Herbs For Natural Sleep - Kava

Insomnia has been with us since the dawn of time and affects the lives of countless millions of people across the globe causing mild irritation to some and severely affecting the quality of life for a significant number of us.

Finding a cure for insomnia and getting back to night after night of natural sleep can be difficult but, for many people, the solution lies in taking 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 also to the beverage made from it. The shrub can be found growing in abundance principally in western Polynesia, particularly in Samoa and Tonga, and most of Melanesia, including Fiji. It can also be found 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 dried or fresh root).  One simple 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 slight numbing of the lips and tongue initially, followed by mildly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of well-being and calm, relaxation and clear thinking.  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 purchase kava in tablet form.

Some vendors 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 for providing a quick burst of relaxation. Just one or two quick sprays under the tongue can do wonders for both tension and the jitters.

If you are planning to purchase the raw root, it is wise 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 should take a dose of from 150 mg to 200 mg about 20 or 30 minutes before retiring.

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

Controversy abounds, fuelled by the economic interest of the kava exporting nations and disagreements between the medical establishment and proponents of natural medicine. Right now the 'jury is out' and only time will bring out the truth. You should note however that the Tongans have relied heavily on kava for many 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 discontinued and is harmless. In the past, Hawaiians drank large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a means of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a smoother, clearer complexion.