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

Piper methysticum grows readily chiefly in western Polynesia, particularly in Tonga and Samoa, and virtually all of Melanesia, including Fiji. It can also be 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). A simple method of preparing kava tea involves putting two or more heaped teaspoons of kava root for each person into a clean knotted stocking and squeezing it repeatedly in a bowl of cold water.

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

Kava can be purchased at health food stores as a standardized extract and as a convenient method of relieving anxiety as it is quick acting and extremely potent. You can also buy kava in pill form.

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

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

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

Controversy abounds, fuelled by the economic interest of 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 bring out the truth.

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

One side-effect associated with the heavy use of kava is that of kava dermopathy - a scaly eruption of the skin. This is quite harmless and disappears once use is discontinued. Hawaiians used to drink large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a method of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a clearer, smoother complexion.

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

It can be grown 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 shows an effective sedative action and is ordinarily made into a pleasant, lemony-tasting tea.

Tea is best made with 2 teaspoons of dried lemon balm in a cup of boiling water. Steep the tea for 10 minutes, strain, and drink immediately before going to bed.

Native to the mountain regions of the western Mediterranean, Lavender is a flowering bush which was cultivated by the Arabians after which it was spread throughout Europe by the Romans.

The Pilgrims brought Lavender to the United States and it appeared as one of the first garden plants in Australia in the 1800s. It is found in abundance in the wild in many parts of the world as well as being garden grown in sunny, well-drained areas, for preference 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 depresses the central nervous system in a manner similar to many pharmaceutical tranquilizers.

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

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

Widely used in aromatherapy, Lavender oil can also be added to bathwater, dispersed in a vaporizer or simply popped onto a tissue and breathed in. The essential oil from the leaves and flowers can also be added to in a sachet under your pillow.

It should be noted however that allergic contact dermatitis has been described in some people applying lavender products externally. In order to safely detect an allergic reaction it is wise to carry out a spot test before administering a full application.

Also note that not all varieties of lavender have a tranquilizing effect - some, like Spanish lavender, could have just the opposite effect.