For quite a number of preparations of herbal/natural origin in pharmacies or shops, claims are made that they have anxiolytic and/or sedative-hypnotic properties. Your textbook (Katz) discusses a number of these preparations in Chapter 64. Use that information together with a search on the internet and compile a brief report on the use of these alternative medicines in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. You may use any search engine (e.g. Google) and keywords such as “botanicals” and “anxiety” and “insomnia”.

Natural Products for anxiety or insomnia:

• Magnesium (Mg): Increases the levels of GABA in the brain, leading to sedative effects. Magnesium's calming effect has to do with the regulation of melatonin release. It causes the nervous system to calm down and will therefore relieve anxiety. Magnesium also helps to improve sleep patterns, which helps with insomnia.
• Lavender Essential oil: This oil relieves anxiety and helps with sleep disorders.
• Chamomile, as well as, Valerian Root causes a relaxing effect and also induces a better quality of sleep.
• Other natural products for anxiety include Valerian, Cannabidiol, Kava-Kava, Vitamin B-6 and Ginkgo Biloba. These products have a soothing effect on the nervous system.

Other natural products for insomnia include L-theanine and Melatonin. Melatonin has a Hypnotic effect. Melatonin signals the brain for better quality sleep