hyper insomnia

A common flowering plant, Chamomile (Matricaria camomilla) grows in various parts of central and southern Europe (Germany, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Italy), as well as in north western Asia. Chamomile is also now widely cultivated in Australia, Egypt, Argentina, North Africa, and the United States.

Frequently packaged as a tea, the dried flowers and dried leaves can be purchased over the counter in both bagged and loose form.

Throughout the ages Chamomile has proved itself to be a very effective sleep aid and it can be administered in various ways including as a tea and used in a sachet placed under your pillow.

Unlike some other sleep remedies, chamomile does not have to be used regularly to enjoy its effects as a sleep aid. It can be used as required to supply fast relief for both anxiety and sleeplessness.

Chamomile tea, which is brewed from the dried flowers and leaves of this common plant, often proves most effective when taken a half an hour to forty-five minutes before going to bed.

Chamomile can prove especially useful in easing the symptoms of mild (transient) insomnia.

Chamomile can also reduce the histamine-based swelling produced by some allergic reactions, and is a very good solution when food allergies or congested sinuses are a contributory factor to sleeplessness.

You should note that hay fever sufferers who exhibit an allergic reaction to ragweed and its close botanical relatives (such as aster and chrysanthemum) frequently show a similar reaction to Chamomile.

Kava is what the Pacific islanders call both Piper Methysticum (a shrub from the pepper family Piperaceae) and also to the beverage made from it.

Piper methysticum can be found growing in abundance chiefly in western Polynesia, particularly in Tonga and Samoa, and virtually all 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 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 stocking, tying a knot in it and squeezing it repeatedly in 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 calm, well-being, clear thinking and relaxation. Sleep associated with kava is peculiarly restful and there are no after effects the next day.

Kava can be bought at health food stores as an extract and as a convenient method of anxiety relief as it is quick acting and extremely potent. Kava can also be bought in pill form.

Some vendors 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 the jitters and tension.

If you plan on purchasing the raw root, it is wise to choose whole, top grade lateral root.

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

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

It is noted however that the Tongans have used kava for hundreds of years and that it is 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 smoother, clearer complexion.

Hops are the fruit of a member of the cannabis family native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Grown widely in the Pacific Northwest of north America, hops form a major ingredient in flavoring beer.

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

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