facts about insomnia

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 principally in western Polynesia, especially in Tonga and Samoa, and the majority of Melanesia, including Fiji. It can also be found on Pohnpei Island, in Micronesia.

Traditionally people prepare 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 per person into a clean knotted stocking and then squeezing it into a bowl of cold water.

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

Kava can be bought at health food stores as a standardized extract and as a convenient method of relieving anxiety as it is fast acting and very 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 highly effective in offering a quick burst of relaxation. A quick spray or two under the tongue can do wonders for tension and a case of the jitters.

If you plan to buy the raw root, it is a good idea to buy 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, and Germany has made it available only by prescription. In the US 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 patrons of natural medicine. At this time the 'jury is out' and only time will reveal the truth.

It should be noted however that the Tongans have relied heavily on 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 is quite harmless and disappears once use is discontinued. Hawaiians used to drink large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a way of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a smoother, clearer complexion.

A native of the mountainous regions of the western Mediterranean, Lavender is a flowering shrub that was cultivated by the Arabians before being spread widely throughout Europe by the Romans.

Lavender was brought to the United States by the Pilgrims and it was seen as one of the very first garden plants in Australia during the 1800s. It is found in abundance in the wild in many areas of the world as well as being garden grown in sun drenched, well-drained areas, ideally in a mildly alkaline soil. The smaller species also grow quite easily in well-drained pots.

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

Lavender is very useful and extremely effective when used as a sleep aid. On top of the use of lavender flowers in a brewed tea, it can also be used as 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 for 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 quickly.

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

It should be noted that allergic contact dermatitis has been reported in some people using lavender products externally. So that you can safely detect an allergic reaction it is advisable to carry out a spot test before administering a full application.

It should also be noted that not all varieties of lavender have a tranquilizing effect - some, such as Spanish lavender, could have just the opposite effect.

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

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

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

Reference is made 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. In the 16th century saw it used to treat headaches, heart palpitations, trembling, and nervousness. In the mid-19th century, many people 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 a lot of other natural herbal sleep aids, to gain the benefits of valerian you have got to use it regularly, with the full effects building over time.

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

Typically prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian can also play a useful role in treating anxiety-related sleep problems.

Unlike other commonly prescribed sleep medications, valerian lacks toxicity, does not impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery and does not amplify the effects of alcohol.