effects of insomnia

Hops are the fruit of a member of the cannabis family native to Europe, North America, and Asia. Widely grown in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, hops appear as a key ingredient in flavoring beer.

Hops are ordinarily used together with other herbs and flowers. They are commonly coupled with valerian, chamomile or lavender, but also holds their own as a relaxing natural sedative. The dried fruits, from which a tea can be made, are commonly available, as are tinctures, tablets, and capsules.

In general, no side effects or adverse drug interactions from the use of hops are reported, although some people have experienced an uncommon allergic reaction or contact dermatitis from the pollen crystals in the fruits.

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

Piper methysticum grows in abundance principally in western Polynesia, particularly in Tonga and Samoa, and most of Melanesia, including Fiji. It is also found on Pohnpei Island, in Micronesia.

Traditionally people prepare 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 often produces a slight numbing of the lips and tongue at first, followed by slightly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of well-being, clear thinking, relaxation and calm. Sleep associated with kava is peculiarly restful and there are no after effects the following day.

Kava can be purchased at health food stores as an extract and as a convenient method of anxiety relief as it is fast acting and extremely 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 very effective in providing a quick burst of relaxation. Just one or two quick sprays under the tongue can do wonders for tension and a case of the jitters.

If you plan to purchase the raw root, it is always a good idea to choose whole, top grade lateral root.

A few concerns have been expressed recently about the kava's safety 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 on prescription. In the United States the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stated its 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 champions of natural medicine. At the moment the 'jury is out' and only time will unveil 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.

A 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. 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.

The California poppy contains a compound called protopine, which can be described as being similar similar in its effect to a light version of morphine.

Different from the Opium poppy, the California poppy does not contain the narcotic morphine, though its structure is similar. Because of this, the California poppy doesn't show any of the addictive properties of its narcotic relative.

Right now no dosage guidelines have been established as the effects of the California poppy have not been widely studied in clinical trials.