Insomnia has been with us since the dawn of time and affects the lives of literally millions of people across the globe causing mild irritation to some and severely affecting the quality of life for a significant number of us.
Curing insomnia and returning to night after night of natural sleep is not always an easy matter but, for a large number of people, the answer 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 principally in western Polynesia, especially in Samoa and Tonga, and most of Melanesia, including Fiji. It can also be found on Pohnpei Island, in Micronesia.
Traditionally people have prepared kava as a cold tea (an infusion made from straining a mixture of water and shredded and pounded dried or fresh root). An easy method for the preparation of kava tea involves placing 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 often produces a mild numbing of the tongue and lips initially, followed by mildly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of well-being and calm, clear thinking and relaxation. Sleep associated with kava is especially restful and there are no after effects the next day.
Kava can be bought at health food stores as a standardized extract and is a convenient method of anxiety relief as it is fast acting and extremely 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 knapsack or purse and are highly 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 sensible 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 main biochemical anti-anxiety constituents. For a deep natural sleep it is recommended that you take a dose of from 150 mg to 200 mg some 20 or 30 minutes before going to bed.
Some concerns have been expressed recently over the safety of Kava following a small number of deaths from liver failure. Because of this France and Switzerland have banned Kava, while Germany has made it available only on prescription. In the United States the CDC (Center for Disease Control) 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 supporters of natural medicine. At this time the 'jury is out' and only time will unveil the truth. It is noted however that the Tongans have relied heavily on kava for hundreds of years and that it is held in great importance within Tongan society.
One side-effect connected to 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 drank large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a way 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
HelpMeToSleep.com
