Kava Root
For Anxiety, Addiction and Much More
I have used Kava root tea (Piper methysticum) with clients who come into my office and are overly anxious, to the point that they cannot stay on topic or are not comfortable talking with me. In about 10 minutes I can see the effects of Kava taking hold. The rapid speech slows down, they stay on one thought process and can interact with me and look at me instead of down at the floor. It really can be useful for some.
I know others who don’t have anxiety, but drink Kava just to relax and unwind at the end of the day instead of having a beer or a glass of wine.
What is Kava
Kava is plant that is found in the Pacific Islands. It is believed to have originated in Melanesia and then spread to the other Pacific Islands. This drink was originally reserved for royalty and served to honored guests. The drink also has religious significance for the Islanders and the ritual use of this plant continues today on a number of Pacific Islands. A traditional saying is “There can be no hate in the heart when one has kava”.
A few sips of Kava can leave the mouth numb and the entire body filled with a feeling of contentment. Drink more than a few sips and you may end up in a state of euphoria. It can relieve nervous tension, elevate mood, induce sleep and useful for insomnia and to combat fatigue.
Kava is an herb that is known to calm your inner tension without effecting your mental processes. It can be a wonderful herb to use when feeling stressed and anxious or when you must attend a social event and you feel awkward and shy in social situations.
This herb is known to ground and center you, yet keep you relaxed and alert. It has been shown in clinical trials to be as effective as some anti-anxiety medications with at least 11 published studies showing its effectiveness.
While Kava has been in use for centuries, it wasn’t until the late 1990’s that Kava become popular in the West. Today you can find Kava bars popping all over in the U.S. When I looked the Kava Bar interactive map, I was surprised to see many in Florida as I assumed the bulk of them were in California and Hawaii. I found two here in the Denver, CO area and one in Colorado Springs. https://kalmwithkava.com/kava-bars/ for the interactive map.
Kava Benefits
Kava root has been shown to have calming and relaxing properties as well as muscle relaxant and antispasmodic properties. While it is still exactly unknown why Kava has such an effect, it is thought to increase binding capacity to GABA receptor sites. GABA is considered your calming neurotransmitter.
If you use it in place of a benzodiazepine drug for anxiety, it does not have the same addictive qualities that the drug would nor, would there be withdrawal problems if you stop taking Kava.
For those who have social anxiety and do not like to talk in large groups, it can make you feel more outgoing when you are in these situations.
You will see down below a long list of reasons to add in Kava but the two most important aspects of Kava, that I have found, are for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and for recovering addicts and alcoholics.
Kava for Alcoholism
Some people drink in social situations to relive social anxiety or to get that “happy buzz” feeling. Kava can do the same for you but without the liver damage, nasty hangover effects nor does it have the addictive qualities to it.
It can be used as a replacement for alcohol for those wanting to quit drinking or reduce the amount they consume. It can also be used during the withdrawal process (under medical supervision for alcoholics) to quell some of the anxiety associated with the withdrawal as well as be supportive when the alcohol cravings hit.
An active ingredient in Kava, kavapyrones, have been found to bind to many of the sites in the brain that are associated with cravings and addiction. Thus, Kava may be a very supportive element to add in for addictive habits. This includes not just alcohol but nicotine, sugar and drugs.
Kava for Anxiety
In studies, Kava has shown to be effective over placebos. Eleven controlled double-blind studies with over 600 patients concluded that Kava was superior to a placebo for short term management of GAD.
The anti-anxiety properties of Kava are due to kavalactones, an active Kava compound. Kavalactones appear to act on the limbic system of the brain which is considered the primary area of the brain for emotions.
What about in comparison to anti-anxiety medications?
Kava has shown to be helpful during the tapering off benzodiazepine drugs which can be very difficult to taper off due to the side effects. When using Kava during the taper, studies showed that anxiety symptoms did not worsen, which is often the case in the taper process.
A randomized placebo- controlled study concluded that Kava was just as effective for anxiety as Buspirone and Opipramol for GAD. The best part is that there are none of the side effects that are associated with anti-anxiety drugs.
Who Should Try Kava
If you have issues with any of the below mentioned, if may be worth it giving Kava root a try
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Rapid heartbeat
- Depression
- Chronic stress
- Anxiety, depression, insomnia and cramping associated with PMS
- Use as a muscle relaxant, can be good for pain
- ADHD
- Tension Headaches, migraines
- Anger
- Fibromyalgia
- Hot flashes
- Concentration difficulties
- Social anxiety/shyness in groups, crowded events
- Jet lag
- Reduces cravings/aids in withdrawal from addiction (nicotine, drugs, alcohol, sugar)
Who Should Avoid Kava
Avoid if pregnant or if breastfeeding. Avoid alcohol consumption at the same time as kava use. Children should avoid this herb.
