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'• Insomnia <br />Preliminary evidence suggests that kava may help improve sleep quality and decrease the amount of <br />time needed to fal. asleep. Due to cencems about says safety, and the fact 'hit other herbs can treat <br />sleeplessness, kava s not the best choice for treating insomnia <br />Plant Description <br />Kava is a tall shrub tha' grows n the islands of the Pacific Ocean. This shrub produces large, green, <br />heart shaped leaves that g -ow thickly on the oiarches_ tong, sende, flowers grow where the branches <br />meet the stems. The roots look like ouncles of woody, hairy branches. The -oot is the part of the plant <br />used meoic nally_ <br />In Fiji, the plant is caned 'yac ri In riawa , It is known as ' awa.' In Aboriginal t ibes, '.t is refe're l to <br />as "grog " <br />W hat's It Made Of? <br />The main active ngrcdients in kava root are caled kavalactcnes (kavapyrones). These chemicals <br />(Including kswaia, dihydro'xawan, and methysticumj have beer extensively studied it laboratory and <br />animal studies. They have peen found to reduce convulsions, promote sleep, and relax muscles r <br />animals. They also have palm re Levirg propertier, which may explain why chewing kava root tends tc <br />cause a temporary numbness and tingling sensation or the ongue <br />Avalleole Forms <br />In some parts of the world, whole kava rest, a -e chewed rcr their med,cinal value. Kava s also avatlable <br />in liquid form, as tinctures or standa-cued extracts, and powdered in capsules or tableta <br />How to Take It <br />Because some people rave developed sovt,, Iver damage, even I ver to lure, after taking kava, ycu <br />sreurd only take f under a doctor's i Is- ,upery pionf you have Lee- disease (such as a rhosis or <br />hepatitis), you shou c not take kava at a I <br />Kava comes in dried extra :s, tablets, capsr.les, or liquid dhoos.'You can also make a tea by simmering <br />the roots of 'he plant to water <br />Pediatric <br />Kava should not be given 'c crnhdreo <br />Ado <br />Given reports of Iver damage, it is now Imocsslbie to say what dose o' kava may se site You should <br />take kava only under a doctor's tri, mmsin, <br />DO NOT take kava for more that 4 weess <br />Precautlore <br />