I was wondering if someone has had experience with both Kava and Lemon Balm and could recommend which one is better ? I have a little bit of anxiety. Actually I have a racy mind and I worry a lot. Kava really helps me with calming of the mind and handling stress well. It actually helps with my confidence level a lot. However, I have heard that it is not good for liver, which is why I am looking at Lemon Balm. Would really appreciate if someone has experiences to share.

I used kava many years ago, when I did not care about my liver (I was immortal in my teenage years). That was nearly 40 years ago. However, I do clearly remember that I was not impressed. My symptom, which I was trying to manage, was anxiety. Personally, I don't think kava affects the liver at all. I think the big pharms were trying to give kava a bad name in such reports.

Have you researched chamomile? It has been used for centuries. It does not induce drowsiness or impair motor activity. Also check out red clover.

L-Tyrosine is one of the 20 amino acids. It is used to build the adrenal gland's neurotransmitters. That would help you.

I would worry about lemon balm. I've read that it is a thyroid suppressant. Seem controversial enough to me that I would not use it. Low dose? Maybe.

__________________
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- Jim

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." �Eleanor Roosevelt

I stopped using Kava a long time ago for the same reason. Here's part of an article about sleep aids that mentions Lemon Balm. I would go with the Lemon Balm, also Skullcap is effective for anxiety/stress.


Three Plants to Promote Peaceful Slumber

German Chamomile � (Matricaria recutita)
You can find bags of chamomile on almost every supermarket shelf, and
we have probably all used it at one time or another. According to
leading herbalist David Hoffman, chamomile is probably the most
widely used relaxing nervine herb in the world. Although the
attractive flowers of this herb can have a wide range of health uses,
it is primarily used for rest and relaxation. There are several types
of herb called `chamomile,' but it is the German variety that is used
for tea. The other kind, called Roman chamomile, has similar
properties but is bitter and is used primarily for digestive upsets.
The mildly flavored, pleasant-tasting German chamomile tea combines
easily with other relaxing herbs. Chamomile is wonderful to have late
at night, but it can also be safely used in the day to ease stress
and tension. Since chamomile is gentle and effective, it is the first
herb to try for sleep disturbances.
How to Use: One teabag steeped for about 15 minutes in 8oz (one cup)
of just-boiled water. Or, two teaspoons of loose dried tea. Chamomile
is an easy kitchen herb to grow, so for fresh tea, use a good
tablespoon. No matter whether the herb is fresh or dried, always
remember to cover your tea so that the medicinal volatile oils do not
evaporate with the steam. Sweeten with honey if desired.
If you prefer, a liquid extract, also known as a tincture, or
capsules can be used instead. Use approximately 1-1 and � teaspoons
of the extract or two to three capsules.

Lemon Balm � (Melissa officinalis)
Although lemon balm may not be as well known as other herbs, it is no
less remarkable in its sleep-enhancing abilities. Its pungent lemony-
scent is tension relieving by itself. Used since the seventeenth
century when it was known simply as balm, this herb is great for
helping to relieve stress and anxiety, which in turn helps people to
sleep better. Research in Germany has shown that a key compound in
lemon balm, the volatile oils, calms the central nervous system.
How to Use:
Lemon Balm makes a great-tasting tea and is also effective when taken
in pill or extract form. Take 1 or 2 teaspoons of extract and two or
three capsules. For the tea, use two teaspoons dried herb to one cup
of just-boiled water and let steep for 15 minutes.

Passionflower - (Passiflora incarnata)
Don't let the name mislead you � passionflower has nothing do to with
passion, and everything to do with sleep. This herb, which is native
to the southern United States, has been used for over 200 years for
its sedating and tranquilizing properties. One of the great
characteristics of passionflower is that it will help you sleep
without giving you the groggy feeling that is typical of many
sleeping medications.
How to Use: This herb can be drunk as a tea in the evening (one or
two cups, prepared as described above.) A tincture is also effective �
one to two teaspoons, or two or three capsules.
These herbs have a long history of use as gentle but effective sleep-
inducers. Their versatility means that you can combine all three in a
tasty tea, or you can choose to try pills or tinctures one by one to
find out what is most effective. Whatever herbs you decide to use,
hopefully you'll soon be sleeping sounder, longer and more
peacefully.

source: https://www.immunesupport.com/Library/showarticle.cfm/ID/2950

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"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~

Thank for replying !

