Kava has a long history of use by native cultures in traditional medicine. The most common form of consumption is by brewing a kind of tea with the ground up kava root.
Modern civilization creates stress and places us in prolonged states of emotional tension; kava is a way to relieve the negative effects of stress on your body with a natural solution.
Once you’ve taken kava, you will quickly experience an enjoyable sense of calm and relaxation.
Instead of relying on unhealthy ways to calm yourself with dangerous chemicals, you can use kava.
What is Kava (Kava)?
Kava is a relative of the pepper plant that is native to the South Pacific islands. Researchers believe Kava acts as both a sedative and a medicinal herb.
Researchers have extracted the active components of the kava plant, known as kavalactones, to produce a biosynthetic supplement for anxiety relief. [1]
It’s one of the most popular nootropics used to relieve anxiety and restore a calm mood. Why suffer through the health destroying effects of excess stress, when a healthy solution is available?
Kava, akin to diazepam (Valium), induces calming effects and proves effective as a sleep aid.
Kava is easily available from many retailers and is completely legal in the United States.
It is a great way to relieve anxiety and stress. Similar to a popular prescription anxiety reliever, Kava is readily available from various sources.
If you need to calm yourself without using toxic chemicals, or getting a prescription; then kava could be the solution for you.
Other Names for Kava
Kava, scientific name: Piper methysticum (intoxicating pepper) is also called; Ava Pepper, Ava Root, Awa, Gea, Gi, and Intoxicating Long Pepper. [2]
Editor’s Note
The popularity of kava is easy to understand. I have suffered from anxiety and insomnia for most of my adult life and was suffering from a variety of stress-induced health problems that was negatively impacting my quality of life.
I tried kava in the hope that it would help me overcome my problems and enjoy a calm mood and restful sleep.
After the first hour or so I was feeling very relaxed, and my mood had improved 100% from how I felt before I had taken the kava.
I used a powder to make a kava tea and drank it slowly over about 15 minutes. I will say that the taste of kava isn’t the greatest, and I think it will take most people a while to become accustomed.
This is a big change for me because I usually lie down in bed and just worry about everything, and one bad thought chases after another. This is one of my biggest problems when I try to sleep.
The kava tea I made seemed to keep things from bothering me as much as before, it was a relaxing experience, and I’ve come to rely on kava to keep me rested and relieve my tendency to obsess on my worries.
Kava Reviews
When you search for kava reviews on the internet, you’ll find thousands of positive experiences that people are anxious to share. The majority of experiences that kava users report mirror my own.
Combine the fact that kava is safe to use and easy to find, with how effective it is to restore calm and induce restful sleep; and you’ll find a veritable fan club of reviewers on the internet that is happy to share the news about this wonderful nootropic supplement.
Benefits and effects
Kava has a variety of benefits and effects that will assist you in dealing with the stresses and resultant anxieties that are a part of everyday life.
Kava for Anxiety Relief without Decreased Cognitive Function
Research demonstrates Kava’s effectiveness in reducing anxiety levels in healthy individuals. Kava use has reduced the perception of stress in individuals who complain of having excess stress in their daily lives.
A review of seven kava studies revealed significant evidence supporting its efficacy in reducing anxiety compared to a placebo.
A study conducted in 2004 discovered that 300 mg of kava could improve perceived mood with no reduction in cognitive ability. [3]
This is significant because prescription anxiety medications like benzodiazepines (Valium or Xanax) can impair cognitive function over time.
Kava for Quality Sleep
Studies have shown that kava is an effective sleep aid that can improve the quality of sleep and decrease the amount of time an individual suffering from anxiety will need to fall asleep after lying down.
The most important fact this study uncovered is that, compared to prescription sleep aids, kava has a rapid onset of effects combined with satisfactory duration of action and minimal after-effects the morning after.
Sleep quantity and quality are important to maintain peak cognitive function so you can perform at your best in every aspect of your life.
According to new research, Kava increases the amount of quality sleep time that you experience and does it with much less negative effects after sleeping as compared with prescription sleep drugs. [4]
Kava for Weight Loss
Stress and anxiety are powerful factors in obesity. Stress will increase the production of the stress hormone: cortisol.
Cortisol starts many metabolic reactions that can increase your body’s fat levels.
It stimulates an insulin response for the purpose of providing your body with more energy to survive a threatening situation.
Cortisol also tells the body that it needs to restore those calories although you haven’t burned that many calories during your period of stress. Kava will relieve this stress reaction and can impede the tendency to over-eat that stress will cause. [5]
How Kava Works
Researchers still have much work to do to fully grasp the precise mechanisms by which kava calms, reduces anxiety, and promotes restful sleep.
Experts believe kavalactones in kava root bind to receptors in the brain’s amygdala region, contributing to its calming effects.
