Kava Kava as a Natural Treatment for Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders that can usually affect anyone and anytime. Usually, insomnia is caused by stressful events, anxiety, worries, and sedentary lifestyle. There are several ways that can help in preventing insomnia, however, if you are already suffering from insomnia, then you can follow natural treatments and other managements that can help in addressing insomnia problems. One very famous natural treatment that is effective in treating insomnia or improving insomnia is Kava Kava.

What is Kava Kava:

Kava Kava or Kava (Piper methysticum), is from the pepper family that is found to grow in the South Pacific Islands. For the past thousands of years, kava kava has been used as a natural remedy for several medical conditions and people from the South Pacific Island drink kava kava because it is their ceremonial drink, since it has similar effects with alcohol. The root part of the kava kava is used for medicinal purposes, although roots are traditionally chewed or used as a drink. These days, kava kava is already available in plenty of different forms, including capsule, beverage, tea, and tablets.

How Kava Kava Works:

Kayalactones is the main active component in the kava kava root. Kalvactone have plenty of different subtypes, including:

• Dihydrokavain
• Methysticin
• Kavain
• Dihydromethysticin
• Dihydrokawain
• Vangonin
• Desmethoxyvangonin

Kalvactone is believed to have effects on chemicals that transmit signals from nerve cells to other cells (neurotransmitters) in the blood. Levels of neurotransmitters that can be affected by kalvactones found in the kava kava root includes, norepinephrine, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and dopamine.

Kava Kava and Insomnia:

As mentioned above, kava kava’s main active component are kalvactones, which can affect levels of neurotransmitter, including norepinephrine, GABA, and dopamine. Those certain transmitters play different roles that can affect a person’s mood. Taking kava kava can help in improving mood, which can lessen anxiety. For insomnia that is caused by anxiety, kava kava can be very effective in anxiety-caused insomnia.

Possible Side Effects of Kava Kava:

Kava kava can induce sedation in moderate amounts; in fact, some people abuse kava kava, because it has similar effects with alcohol. It is very important to know that excessive consumption of kava kava can cause intoxication, which can end up in life-threatening conditions.

Aside from intoxication due to excessive consumption of kava kava, it can also interfere with normal blood clotting and it can cause lowering of the blood pressure.