Kava Information

What is Kava? The different types of Kava and its origins. Safety and side effects of Kava consumption.

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What is Kava?

The Piper methysticum plant, which is indigenous to Pacific Ocean islands, is the source of kava. The plant’s root was traditionally processed into a paste, which people then combined with water or coconut milk to make a beverage.

This kava beverage is used by South Pacific islanders to induce altered states of consciousness during ceremonial gatherings. The dried roots can also be used to manufacture powder or pills.

Kava use provides a calming, uplifting impact. Drugs with this calming effect are known as anxiolytics by scientists. Furthermore it is used as a recreational drug and medicine, as it helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

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Kava Origins

Investigating the origins of kava is similar to solving a puzzle. Although the kava plant’s true ancestry is unknown, the majority of people nowadays think it came from Vanuatu. Some people believe that the island of Maewo in northern Vanuatu is where kava first appeared. The fact that Vanuatu has the widest variety of kava plants of any country lends credence to this notion.

Together with experts from the University of Hawaii, Dr. Vincent Lebot, a renowned kava researcher and author of the book “Kava: The Pacific Elixir,” has significantly added to our understanding of the background of kava. The extraordinary and special features of the plant have led Pacific Islanders to treasure kava for many ages, it is certain.

According to a historical account from 1616, Dutch explorers Le Maire and Schouten may have seen kava on the island of Futuna. The discovery of kava was undoubtedly a result of Captain James Cook’s expeditions to the South Pacific. A 1769 botanical illustration of kava may be seen at the Natural History Museum in London, England. Then, towards the century’s end, naturalist, journalist, and revolutionary George Forster, who travelled with his father, a renowned naturalist, on numerous scientific expeditions, including Captain James Cook’s second Pacific voyage, gives a detailed description of kava: “the kava juice is extracted from the roots of a kind of pepper-tree. People first cut the roots into little pieces, chew them, and then spit the pulp into a basin of coconut water or cold water. The mixture is then dumped into a different basin for ingestion after being passed through the fibres of the coconut.

Substitue to Alchohol for Socialising

You cannot hate with kava in you, according to one of our favourite kava quotes. Tom Harrison wrote “Savage Civilization,” which was published in 1937, in which he made this claim. He explains how kava use makes you feel sociable and never cross.

Great relationships are built on friendship and refraining from becoming angry with your spouse, your friends, or your family. Kava use can encourage excellent social interactions and help you build wonderful relationships with the people you care about.

The idea that kava is beneficial for fostering friendships is supported by historical data. In the past, kava was one of the precious items that ocean explorers brought with them as they ventured out to find new islands. They were aware that offering a kava root beverage to a different tribe or group they came across would help them feel more at peace and content. Then debates had a considerably higher likelihood of being friendly and open. Kava is still shared and consumed initially in Pacific island communities when they wish to settle a problem or conflict via discussion and mediation.

Lowers Anxiety, Stress, Worries and Fears

Several clinical trials, albeit not all, have discovered that kava is efficient in alleviating anxiety-related symptoms. Researchers found that a standardised kava extract was much more beneficial than a placebo in alleviating anxiety after reviewing 7 scholarly trials. After just one week of therapy, kava significantly reduced the severity of symptoms, according to another research. Kava may be just as effective as other over-the-counter anxiety drugs, according to other studies. According to one study, kava and diazepam (Valium) alter brain wave activity similarly, indicating they may have similar calming effects.

Natural Sleep Aid

Lack of sleep is associated with a number of illnesses, including as cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and obesity .

As a result, many people seek out sleep aids to improve their quality of sleep. Similar to pharmaceuticals used to treat anxiety, sleep aids may develop a physical dependence if misused .

Due to its relaxing qualities, kava is frequently used as an alternative to traditional sleep aids.

Kava was shown to be more effective than a placebo for reducing stress and sleeplessness in research studies.