The amygdala is what regulates feelings of fear and the experience of anxiety. Studies have shown that the amygdala is very sensitive to the effects of kavalactones. The kavalactones then act to reduce the perception of stress and anxiety. [6]
After consuming a drink of kava root, you should feel the effects within a half-hour that will continue for another two and a half to eight hours afterward.
The effects you’ll experience with kava use begin with possible mouth and tongue numbing, and then you might become more sociable than you usually are.
Next, you may experience an increase in mental clarity, calmness, and feeling of relaxation combined with a sense of well-being. [7]
There are reports of the effects lasting as long as two days after a dose, and those effects can include increased mental clarity, less tendency toward short-temper, and a feeling of ease toward the world
People have most often compared the effects of kava to a moderate intake of alcohol and even a dose of Valium. [8]
Kava Dosages
The most important anti-anxiety studies using kava have demonstrated that the most effective dose range to experience the beneficial effects of kavalactones is in the 210mg to the 280mg range.
Studies have found that the best dosage to promote restful sleep is between 140mg and 210mg taken between 30 minutes to an hour of going to bed.
Sleep with kava is often more restful than usual, sometimes dreamless, and the kava user frequently wakes up more stimulated and alert than they usually do.
Kava has none of the physical after effects of alcohol-induced sleep. Users of kava won’t have the hangover of generally ill feelings that alcohol induced sleep will usually create in the morning. [9]
The Main Side Effects of Kava
The side effects of kava include a mild anesthetic effect around the mouth that will include the lips and tongue.
Prolonged and heavy kava use is implicated in causing a scaly rash on the palms and soles, known as kava dermopathy. Ceasing to use kava reversed this skin condition.
Kava extracts may worsen Parkinson’s disease symptoms in affected individuals.
Some other negative reactions that have been related to heavy kava use are; hair loss, dizziness, partial loss of hearing, and abdominal discomfort.
There have been reports of mild sedation, muscle weakness and muscle tremors as well. [9]
Stacking Kava
Like other nootropic supplements, combining substances may enhance their effectiveness as they synergize within the body.
Kava is no different, let’s take a look at some stacks that you may consider when using kava.
1. Kava and Caffeine
Though the exact mechanism of kava’s anti-anxiety effect is unclear, it’s theorized to stimulate GABA release, promoting muscle tone and relaxation.
Caffeine, being a stimulant, can counteract kava’s sedative effects by increasing heart rate, alertness, and energy levels.
Combining kava with caffeine may reduce kava’s drowsiness while enhancing anxiety reduction and social comfort, though cautiously.
Add caffeine to kava cautiously, limiting it to the amount found in one or two cups of coffee for safety.
2. Kava and L-theanine Stack
L-Theanine is a chemical found in green tea and some mushrooms. It may help relieve stress by creating a feeling of relaxation without any drowsiness. Anti-anxiety effects have been observed with dosages of between 200mg and 250mg.
Combining L-theanine with kava could enhance their individual anti-anxiety effects, maximizing their effectiveness when taken together.
Alternatives to Kava
There are many nootropic supplements that also claim to increase relaxation, reduce anxiety or help induce restful sleep.
Here are some of the alternatives to kava that are believed to have similar effects:
1. Melatonin
It is a natural hormone produced in the brain as the day darkens into night. Melatonin plays a crucial role in your body clock, signaling your brain when it’s time to sleep.
Melatonin is an effective alternative to kava for restful and restorative sleep. [11]
It should be taken in a dose of 1-3mg at night, before bed.
- Cost is about $10 per bottle
- Will induce restful sleep
For those with insomnia or jet lag, this affordable sleep aid effectively ensures the rest you require.
2. Valerian
It is an herb, and the actual supplement is made from the root. Valerian is believed to act in a similar fashion to kava.
It can induce a feeling of ease and relaxation while relieving feelings of anxiety. It is frequently used as a sleep aid. [12]
- Cost is about $5 per bottle
- Dose of 530mg at night, before bed.
- Will induce restful sleep
Relieve stress and anxiety naturally with Valerian, an affordable and easy-to-use herbal supplement.
Chamomile has been used for thousands of years and is considered a safe and effective sleep aid. Studies have shown certain flavanoids in chamomile tea bind to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain causing the effect of sedation.
3. Chamomile
- Cost is about $8 per bottle
- Dose of 345mg at night, before bed.
- Will induce restful sleep
To achieve a restful and recuperative night of rest you’ll want to make chamomile part of your bedtime routine.
Closing Thoughts
The world is a stressful place, and you need to find ways to stop stress from hurting your health.
Kava is perfect for stress relief, anxiety reduction, and restorative sleep. Click to learn more and purchase.
