Herbs For Natural Sleep - Kava

Insomnia has been around since time began and is a problem that affects the lives of literally millions of people worldwide causing mild irritation to some and severely affecting the quality of life for a large number of us.

Finding a cure for insomnia and getting back to night after night of natural sleep is not always an easy matter but, for a lot of people, the solution lies in the use of time-honored traditional herbal remedies such as Kava.

Kava is the name that the Pacific islanders give to both a shrub belonging to the pepper family and a drink made from it. The shrub can be found growing in abundance mainly in western Polynesia, particularly in Samoa and Tonga, and most of Melanesia, including Fiji. It also grows on Pohnpei Island, in Micronesia.

People have traditionally prepared kava as a cold tea (an infusion made from straining a mixture of water and shredded and pounded fresh or dried root). An easy method of preparing kava tea involves popping two or more heaped teaspoons of kava root for each person into a clean stocking, tying a knot in the stocking and then repeatedly squeezing it in a bowl of cold water.

The tea typically produces a mild numbing of the tongue and lips at first, followed by mildly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of well-being and calm, clear thinking 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 is a convenient method of anxiety relief as it is fast acting and highly potent. You can also buy kava in tablet form.

Some sellers also package high-powered Kava mixtures in convenient mini spray bottles. These are handy to keep in a pocket or purse 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 are thinking about buying the raw root, it is advisable to buy whole, top grade lateral root.

The effective daily dose of kava ranges widely from 70 mg to 200 mg of kavalactones which are recognized as the major biochemical anti-anxiety constituents. For a deep natural sleep it is recommended that you take a dose of from 150 mg to 200 mg roughly 20 or 30 minutes before going to bed.

Some concerns have been voiced recently on the safety of Kava after a small number of deaths from liver failure. Because of this Switzerland and France have banned Kava, while Germany has made it available by prescription only. In the US the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has expressed reservations over its use.

Controversy abounds, fired by the economic interest of the kava exporting nations and disagreements between the medical profession and proponents of natural medicine. At the moment the 'jury is out' and only time will reveal the truth. It is noted however that the Tongans have relied heavily on kava for hundreds of years and that it is of great importance within Tongan society.

One side-effect linked to the heavy use of kava is that of kava dermopathy - a scaly eruption of the skin. This disappears if use is ceased and is quite harmless. In the past, Hawaiians drank large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a method of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a clearer, smoother complexion.

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including "Help Me To Sleep - A Guide to Natural Sleep Remedies". To find out more about the use of herbs to promote natural sleep and as a cure for insomnia visit http://helpmetosleep.com.