If using any sedative medications, psychoactive meds or antidepressant medications, discuss using kava first with your health professional.
While it can be good for mild depression it is best avoided with severe depression.
Since it is a muscle relaxant, it is best to avoid using heavy machinery when consuming.
What is New with Kava
Fiji Kava is to become the first Kava listing on any global stock exchange! You will now get the chance to buy into the first listed Kava company in the World. Fiji Kava is a medicinal company that offers their Kava as an alternative to anti-anxiety medications. It looks like as of now it is only offered on the Australian Stock exchange with hopes to raise more money to expand into the US $15 billion benzodiazepine market.
How to Use Kava
I prefer Kava in tea form or shake form only not in capsule or tincture so that I can be sure I am only getting the root.
You can purchase the whole root or purchase the root ground into powder (or you can grind the root in a coffee grinder). It is a fat- soluble plant so it is best if you add some fat to your tea such as heavy cream or coconut milk while it is steeping, and this will help the infusion assimilate the kava’s beneficial compounds.
You can drink Kava tea on occasion safely. If you consume it daily, it should only be consumed for three months because drinking large amounts daily can cause a skin rash. This is only seen in heavy, long term users who consume Kava at 800 mg daily of the isolated compound, lactone dihydromethysticin. Once kava is discontinued the rash goes away. However don’t go overboard with Kava and drink more than one to two cups daily.
Kava was banned in the past in the United Kingdom and in several European countries in 2002 after concerns that it might cause liver damage. This ban was lifted in 2008. The concern of liver damage appears to be from a compound that is found in the stem and leaf, not in the root. Reports of liver damage are from people who were taking extract capsules that may have also contained stem peelings. Avoid the leaf and the stem and purchase only the root. If you do so, it appears that Kava is quite safe on the liver. Always buy from trusted and reputable herbal sources. I like Mountain Rose for the whole root or the powder. (I am not affiliated with them in any way).
How to Make Kava Tea
Add one teaspoon of the root or powdered root to one cup of water and boil for 10 to 20 minutes before consuming. You can consume 2 cups of this daily. It is best to drink it quickly (its not the best tasting tea anyhow) for its euphoric effects. The calming effects should be noticed within 10 minutes. Add fat such as heavy cream to it while steeping and otherwise drink it on an empty stomach to feel its full impact. If you drink it one to two times per day, only do so for three months.
If you don’t like the taste, as many don’t, you can add in some beneficial herbs such as ginger, or cinnamon for flavor or a bit of raw, local honey.
Be patient, for some, it may take a few times before you feel its full effects. It does have some numbing effects so don’t be alarmed if it numbs your tongue or gives your mouth a tingling sensation.
You can also try Kava in a shake. In a bowl, combine one cup of hot organic milk or nut milk with one teaspoon of dried kava root. Let this steep for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid through a cheese cloth into a blender. Add in a teaspoon of coconut milk (full fat), a teaspoon of organic cocoa, 1 teaspoon raw local honey and one cup of ice. Blend on high and serve to make a stress relieving chocolate shake!
Bottom Line
Work with your health care professional when adding in Kava. Avoid with alcohol and discuss with your doctor if on medications. Use only in the dried root or powder form in a tea or shake and avoid tinctures and supplements to be safe. Source only from reputable growers and make sure you are only getting the root not leaf or stem of the kava plant.
Sources
Balch, P. Prescription for Herbal Healing. 2nd Edition NY: Avery
Gladstar, R. (2012) Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs. A beginner Guide. MA: Storey
Publishing.
Hoffman, D. (2003) Medical Herbalism. The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. VT:
Healing Arts Press.
Mars, B.(2007) The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine. CA: Basic Health Publications, Inc.
Skenderi, G. (2003) Herbal Vade Medcum. NJ: Herbacy Press
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4630875/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130513095750.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12180513
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23635869
https://www.fijitimes.com/fiji-kava-to-become-the-first-kava-listing-on-any-global-stock-exchange/
http://www.herballegacy.com/Wolsey_chemical.html
https://www.investordaily.com.au/markets/43714-kava-launching-onto-asx-in-the-world-first
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