2 teaspoons of dried lemon balm to a cup of boiling water. Steep the tea for 10 minutes, strain, and drink immediately prior to going to bed.

The Pacific islanders give the name Kava to both Piper Methysticum (a shrub from the pepper family Piperaceae) and also to the beverage that is made from it.

Piper methysticum grows readily mainly in western Polynesia, particularly in Samoa and Tonga, and the majority of Melanesia, including Fiji. It is also found on Pohnpei Island, in Micronesia.

People have traditionally prepared kava as a cold tea (an infusion made from straining a mixture of shredded and pounded fresh or dried root and water). One simple method of preparing kava tea involves putting two or more heaped teaspoons of kava root per person into a clean stocking, tying a knot in it and then squeezing it repeatedly in a bowl of cold water.

The tea frequently produces a slight numbing of the lips and tongue initially, followed by slightly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of well-being, relaxation, clear thinking and calm. Sleep associated with kava is particularly restful and there are no after effects the following day.

Kava can be bought at health food stores as an extract and as a convenient method of anxiety relief as it is fast acting and very potent. Kava can also be purchased in pill form.

Some sellers have packaged high-powered Kava mixtures in convenient mini spray bottles. These are handy to keep in a purse or knapsack and are extremely effective for producing a quick burst of relaxation. A quick spray or two under the tongue can do wonders for tension and a case of the jitters.

If you plan on purchasing the raw root, it is wise to buy whole, top grade lateral root.

Various concerns have been voiced recently about the kava's safety following a small number of deaths from liver failure. As a result Switzerland and France have banned Kava, while Germany has made it available only through prescription. In the United States the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has raised reservations over kava's use.

Controversy abounds, fuelled by the economic interest of the kava exporting countries and disagreements between the medical establishment and patrons of natural medicine. At this time the 'jury is out' and only time will uncover the truth.

It is noted however that the Tongans have used kava for hundreds of years and that it is of great significance within Tongan society.

A side-effect associated with the heavy use of kava is that of kava dermopathy - a scaly eruption of the skin. This disappears as soon as you stop using kave and is quite harmless. In the past, Hawaiians used to drink large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a way of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a clearer, smoother complexion.