Kava (Piper methysticum) as a tool for helping with Insomnia / sleeplessness

Review of herbal sedatives for insomnia and anxiety describing valerian and milder anxiolytic herbs including German chamomile, lemon balm and passionflower as mild sedatives that are frequently combined; it notes their additive calming effects and the possibility of herb-drug interactions for some species, including St John's wort.

Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (645 participants) finding that kava extract produces a significant reduction in anxiety on the Hamilton Anxiety scale versus placebo, with adverse events that were mild, transient and infrequent over short-term (1-24 week) use.