Kava Kava

[Ice]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava

Kava or kava-kava (Piper methysticum) (Piper: Latin for 'pepper', methysticum: (Latinized) Greek for 'intoxicating') is an ancient crop of the western Pacific. The name kava(-kava) is from Tongan and Marquesan[1]; other names for kava include ʻawa (Hawaiʻi), 'ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), and sakau (Pohnpei). The word kava is used to refer both to the plant and the beverage produced from its roots. Kava is consumed throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures of Polynesia (including Hawaii), Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia and Australia. Kava is sedating and is primarily consumed to relax without disrupting mental clarity. Its active ingredients are called kavalactones. In some parts of the Western World, modern kava extract is used as an effective nausea remedy[citation needed]. A Cochrane Collaboration systematic review of its evidence concluded that it was likely to be more effective than placebo at treating short-term social anxiety.[2] Safety concerns have been raised over liver toxicity largely due to the use of stems and leaves by supplement makers, as opposed to solely the root of the plant as dictated by traditional uses.[3][4]

Anyone ever try this? I remember DA posting a thread about it ages ago, and finally decided to give it a go being summer and all.

I did a bit of research, and found that Kava from the Island of Fiji, "Kava Waka" to be more specific, is of very high quality. I found some store in Oregon who gets it shipped fresh from Fiji, and decided to give it a try.

The mature roots of the kava plant are harvested after a minimum of 4 years (at least five years ideally) for peak kavalactone content. Most kava plants produce around 50 kg (110 lb) of root when they are harvested. Kava root is classified into two categories: crown root (or chips) and lateral root. Crown roots are the large diameter pieces that look like big (1.5 inches to 5 inches diameter) wooden poker chips. Most kava plants consist of approximately 80% crown root upon harvesting. Lateral roots are smaller diameter roots that look more like a typical root. A mature kava plant is approximately 20% lateral roots. Kava lateral roots have the highest content of kavalactones in the kava plant. "Waka" grade kava is kava that is made of lateral roots only.

I'm really curious on what to expect. Has anyone tried this first hand?

[Megas Methuselah]

Wait, wait, wait! So it gets you high?

[Ice]

Wait, wait, wait! So it gets you high?

I wouldnt' say it gets you "high". I'd imagine it most likely helps you relax.

[Raz]

I wouldnt' say it gets you "high". I'd imagine it most likely helps you relax.

Hmm, apparently the Kava plant creates mild euphoria and a degree of relaxation. Sounds like a my kind of plant.

[Lemur]

Give it a go, and if you're up for it, please let us know how it went. Legal intoxicants are always of interest.

[Fragony]

They sell it at the smartshops here, never tried it but it's supposedly a bit like mdea

[Ice]

They sell it at the smartshops here, never tried it but it's supposedly a bit like mdea

The stuff I got is probably more potent and of higher quality. I could go to GNC right now and pick up a cheap liquid version, but I figure if I'm going to try this I want the best stuff.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Kava side effects.

Why do you want to use this?

[Ice]

Kava side effects.

Why do you want to use this?

Like most things, Kava is fine in moderation. Most of the symptoms are in users who drink of ton of this stuff. I've also read conflicting studies on the liver toxcicity aspect.

This is no worse than alcohol, and to answer your question as to why I want to use it, "In addition to its ceremonial uses, kava is best known for its relaxing qualities. Kava is said to elevate mood, well-being, and contentment, and produce a feeling of relaxation. Several studies have found that kava may be useful in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders."

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/kava-kava-000259.htm

I enjoy trying new things, and have heard good reports about kava.

[Megas Methuselah]

Give it a go, and if you're up for it, please let us know how it went. Legal intoxicants are always of interest.

My thoughts exactly.

[Ice]

My thoughts exactly.

I shall do this. I'll either have it tomorrow or Friday. I'm going to mix in some pineapple juice, coconut milk, and oj. I'll then drink it while smoking a fine cigar after dinner, and report back here with my experience.

[Megas Methuselah]

... a fine cigar-

What exactly are we celebrating here?

[Ice]

What exactly are we celebrating here?

Nothing really. Fine cigars really don't cost much if you know how to pick them.

[A Nerd]

You are indeed a worldly and sophisticated fellow! ;) I too would like to know how your experience goes!

[Hosakawa Tito]

I shall do this. I'll either have it tomorrow or Friday. I'm going to mix in some pineapple juice, coconut milk, and oj. I'll then drink it while smoking a fine cigar after dinner, and report back here with my experience.

Don't mix it with alcohol, drive a vehicle or operate a chain saw please. We don't want anything bad to happen to you.

[Megas Methuselah]

Don't ...or operate a chain saw please.