My main problem is thoughts and worrying. I can't stop negative thoughts and worrying. I took Kava for about 2 weeks and it really helped me in controlling those negative thoughts and hence worrying. Then I decided to take a break from it last night because of the liver side-effects associated to it and took 2 capsules(500 mg) of Lemon Balm last night. I slept okay but I feel terrible today because of the drowsiness. Maybe I should stick with kava...like Jim said, it could the big pharms trying to give a bad name to kava or I should try a smaller dose of lemon balm ?

Jim...I have tried chamomile tea...it doesn't help me much except for sleeping at night. The worries come back to my mind in the morning

The herbs, mentioned in this thread, will help you with the negative thoughts. It won't stop them, but will help you cope with them. That is the important part. Coping. You will have to deal with them psychologically.

Stress is always in our lives. The adrenals are the victims of stress. The adrenals need vitamin C and pantothenic acid (vit b5). If you need a B vitamin, always take a full complex, never a single B.

kava extracts are terrible, to achieve the best results you must use the root itself and make a drink out of it. Google kavabyrex to get good quality vanuatu root, there is also instructions. I will also add that they have been using it for centuries with no liver damage, unscrupulous companies that create the extracts started using the whole plant and not just the root like they have been doing for centuries. I think this is what gave rise to the myth that kava is bad for your liver. Please bear in mind, if you have only had experience with low quality extracts then a good kava brew will be a shock to you, a very strong cup will severely impair motor functions(as much as alcohol) and give strong euphoria. The only downside is it tastes awful, and can irritate your stomach if you drink too much. Plus it is sometimes hit and miss effects wise, one cup will be great...you will prepare another one the exact same way and achieve less than satisfactory results.

Okay...so I tried Valerian root as well and took less than the recommended dosage on the bottle. I took it at night and got 7-8 hours of sleep. That makes me a little groggy also. It seems like kava is the only herb until now that doesn't make me groggy. I also feel really balanced the next day when I take kava at nights. I am scared to take it for a long time because of the potential liver problems. Are there any other herbs that have similar effects like kava ? Is Passion Flower similar to Kava at all ?

Snowbell, welcome to the forum!

I'm pretty happy using Solaray Sleep Blend SP-17 for sleep. It's a combination capsule of Valerian, Hops, Skullcap, Passion Flower, Dandelion, Chamomile, Marshmallow and Hawthorn. It works very well for me. My husband prefers Melatonin for sleep, and we just bought a Melatonin/Theanine mix to try.

You may want to consider L-Theanine for anxiety. Here's an article I just posted about it.

/f45/19935-natural-anxiety-relief-l-theanine.html

I would try some Magnesium Malate. It helps the whole body and the nervous system. it could be just a deficiency causing your problem. Omega 3 fatty acids will often normalize brain function, and most of us are lacking this also.

Your description sounds like anxiety, and this is often caused by a lack of something important to brain function. It is an easy and safe test to find out if one of these are the cause.

Dan

If you have mental problems nothing will help more than meditating. I recommend checking out a book by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist tulku, and following his instructions.

Kava is awesome!!!!! I love it, I make my own tincture...we buy the roots from hawaii.... its a muscle relaxer.... we use it for muscle cramps, sore legs, we have also mixed it into an oil and used it on my 3 yr old grandson for pain relief.

I would suggest looking into the bach remedies...I know alot of folks on here arent impressed with them either, but my daughter has been using them for over a year now and considering she just got back from iraq again....she wouldnt trade in her bach remedies for the world....she is very impressed with them....

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God is and all is well
~John Greenleaf Whittier~