familial insomnia

Lavender is a flowering shub indigenous to the mountain regions of the western Mediterranean that was 'domesticated' by the Arabians before it was later spread across Europe by the Romans.

The Pilgrims brought Lavender to North America and it showed up as one of the first garden plants in Australia during the 1800s. It can be found in abundance in the wild in many areas of the world as well as being garden grown in well-drained, sunny areas, preferably 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 acts to depress the central nervous system in a manner that is similar to many pharmaceutical tranquilizers.

Lavender is both useful and very effective when it is used as a sleep aid. In addition to the use of lavender flowers in a brewed tea, it can also be used in the form of an essential oil distilled from the flowers, stems 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 most effective method of application, as anything on the feet is absorbed rapidly.

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

You should note that allergic contact dermatitis has been seen in some people applying lavender products externally. So that you can safely detect an allergic reaction it is always a good idea to do a spot test before administering a full application.

It should also be noted that not all varieties of lavender are tranquilizing - some, like Spanish lavender, can have just the opposite effect.

The Pacific islanders give the name Kava 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 readily principally in western Polynesia, particularly in Samoa and Tonga, and the majority of Melanesia, including Fiji. It is also 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). One simple method of preparing kava tea involves putting two or more heaped teaspoons of kava root for each person into a clean stocking, tying a knot in it and then squeezing it repeatedly in a bowl of cold water.

The tea usually produces a slight numbing of the tongue and lips at first, followed by somewhat talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of well-being, clear thinking, calm and relaxation. Sleep associated with kava is particularly 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 quick acting and very potent. You can also buy 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 extremely effective in 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 on purchasing the raw root, it is always a good idea to purchase whole, top grade lateral root.

Various concerns have been raised recently concerning the safety of Kava 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 on prescription. In north America the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has raised reservations over kava's use.

Controversy abounds, fuelled by the economic interest of kava exporting nations and disagreements between the medical profession and proponents of natural medicine. As of the time of writing the 'jury is out' and only time will uncover 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 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 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.

Valerian, a hardy perennial flowering plant with sweetly smelling pink or white flowers, grows in large parts of Europe and Asia and also now grows naturally in parts of north America. 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, Bloody Butcher, Vandal Root, English Valerian, Set Well, Fragrant Valerian, Amantilla, Cat's Valerian, Phu, St. George's Herb, All-Heal, Caopn's Trailer, and Red Valerian.

The primary components used for medicinal purposes are the roots, rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (horizontal stems). Generally harvested in September, the dried roots can be used to make 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 rome and ancient Greece. Hippocrates wrote of its therapeutic uses and, in the 2nd century, Galen prescribed valerian for insomnia. In the 16th century saw it used to treat nervousness, heart palpitations, trembling, and headaches. 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 English used it to relieve the stress of air raids.

Unlike numerous other natural herbal sleep aids, to gain the benefits of the effects of valerian you should use it regularly, with the full effects heightening over time.

Results should appear after about a month and regular use promotes deep relaxation and sleep. Several studies suggest valerian as by far the best natural solution for insomnia and general sleeplessness.

Though frequently prescribed as a calming sleep aid, valerian can also play a useful role in the treatment of anxiety-related sleep problems.

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