Yeah, no kiddin. You can't afford to cut off your fingers, Ice. Accountants need those little limbs more'n anythin.

[Ice]

Kava arrived today in the mail. Not wanting to wait to try it out, I immediately open the package. The stuff basically looks like dirt crossed with some sort of herb. I pour some pineapple juice, milk, coconut milk, and 2 tsb of kava in a blender. I try the result... I almost gag. I add a banana, and reblend it. It tastes much better now.

I'll let you know how the outcome fares.

[Ice]

The initial verdict is in: Don't waste your money. I may have prepared it wrong, so I'll try again later.

Edit: To elaborate, I guess it did make me feel at ease a bit. I had a slight buzz, but the disgusting nature of kava probably will prevent me from buying it again unless my next attempt blows me away.

[Fragony]

Here they sell it in capsules at the shroomshop, must be for a reason it sounds horrible.

[Hosakawa Tito]

The initial verdict is in: Don't waste your money. I may have prepared it wrong, so I'll try again later.

Edit: To elaborate, I guess it did make me feel at ease a bit. I had a slight buzz, but the disgusting nature of kava probably will prevent me from buying it again unless my next attempt blows me away.

Describe disgusting nature. Taste, texture ?

Ah well, there's always alcohol.

[Megas Methuselah]

Well, this is disappointing.

How was the cigar?

[Ice]

Here they sell it in capsules at the shroomshop, must be for a reason it sounds horrible.

I'd advise against buying it in capsules. Much of the liver toxicity HT linked to before was caused as a result of people eating these capsules. There is really no way to tell what's in these capsules, and instead of using the root many companies would throw in the leaves, branches, and other scraps which caused such toxcicity.

Describe disgusting nature. Taste, texture ?

The taste was pretty gross. Like I said before, I had to put in a lot of additives to force the mixture down. This caused an increase in volume, and kind of made me sick from the amount I had to consume. My stomach didn't feel quite right afterward.

The texture was almost that of dirt. It wasn't a huge problem, but the mixture tasted a bit grainy.

How was the cigar?

It was good. I actually was just smoking another one out back since it's such a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I've found a knockoff of Montecristo which are very cheap in bulk, so I've been smoking those.




The more read about Kava, the more I think I prepared it incorrectly. I supposedly have excellent stuff, and I've read reports on people getting very good results.

[Hosakawa Tito]

The initial verdict is in: Don't waste your money. I may have prepared it wrong, so I'll try again later.

Edit: To elaborate, I guess it did make me feel at ease a bit. I had a slight buzz, but the disgusting nature of kava probably will prevent me from buying it again unless my next attempt blows me away.

Well grasshopper, here's a link on how to prepare kava kava.

Take the kava – powdered, pressed, ground or shredded – put it in a strainer and place that in your beverage of choice and allow it to steep for several minutes minimum… the longer you let it brew, the better it will be. However, be careful not to use traditional tea strainers if you are using a powder; the wire mesh is not fine enough to hold in kava powder and it is very possible some will escape into your drink. Instead, use fine muslin bags which are reusable and better to strain the kava.

If you just dumped the powder into the liquid and drank it instead of steeping it or didn't use a fine enough strainer as described...I can well imagine it must have tasted awful. I'm surprised you didn't puke. Where's a Hawaiian WitchDoctor when you need one, eh? Crazy kids and their newfangled recreational drugs. Why, back in my day weed & lsd were the goldstandard...

[Megas Methuselah]

Well, there you go: let it steep.

[Ice]

Well grasshopper, here's a link on how to prepare kava kava.


If you just dumped the powder into the liquid and drank it instead of steeping it or didn't use a fine enough strainer as described...I can well imagine it must have tasted awful. I'm surprised you didn't puke. Where's a Hawaiian WitchDoctor when you need one, eh? Crazy kids and their newfangled recreational drugs. Why, back in my day weed & lsd were the goldstandard...

This is one of the methods to prepare kava. I elected for the blender because it was supposed to agiatate the mixture and release kavalactones at a quick rate. However, most of the recipes told me to strain which is impossible after blending something for 5 minutes.

Edit: After reading the article, I realized that I wasn't using enough fat soluble liquid. I'll definitely this again.

[Megas Methuselah]

I'll definitely try this again.

Yes! Tonight!

[Ice]

Yes! Tonight!

I just did. I used a ton of coconut milk (stuff is loaded with fat) mixed with a little bit of pineapple juice and water.

I'm letting it sit in the fridge until later tonight.

[Beskar]

I laughed when it was said it tasted bad. I would have thought that part would be obvious.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Hopefully he wakes up.

[Ice]

Hopefully he wakes up.

I'm still here... kava didn't work....again.