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. 

There are a number of herbal and natural products available in pharmacies which states that it can help with the treatment of Insomnia and Anxiety. These herbal and natural supplements have been used long before chemical medication, and they do have beneficial value.

Herbal and natural products that helps with insomnia:

Valerian root. Some studies have suggested that the root of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) may help with the onset of sleep and with sleep maintenance. However, more research is needed before a final conclusion can be made about the safety and effectiveness of valerian for insomnia. It's possible that it can interfere with some medications. It also has side effects and is not safe in small children or during pregnancy.

Chamomile. Chamomile is another commonly used herb for the treatment of insomnia. More research is needed, however, to see if it is effective. The FDA considers chamomile to be safe and the herb has no known adverse effects. You should not take it, though, if you are sensitive to ragweed or chrysanthemums or other members of the Compositae family such as daisies or sunflowers. You could develop contact allergies if you are. 

Other herbs promoted as effective sleep remedies include green tea (which contains L-theanine), Jin Bu Huan (Chinese herb) and St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum). These still need to be studied to determine their safety and effectiveness.

Herbal and natural products that helps with anxiety:

Kava. Kava appeared to be a promising treatment for anxiety, but reports of serious liver damage.

Passion flower. A few small clinical trials suggest that passion flower might help with anxiety. In many commercial products, passion flower is combined with other herbs, making it difficult to distinguish the unique qualities of each herb. Passion flower is generally considered safe when taken as directed, but some studies found it can cause drowsiness, dizziness and confusion.

Valerian. In some studies, people who used valerian reported less anxiety and stress. In other studies, people reported no benefit. It can cause some side effects such as headaches, dizziness and drowsiness.

Chamomile. Limited data shows that short-term use of chamomile is generally considered safe and can be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety. But chamomile can increase the risk of bleeding when used with blood-thinning drugs. Use of chamomile can cause allergic reactions in some people who are sensitive to the family of plants that includes chamomile. Other members of this family are ragweed, marigolds, daisies and chrysanthemums.

Lavender. Some evidence suggests that oral lavender or aromatherapy with lavender can reduce anxiety; however, evidence is preliminary and limited. Oral lavender can cause constipation and headaches. It can also increase appetite, increase the sedative effect of other medications and supplements, and cause low blood pressure.

Lemon balm. Preliminary research shows lemon balm can reduce some symptoms of anxiety, such as nervousness and excitability. Lemon balm is generally well-tolerated and considered safe for short-term use, but can cause nausea and abdominal pain.