Kava Kava Root Powder

Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) has been widely used for over 3,000 years by native South Pacific Islanders. The roots are made into a beverage that the Polynesians drink ritually over the course of several hours, typically in the evening together with friends. They enjoy its sedative and euphoric qualities and feel warm emotions toward those involved in the ritual.

Kava Kava is becoming increasingly popular in the western world as an antianxiety and antidepressant drug and sleep aid. Further it can help to treat back pain, menstrual conditions, muscle cramps and tension headache. After using Kava Kava you may feel a relaxing and calming feeling, less irritable, less tense and less nervous.

Historical and Traditional Uses

Kava is prepared and consumed in a variety of ways throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures of Polynesia, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia. Traditionally kava has been prepared by either chewing, grinding or pounding. Chewing the kava consists of masticating it in the mouth, depositing it back into a bowl, mixing with water and then straining it through the cloth-like fiber of a coconut tree. Another method is grinding in which the kava is ground by hand against a cone-shaped block of dead coral; the hand forming a makeshift mortar and the coral cone, a pestle. The moist ground kava root is combined with only a small amount of water as the fresh root releases a good deal of moisture during grinding. The last method is by pounding the kava in a large stone with a small log. Kava prepared in any of these ways is significantly more potent than unprocessed kava. The product resulting from these methods is then added to cold water and consumed as quickly as possible.

Common Kava Effects:

The onset of a moderate potency kava drink is 20-30 minutes, with effects usually lasting for two hours. Effects can be felt up to eight hours after ingestion.

These effects of drinking kava, in order of sensation, are slight tongue and lip numbing caused by the contraction of the blood vessels in these areas (the lips and skin surrounding may appear unusually pale); mildly talkative and euphoric behavior; anxiolytic (calming) effects, sense of well-being, clear thinking; and relaxed muscles. Sleep is often restful and there are pronounced periods of sleepiness correlating to the amount and potency of Kava consumed. When drunk to excess, Kava can cause vomiting and a feeling of nausea that will subside usually by the end of the day after consumption. In Vanuatu, drinking strong kava is normally followed by a hot meal or tea. Meals consumed along with kava traditionally follow some time after the beverage so that the psychoactive's are absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly.

A drink of high potency results in a faster onset with a lack of stimulation, somnolence, and then deep, dreamless sleep within 30 minutes (I personally have noticeable happy and beautiful dreams). Unlike alcohol-induced sleep, after wakening the drinker does not experience any mental or physical after effects.

Heavy consumption of kava can produce dermatological effects ranging from light, red bumps; to heavy, scaly, ulcerous skin. Kava contains lactones that bind to skin proteins forming antigens which then lead to the allergic response. Discontinuation or reduction of consumption resolves the effects.

It is reported that many people experience rather vivid dreams after consumption of kava.

Kava can also be combined with coffee to produce kava java, the effects of which are said to combine the most pleasant qualities of each.

Medicinal Kava

In the Western world, kava is commonly marketed as a herbal remedy to ease the symptoms of stress and anxiety.

On 15 February 2006, the Fiji Times and Fiji Live both reported that researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and the Laboratoire de Biologie Moleculaire du Cancer in Luxembourg had discovered kava may be effective in the treatment of ovarian cancer and leukemia. Kava compounds inhibited the activation of a nuclear factor that led to the growth of cancer cells. Aberdeen University had published its findings in the journal, The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science, that kava methanol extracts had been shown to kill leukaemia and ovarian cancer cells in test tubes. The kava compounds were shown to work selectively, passing healthy cells by and targeting only cancerous cells.

Fiji Kava Council Chairman Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo welcomed the findings, saying that they would boost the kava industry. For his part, Agriculture Minister Ilaitia Tuisese called on the researchers to help persuade members of European Union to lift their ban on kava imports.

Pharmacology

Pharmacologically, kava is not addictive. Its active principal ingredients are the kavalactones, of which 15 have been identified and are all considered psychoactive. Only six of these kavalactones produce noticeable effects, and their concentrations can vary in kava plants. Different ratios can produce different effects.

Fresh kava root contains on average 80% water. Dried root contains approximately 43% starch, 20% fibers, 15% kavalactones, 12% water, 3.2% sugars, 3.6% proteins, and 3.2% minerals. Kavalactone content is greatest in the roots and decreases as you move up the plant. Relative concentrations of 15%, 10% and 5% have been observed in the root, stump, and basal stems, respectively.

Kava has been considered to be relatively safe. Having been consumed for at least two thousand years, kava's safety record is indeed very high. Yet, some kava herbal supplements have been accused of contributing to rare but severe hepatotoxic reactions likely due to additives or to the use of the wrong parts of the plant.