A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO BETTER HEALTH

Herbal Relaxation

If you feel stressed-out and have trouble sleeping, you may want to try
Kava, an herbal supplement that was shown in clinical studies to be "as
effective as prescription anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills," says
Chris Kilham, who heard about the herb while on a trip to the South Seas.
Kilham, author of "Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise," is touting the herb
as a nonaddictive alternative to medication. "It works in the brain's
anxiety center, just like prescription anti-anxiety medications, without
the side effects," says Kilham. "It has been used in parts of the world
for more than 3000 years." Kilham cautions that persons should consult
physicians before trying the herb.

Want to Quit?

Nearly 70% of smokers want to stop, and each has tried to do so an average
of 5.3 times, according to a new survey by the American Lung Association. A
fifth of all smokers identified the absence of smoking rituals, such as
"having something to do with my hands," as the reason they relapsed. The
nationwide survey found that quitting "cold turkey" was the most common and
least successful method. "Many of the 43 million U.S. smokers have a lot
of mistaken ideas about how to quit," says Dr. Alfred Munzer of the
American Lung Association, which developed a Quit Smoking Action Plan to
educate smokers about resources to help them quit. Call 1-800-586-4872.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan