We’ve written before about one or two relaxation drinks that are supposed to relieve your insomnia. Each come with their own caveats, though.
Now, the Wall Street Journal has covered the explosion of relaxation drinks – apparently, if you exclude bagged teas, nearly a hundred new relaxation beverages have appeared on the US market in the past three years alone.
But do they work?
Well, many of the drinks contain ingredients which have been shown (in some studies) to be effective – but, as we’ve repeatedly warned about, they come with their own side effects.
One ingredient, kava root (which we’ve also written about before) was found to be effective as a relaxant only in people with doctor-diagnosed anxiety – not ordinary stress.
Furthermore, in 2002, the Food and Drug Administration warned that kava root had been linked to severe liver injury – including liver failure and even the need for a transplant.
So remember – just because something includes the word ‘natural’ on the packaging, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with side effects. Always talk to your doctor, and treat drinks that claim to relax you or cure your insomnia with a healthy dose of skepticism.
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