extreme insomnia

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

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

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

The tea is made with 2 teaspoons of dried lemon balm per cup of boiling water. Steep the tea for ten minutes, strain, and drink immediately prior to getting into bed.

It is believed that honey possesses sleep inducing properties. Dark honey carries more antioxidants than lighter honey. Honey can be used in herbal teas or mixed with warm milk.

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 in abundance mainly in western Polynesia, especially 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 per person into a clean knotted stocking and then squeezing it into a bowl of cold water.

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

Kava can be purchased at health food stores as a standardized extract and as a convenient method of anxiety relief 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 knapsack or purse and are extremely effective at 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 to purchase the raw root, it is sensible to choose whole, top grade lateral root.

Several concerns have been raised 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 through prescription. In the USA the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has expressed reservations over kava's use.

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

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

One 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 way of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a clearer, smoother complexion.