Watch this video!
(Kava root is extremely potent for reducing anxiety but be sure to take a look at the other health benefits down below. Also check out the potential side effects and risks before you consider ordering.)
Where can I buy Kava Kava?
To consider before choosing what brand to order
There are other brands out there but I strongly encourage you to do your research before ordering any of them and, always when in doubt, go for a respectable and well known brand. Especially when it comes to something that is as potent as kava root.
Fijian Kava is well known and is sold on a big platform (Amazon) and it is known for its excellent quality. They also have certified quality standards that they fulfill. In addition to this they also, publicly, post the lab analysis of the product for everyone to see. Not many brands do that and this is something that is very respectable and reassuring…
…that, in combination with the great feedback and testimonials, makes me recommend the
Fijian Wakacon Kava brand.
Is Kava safe? The side effects of Kava
This is a common question and having concerns about our health is a good thing. Every substance that has the potential to change our state of mind in one way or another way should be treated with respect. However there are many false facts out there along with false rumors about the safety of using Kava.
A normal intake of kava (in its traditional form) has been stated to bee “acceptably low level of health risk” by the World Health Organization or WHO, after a few rumors of kava being hard on the liver. However, kava extracts produced with organic solvents or poor quality kava products may be linked to an increased risk of adverse health outcomes!
Kava is not a synthetic drug and using it does therefore not come with the same risks. Kava is natural and has been used for thousands of years by Pacific Islanders. The answer to the question “is Kava safe?” is Yes, IF using a respectable, well known brand, and as instructed, the risks are negligible.
That said it is still important to read the reports and rumors.
Risks and potential side effects that have been reported
- Due to it’s anti anxiolytic effects Kava may impair reaction time and motor skills (keep in mind if driving or using machinery)
- May give mild stomach discomfort
- Kava should NOT be taken with anti depressant drugs or with alcohol
- May become less effective if you use it too often
- May cause a mild headaches
- Heavy and frequent use of kava can cause dry eyes
- Some repports of Kava being hard on the liver
However, several analysis of studies did not found anything that suggest liver damage in kava users in the short term, or about 1–6 months. (See studies here and here).
Summary
Kava is generally considered safe if used as directed. You should however be careful with using heavy machinery after consuming kava. Also you should be careful where you buy kavakava. Drinking kava may produce muscle-relaxant effects and impaired reaction time, which are a bit similar to the effects of alcohol.
Disclaimer:
It is, of course, always best to be careful and you have to realize that by trying out any supplements, you are doing so at your own risk. It is also best to consult a doctor before you start taking any new supplements since they may interact with certain drugs. This is a general rule with almost all supplements and especially if you already are on any form of antidepressant drugs or anxiety drugs.
What Exactly Is Kava? Is Kava Effective for Anxiety? Does Kava Really Work for Anxiety?
Kava Kava is an herbal remedy that’s made from the roots of Piper methysticum. This is a type of plant found in the islands of the Pacific Ocean and the name means “intoxicating pepper”. Kava is mostly known for its potent effects for lowering anxiety levels and reducing stress. It has even been shown to be as effective as prescription anxiety drugs. Because of its relaxing qualities, and because its ability to calm the brain and the body, kava has opened the eyes of the medical community, as a promising treatment for anxietydisorders.
A study of 75 anxiety patients showed that, compared to the placebo group, the patients who took kava got a very significant reduction in their anxiety. The test was done over a six week period and was well documented and supervised.
After the study 27% of the people who got the real Kava reported such a big relieve from their stress problems that they could no longer be classified as “having issues with anxiety”….
…in other words, they were no longer “anxiety patients”.
Link to study: Does kava help with anxiety
Other interesting health benefits of kava
There are some other interesting health benefits of kava.
