Has anyone tried the herbal drug Kava kava?

Hey guys. I just recently heard of this herbal drug called Kava Kava, also known as Awa. Anyways is it supposed to have anti-anxiety effects just to name one. I read a bunch of info on it saying the natives used to drink it to relax and “get high”, if you will, before the white man introduced alchohol. It is said to be close to pot in it’s effects, which I don’t smoke anyway. Apparently it makes you more social, sharpens the mind and gives you great sleep with a clear mind in the morning, no hangoever or mental fogginess. Anyways I am from Canada and it was band here in 2002 but I was just curious if anyone else has tried it, and what there take on it was? Oh yeah it is a leaf type plant that can be boiled down to make a tea or can be chewed in the mouth which is’nt less popular method these days.

later,

Meater Beater

I was all set give you the standard “do a search” thing and did one myself. Haven’t got f*ck all on kava, just a hand full of posts.

I have used it in a number of ways, including packing an injured tooth with a kava paste. If you take a bunch of the “good stuff” You WILL know why it’s classified as a psychotropic.

Kava information

My wife’s got some. It’s supposed to be halfway decent, but I’ve never tried it. She bought it after a 20/20 special proclaimed it “nature’s valium” or something. Whatever.

Where can you find the “good stuff”?

I use it at night before I’m ready to go to bed. Gives me a good sleep

Kava is good! It should be safe too, South Pacific natives have been drinking it for centuries or maybe thousands of years. It was implicated in liver problems in Germany, but almost everyone who had the problem was also an alcoholic so…

Also, I wouldn’t mix it with alcohol. Those natives didn’t have alcohol.

The German problem might not have been because they had bad livers, but because they mixed them. Somethings that are relatively safe for the liver by themselves can blow it out if you mix them. (Eg don’t take tylenol for a hangover, tylenol + alcohol can overload something in the liver)

But as long as you don’t drink with it seems like good stuff. You just feel really “nice.”

PEanist

I thought the German problem was the extract was too potent per miligram than what those crazy islanders took ounce per ounce.

Not everyone.

I live in the S. Pacific where until recently we had kava bars. “Get a lift.” Recent data indicates that kava can have a very serious downside, and not just for the liver-impaired. So, be careful about what you take in.

I have heard good things about GABA.

I used to take it regularly, with everything else which I found potentially useful or remotely interesting, so it is difficult to say if it produced any effects, in any department. I can’t remember exactly the particular reason I took it in the first place, which reminds me that I need to keep my eyes open for any supplements which would be useful in this department.

Anyway (where was I?), yes, the reason for my contribution to this thread (which was?), about a year ago, (or was it two?), whatever, this product was removed from sale throughout the United Kingdom and has yet to make a reappearance. Some concerns about potential liver damage and other concerns of possible mental effects.

The official response was that there was a need for further research into kava kava, before it would be made available again, it has not been heard of since.

I’ve just remembered I have the following information in a nutrition and herb glossary brochure, which might be of interest.

<KAVA KAVA-Traditionally Kava was valued both for its mellowing effects and to encourage socialising. It was noted for initiating a state of contentment, a greater sense of well-being, and enhanced mental acuity, memory, and sensory perception. Kava has also been used traditionally to treat pain. Kava Kava has been extensively studied as a treatment for anxiety. One study that lasted six months has validated the effectiveness of Kava Kava for people with anxiety, including menopausal women.>

As I am not a menopausal woman, have never been particularly anxious and have little difficulty socialising, I guess I must have taken it for the mental acuity and memory enhancement.

Explains everything!

It must have been one of the few products I tried which did not relate to sexual enhancement or penis development - Well Excuse Me!

Luckily I discovered Thunders Place.

rouss

I think GABA or St John’s are your easiest to obtain substitutes for Kava and slightly better researched too. If anxiety has you by the balls look into these. If not get pharmacological help from the medical community.

I picked up some GABA real cheap and I’ve gotta say it does nothing for me, nothing at all.

Melatonin helps me sleep.

You can still find Kava in some stores, I just bought some last week, but it’s not nearly as common as it was in the past.

Other supplements you might find useful to that end:
L-Theanine - green tea extract, acts almost exactly like Kava, some say better.
Valerian - higher dosage can make you very drowsy
GABA
Hops
Skullcap
Hyssop

Some companies make combination formulas that include Kava with the fore mentioned ingrediants, they work well. I’ve tried Kava, Valerian, and L-Theanine. If you want something to take during the day, L-Theanine or Kava are best. For getting and staying asleep, Valerian reins, really helps with moderate insomnia. It also made me have very vivid dreams.

I was told that GABA with Niacin taken along side it works very well. I can’t take Niacin cause it drives my uric acid into overload and I get all gouty.