substance of the present invention functions to help improve sleep which is often compromised when dieting or taking supplements to increase metabolism kava which is also known as kava kava yaquona ava ava ava awa or kawa is a member of the pepper family piperceae kava is obtained from the rhizome and roots of piper methysticum forst kava is the most relaxing botanical herb with the exception of the opium poppy kava is known to induce general relaxation in humans when orally ingested but it does not cause drowsiness or involuntary sleep a liquid macerate of the kava root has been used on islands in the south pacific in social gatherings and religious rituals for over three thousand years recently kava has been scientifically scrutinized and its psychoactive ingredients identified these ingredients are referred to as kavalactones a total of fifteen kavalactones have been identified to date including kavain a k a kawain dihydrokavain a k a dihydrokawain methysticin dihydromethysticin yangonin and demethoxy yangonin a synthetic version of kava known as d l kavain is also available the specific kavalactones in kava root extract vary depending upon the origin of the kava plant kava roots and their rhizomes or distal root tips are preferred but other parts of the plant may be used high quality extracts of kava are sold based upon the total kavalactone content rather than upon analysis of the individual lactones contained therein studies indicate that kavalactones can relieve nervous anxiety tension restlessness as well as promote muscle relaxation studies have also shown that consumption of kavalactones does not irnpair neurophysiological activity as evidenced by measurements of recognition rates and driving ability further kavalactones are nonaddictive and do not induce involuntary.