Here are a list of some of them:
-
Kava possesses anti-cancer properties
(Studies made on cell-based levels show that the kava root reduces breast cancer cells sizes and increases cancer cell death. Link to study)
-
Kava may potentially stop the progression of bladder cancer
(In a study made on mice it clearly showed that the progression of the tumor was suppressed by supplementing with Kava. Link to study)
-
Kava may reduce colon cancer and inhibits prostate cancer tumors
(Link to study, Link to study)
-
Kava is very helpful for sleep problems
(Kava possesses sedative effects because of an increase in GABA. It also blocks the calcium, sodium and ion channels. This makes kava an excellent choice for treating insomnia. )
-
Kava reduces depression
(Kava increases our energy at the same time it decreases anxiety and stress. It gives us a pleasant mental state. It helps with boosting mood and this makes it a good for reducing symptoms of depression. There are studies made on this as well. Link to study , Link to study )
-
Kava protects against Parkinsons and Alzheimers
(Kava contains something called kavalactones. Kavalactones activates a certain antioxidant response pathway , called Nrf2, and this helps combating brain damage from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Link to study)
-
Kava enhances general function of the brain
(Studies have shown that just a single dose of 350mg of Kava improves short term memory, attention and visual processing. However, continued use of high doses, for very long periods of time can actually slightly reduce concentration and attention. Link to study)
-
Kava is anti inflammatory
Studies on the level of cells, kava has ben shown to lower levels of TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha is major player in inflammation of the brain and body. (Link to study)
-
Kava boosts the immune system
Kava has also been shown to enhance our immune system. (Link to study)
-
Kava helps with menopaus symptoms
A study of 80 perimenopausal women reported that by reducing anxiety levels and increasing dopamine as well as stimulating the GABA receptors, kava reduced their symptoms of menopaus. The presented data indicated that, in perimenopausal women, administration of Kava-Kava induces an improvement of mood, particularly of anxiety.(Link to study)
-
Kava reduces epilepsy seizures
A study on rats with epilepsy showed the rats to significantly benefit from kava root. This happened both isolated and in tandem with a benzodiazepine. (often prescribed for seizures). In combination with the benzo, kava was even more effective and drastically pushed the seizure threshold. Kava also amplified the anticonvulsant effect of the benzodiazepine. (Link to study)
How long does it take to feel the effects of kava?
A Kava brand that is considered to be of normal strength will make you feel the effects after about 25-35 minutes after taking it. It also depends on if you take it on an empty stomach or not. If you do, then the effecst will kick in a bit faster.
How will it make me feel? Will it impair my thinking?
A really beneficial thing about using Kava is that, unlike prescription drugs, or other drugs, that are “uppers” or “downers”, Kava will give you the strong relaxation without the feeling like you can’t concentrate, think or function. So it’s not like alcohol at all. That said, everyone is different and we all experience and perceive things differently. Everything is possible to overdo and that goes for Kava as well but you will know when you have reached the optimal dose and your optimal “happy place”, and then you know its time to stop taking more of it.
Can you get a buzz from kava?
Kava will make you feel relaxed, calm and in some cases even a slight feeling of being a bit “numb”. Some have reported a slight “hypnotic” effect however to say that one gets a “buzz” from cava is not really accurate. A feeling of warm relaxation, are the words that comes closest when trying to describe how kava makes you feel.
How long does kava kava stay in your system?
The half life of kava is somewhere around 8-10 hours. This means that after about 8-10 hours, half of the amount is still in your blood and you have to wait for another 8-10 hour before it is mostly out of your system. However the real effects of kava is usually strongest the first 1-3 hours. Another thing worth noting is that it is probably wise to not use kava every day of the week. This is to avoid building up a tolerance for it, like we can do with most things we use regularly.
Is Kava Kava legal all over the world?
No but it is legal in the USA and many other places around the world. You should check with your local food and drug administration before ordering Kava to find out if it is legal in your country.
Where Can I buy Kava-Kava?
If you are wondering where to buy Kava Kava you can click here to find it on Amazon.
Thank you for reading the blog post “Where to buy kava-kava root”
-Bob Castle-
Natural Health Evolution