2. Answer the questions:

1. What did Arab herdsmen discover using coffee beans and what leaves?

2. How did the iboga shrub help west Africa hunters make the kill?

3. Are amphetamines the most powerful and dangerous drugs?

4. Do they act on the central nervous system?

5. What stimulants are classified as over-the-counter drugs in the USA?

6. Are herbal remedies and nutritional supplements mocked by the scientific and medical establishment?

7. How does the Food and drug administration call smart nutriens?

8. What can you say about bee pollen?

9. Is cocaine among the most addictive central nervous stimulants?

10. Does ginkgo help to slow the aging process?

11. Has ginseng been used for centuries as a longevity tonic?

12. Does gutu kola help the body rebuild restore physical power?

13. Do you know any risks of guarana?

3. Read text 2 and understand the main ideas of it: Text 2

Chill Out...

If too much energy - in the formal nervousness, anxiety and insomnia - is your problem and you’ve already cut caffeine from your diet, try calming down with regular workouts, a relaxing massage, yoga or deep-breathing exercises. (Therapy might help too, but that’s another issue.) You’ve considered these wholesome alternatives? You want a magic pill? Read on.

But first, a word of caution: Using any drug with tranquilizing effects - especially if mixed with alcohol - can lead to serious medical problems or even death. Consult a doctor.

Alcohol

One or two drinks might take the edge off, but alcohol is a powerful drug that can do serious physical and psychological damage and can be addictive. It also can disrupt your sleep.

Barbiturates

These sedatives, a.k.a. downers, come in many forms, two of the most commonly used being butabarbital sodium (which goes by the brand name Butisol Sodium, among others) and pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal Sodium is one brand name). These prescription drugs dull the senses and decrease motor activity, causing drowsiness, lack of coordination and confused speech. An overdose can cause death.

Benzodiazepines

Diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax) are depressants, which act on the central nervous system, producing a wide range of effects - from inhibiting motor response to inducing extreme lethargy - and should be used only for a short time, since they are addictive.

Beta - blockers

Usually prescribed to control hypertension and angina and to alleviate anxiety-related tremors, these drugs can also ease stage fright. They reduce the heart rate and the production of adrenaline. Possible side effects are nausea, insomnia, fatigue and diarrhea. An overdose can cause dizziness and - fainting. Not to be taken by people suffering from asthma or heart trouble.

Herbs

You can go the healthy route by using herbs whose effects are similar to - if not as powerful as - those of prescription drugs. Valerian, for instance, was the predominant sedative used in this country before the invention of barbiturates. It relieves anxiety and tension. Chamomile, hops, motherwort and lobelia are other herbal relaxants, while passionflower acts as a tranquilizer without making you sleepy. All of these can be made into tea.

Warm milk

If your abundance of energy is preventing you from getting your z’s, try this old home remedy. In fact, drink milk warm or cold: the amino acid tryptophan, found in significant quantities in milk, has been proved to induce sleep.