child insomnia

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 in abundance principally 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 water and shredded and pounded dried or fresh root). One simple method of preparing kava tea involves putting two or more heaped teaspoons of kava root for each person into a clean stocking, tying a knot in it and squeezing it into a bowl of cold water.

The tea ordinarily produces a slight numbing of the tongue and lips at first, followed by mildly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of calm, clear thinking, relaxation and well-being. Sleep associated with kava is peculiarly restful and there are no after effects the next day.

Kava can be purchased at health food stores as an extract and as a convenient method of relieving anxiety as it is fast acting and highly potent. You can also purchase kava 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 highly effective in providing a quick burst of relaxation. Just one or two quick sprays under the tongue can do wonders for tension and jitters.

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

Some concerns have been voiced recently concerning the safety of Kava following a small number of deaths from liver failure. As a result France and Switzerland have banned Kava, and Germany has made it available only through prescription. In north America the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stated its reservations over the use of kava.

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

It should be 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 if use is discontinued and is quite harmless. Hawaiians used to drink large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a method of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a smoother, clearer complexion.

Lavender is a flowering bush indigenous to the mountains of the western Mediterranean which was cultivated by the Arabians after which it was spread widely throughout Europe by the Romans.

Lavender was brought to North America by the Pilgrims and it appeared as one of the very first garden plants in Australia during the 1800s. It can be found abundantly in the wild in many areas of the world as well as being garden grown in sunny, well-drained areas, preferably in a slightly alkaline soil. The smaller species can also be grown quite easily in well-drained pots.

The essential oil in this popular flowering herb acts to depress the central nervous system in a manner comparable to many pharmaceutical tranquilizers.

Lavender is both useful and effective when used as a sleep aid. As well as the use of lavender flowers in a tea, it can also be used in the form of an essential oil distilled from the flowers, leaves and stems of the plant.

Lavender oil can be applied topically to relax the muscles or its aroma can be inhaled to produce a calming effect. Rubbing lavender essential oil on the feet is an especially effective method of application, as anything on the feet is absorbed very quickly.

Lavender oil is used widely in aromatherapy and can be added to bathwater, dispersed in a vaporizer or simply dabbed on a tissue and breathed in. The essential oil from the flowers and leaves can also be employed in a sachet under your pillow.

It should be noted however that allergic contact dermatitis has been well documented in some people applying lavender products externally. To safely detect an allergic reaction it is wise to do a spot test before administering a full application.

Also note that not all varieties of lavender are tranquilizing - some, such as Spanish lavender, might have just the opposite effect.

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

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

Throughout the ages Chamomile has proved an extremely effective sleep aid and it can be used in a variety of ways including as a tea and used in a sachet placed under your pillow.

Unlike some herbal sleep remedies, you do not need to use Chamomile on a regular basis to enjoy its effects as a sleep aid. It can be used as needed to furnish quick relief for sleeplessness and anxiety.

Chamomile tea, which is brewed from the leaves and dried flowers 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 helpful in remedying the symptoms of mild, or transient, insomnia.

Chamomile can also reduce the histamine-based swelling produced by some allergic reactions, and is a very effective solution when food allergies or congested sinuses are a contributory factor to sleeplessness.

It should be noted that hay fever sufferers who show an allergic reaction to ragweed and its close botanical relatives (such as aster and chrysanthemum) typically display a similar reaction to Chamomile.