Whats your thoughts on kava kava?

Kava Kava is one of my favorite herbs. It's native to the south pacific where the native islanders have used it safely for thousands of years. Kava is technically a natural muscle relaxer, but I have recommended it to many people with sleep issues. It doesn't actually make you sleepy, but does relax you, help quiet your mind and therefore allow you to fall asleep naturally. If you have issues with racing thoughts and can't get to sleep or if you wake up and can't get back to sleep it might be the perfect fit for you. I do know I've never had one person come back and say it didn't work for them. You will almost always find a warning on the label about liver toxicity, which I believe is based more on political issues than science. I have done quite a bit or research on this herb and I have been using it regularly for years with absolutely no negative effects. I would caution you to buy from a reputable company as all Kava is not created equal. I use the brand Herb Pharm, their particular formula is called Pharma Kava. It's a liquid extract with 64% kavalactones. I take about a half of a dropper full in a small swallow of water about half an hour before I turn in. The reason I prefer liquids is they don't require the complete digestive process before they can take effect. A liquid extract is in your blood stream within minutes and to me that translates into working quicker, and getting to sleep quicker. Herb Pharm is a great company that I use regularly, however I'm sure there are many other good companies as well. Good luck and be well.

Kona Kava Effects

I've never tried it for insomnia, but it could work. Make sure you buy root powder, though, as most extracts and capsules have little effect (or at least less effect) compared to the actual root.

I would recommend Kava from Kona Kava Farm. Here's a link: http://www.shamansgarden.com/c-516-dried-roots.asp...

Kava is very safe herbal remedy for insomnia it can be given to adults and children. I have just discovered on http://www.kickbackwithkava.com/ that in adults it is wonderful remedy to cure sleep disorders due to mental worries, nervous exhaustion and high stress. Intake of Kava before going to bed is excellent herbal remedy for insomnia.

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net/

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Sounds like your liver is not metabolising atoh well if one drink sets you off. A good depressent with stupor qualities is marijuana. Kava is chill but not that psychoactive. Skullcap tea is sedative and makes a "happy" mood.

Without a doubt, kava kava has a level of toxicity associated with it (someone's isolated anecdote is irrelevant).

Do your research before you take any risks with it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava#Toxicity_of_trad...

http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/166/6/777

Sounds like we have a winer!