effect of insomnia

Valerian, a hardy perennial flowering plant with sweetly smelling white or pink flowers, grows in many parts of Europe and Asia and now also grows naturally in areas of the USA. Other common names for valerian include: garden valerian, and garden heliotrope (no relation to Heliotrope - Heliotropum).

Valerian is also known by various folk names: Sets Wale, Caopn's Trailer, Red Valerian, St. George's Herb, Phu, Fragrant Valerian, All-Heal, Bloody Butcher, English Valerian, Amantilla, Set Well, Cat's Valerian, and Vandal Root.

The principal components used for medicinal purposes are the roots, rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (horizontal stems). Typically harvested in September, the dried roots can be used to prepare teas and tinctures, while the dried plant materials typically find their way into capsules or tablets.

There is reference to the use of valerian as a medicinal herb as far back as the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Hippocrates described its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. The 16th century saw it used to treat heart palpitations, nervousness, trembling, and headaches. In the mid-19th century, many considered valerian a stimulant that caused some of the same complaints it is thought to treat and held it in low esteem as a medicinal herb. During World War II the British used it for the relief of stress during air raids.

Unlike several other natural herbal sleep aids, to gain the benefits of the effects of valerian you need to use it on a regular basis, with the full effects building over time.

Results ought to appear after about a month and regular use helps to promote deep relaxation and sleep. A number of studies suggest valerian as far and away the best natural solution for insomnia and general sleeplessness.

While commonly prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian also plays a useful part in treating anxiety-related sleep problems.

Unlike other frequently prescribed sleep medications, valerian is not toxic, does not impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery and does not enhance the effects of alcohol.

Honey is believed to possess sleep inducing properties. Dark honey contains more antioxidants than light colored honey. Honey can be used in herbal teas or mixed with warm milk.

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

Piper methysticum grows readily mainly in western Polynesia, particularly in Samoa and Tonga, 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 water and shredded and pounded dried or fresh root). A 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 into a bowl of cold water.

The tea commonly produces a slight numbing of the lips and tongue at first, followed by mildly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of clear thinking, relaxation, well-being and calm. Sleep associated with kava is especially 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 relieving anxiety as it is quick acting and highly 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 knapsack or purse and are very effective in offering a quick burst of relaxation. A quick spray or two under the tongue can do wonders for the jitters and tension.

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

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

Controversy abounds, fuelled by the economic interest of the kava exporting countries and disagreements between the medical profession and patrons of natural medicine. Right now the 'jury is out' and only time will expose the truth.

It should be noted however that the Tongans have used kava for hundreds of years and that it holds a place of great importance within Tongan society.

A side-effect associated with the heavy use of kava is kava dermopathy - a scaly eruption of the skin. This disappears if use is discontinued and is quite harmless. In the past, 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.