Drug info - Kava-kava Ineffective?

[seanman05]

Hello, SWIM has 2 different kinds of kava. A liquid extract which contains "wild-harvested kava root extracted with 60% grain alcohol" and pills which contains "500 mg of kava kava root powder per pill". The liquid extract SWIM bought from Health Foods Unlimited here in town, the brand is herbs etc. The pills SWIM bought from xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.com. SWIM has tried many different doses and whatnot, but SWIM didn't experience much. The only thing SWIM feels is kind of a "euphoric high" for about 10 minutes. But SWIM has to take much more than the recommended amount to feel this. SWIM has even mixed the pills and liquid extract together. Is SWIM preparing this wrong, are they just bad kava, or what? Any help or opinions are appreciated for SWIM. Thank you.

[Nagognog2]

Powdered Kava~Kava root, available from many places (some offered flavored with cinnamon, chocolate, etc) is much less expensive than buying capsules and pills and extracts and so forth. These tend to be good for the seller - not the consumer.

The traditional method of preparing, adapted to more Western influences, is what most Islanders swear by: About 2 tablespoons of Kava~Kava is added to about 6 fluid ounces whole milk in a blender. Blend until smooth. Drink quickly in gulps. Repeat if desired. Some recent innovators suggest a tablespoon of lecithin be added - but Islanders do not.

If one is looking for a drug to get blown-away on - Kava~Kava is NOT the one for that. It is gentle and peaceful and calming. If too much is consumed, you'll get sloppy and sleepy and likely take a nap. One to two servings is all one should consider taking. More won't make the walls melt and transport the mind to the antipodes of nirvana. It's Kava~Kava.

[seanman05]

Swim not looking to get blown away on. Swim just looking for something to make him calm for more than 15 minutes and improve sociability. So your saying for swim to just get the powder and mix it with a drink instead of pills or liquid extracts? Is the powder available at any chain store like wal-mart, gnc, or health foods unlimited? Swim wants to avoid buying online.

[Nagognog2]

Wouldn't know. Bongo buys his on-line. The pesky, techno ape.

[Bajeda]

Buying online would probably be the best option, though I don't want to get into sources discussion so lets try to avoid this side of the topic eh?

If swiy can get whole or powdered root of a good quality that should work fine for him. A straining bag may be helpful to to make it, unless you want to go with the insta-blend method.

Extracts, powders, tinctures, etc.... Not all of them are terrible, but even the better ones are more useful for particular effects than what you would describe as an actual Kava experience. Its better to not waste money on such things.

[seanman05]

Thanks. Swim will look for powdered kava first by looking locally and if swim can't find locally he will look online. Unfortunately swim still has 80 some pills left and about half the extract

[PoolShark1184]

SWIM has found that if swiy take kava more often, you will notice it's subtle effects easier. Powdered root is definitely the way to go (good luck finding it anywhere except FL, CA and HI), but since swiy have all that extract left, why not use it? SWIM would reccommend starting at a low dose and then slowly working up every other day with the pills. Drink the whole bottle of extract on a semi-empty stomach sometime and swiy'll feel great.
The point is that most people don't feel kava right away cause they dont know how. After swiy uses it for awhile, swiy will notice what it is doing and then swiy can cultivate that feeling by upping the dosage.
In conclusion, SWIM says don't buy the extracts anymore, buy the powdered root from an online vendor along with a strainer bag and follow one of the recipes on this website. SWIY will be happy you did, because kava is most definitely effective. You have to be patient, and as the islanders say, "sit back and listen to the kava."

[seanman05]

Swim wants to know if it is possible to od on kava, especially the pills. If swim took, say, 10 pills would he experience any side effects?

[Nagognog2]

There have been no known fatalities associated with Kava or it's active molecules. Taking to much results in a drunken feeling in the body and sleep. This is considered unpleasant and avoided by traditional users. But with some kids these days trying to get high by huffing the fumes of burning plastic trashcans and garbage...

[Bajeda]

Originally Posted by PoolShark1184

SWIM has found that if swiy take kava more often, you will notice it's subtle effects easier. Powdered root is definitely the way to go (good luck finding it anywhere except FL, CA and HI), but since swiy have all that extract left, why not use it? SWIM would reccommend starting at a low dose and then slowly working up every other day with the pills. Drink the whole bottle of extract on a semi-empty stomach sometime and swiy'll feel great.

Swim has seen quite a few references to a 'Reverse Tolerance' effect existing with Kava. There were some detailed theories as to why this occurs, but I'll have to seek them out later.

[PoolShark1184]

SWIM doesnt have a scientific theory about this but he has definitely noticed it. Swim thinks it may be that the first couple times one drinks kava it is really having its effect, it simply goes unnoticed. After a few times of using it, one can really get a hold on the exact effects it has and "cultivate" them.

[seanman05]

Swim took 10 pills the other day and didn't feel much, but swim just bought a tablet crusher at dollar tree and mixed the crushed powder of 3 pills with some liquid and finally feels some slight effects of kava.

[Bajeda]

Swim would suggest to swiy that if he is looking to feel the noticeable subjective effects of Kava, more than subtle anxiolytic ones, he should attempt to find root powder to make beverages with or plain roots to chew on.

[seanman05]

Swim found some powder in capsule form and opened 1 and took it with a drink and felt the effects and enjoyed them a lot. But a few hours later swim took powder from 2 capsules and mixed them with a drink but didnt feel them this time. Why did swim feel the 1 capsule at first but not the 2 capsules later?

[PoolShark1184]

A general rule when dealing with psychoactive substances is that the effects heavily rely on set and setting. Set meaning what you expect the drug to do to you, what type of mood you're in, how much food you have in your stomach, and not to mention the fact that drugs effect everyone differently due to all of us being unique individuals. Setting meaning where you are physically and who you are with, etc. In SWIM's experience, using kava when you don't expect to get "royally fucked up", when you are in a peaceful content mood, and when you have eaten a light meal 1-2 hours beforehand is best. Also, you should be in a comfortable setting with friends. Using it by yourself and meditating will also allow you to really notice the effects.

Using the pills is not the best way to use kava. Get the root. Pills, extracts and pastes are not very reliable.

Coffee in the morning, kava in the evening.

[seanman05]

Well swim would get the powder if he could find it locally, but swim cannot buy online anymore since swim doesn't have a credit card.

[PoolShark1184]

Try a money order. Takes longer, but you don't need a credit card. Get one from your local bank or even a place like 7-11. I don't know of any local vendors that sell kava either.

[seanman05]

Swim found some kava powder at a local health food store! Swim still can't believe it. It was Kava King. Anyone ever had xxxx, is it high quality powder? Swim plans to try it tomorrow but thought he'd get swiy's opinions.

[Bajeda]

Took out the product name as it comes too close to sources. Don't know about that specific one really, but it seems to have decent reviews and be solid all around. Looks like swiy is good to go.

Now look around the forums for ideas on preparation and dose!

[seanman05]

It says on the paper that the kavalactones are destroyed by heat and must be prepared using only cold water. It also says the root must be squeezed to release the kavalactones. Swim was planning on making this really quickly in the morning by just putting 2-3 tablespoons in a bottle of water and just shaking it. Would doing that work or does swim have to do all of the squeezing shit?

[Bajeda]

Either regular milk or soy milk would be better. If you check for recipes you can find some good ones, some also using oil or lecithin to help make a more efficacious beverage.

You shouldn't really need to squeeze the root, though if you have a strainer bag you can dunk it in for 10-15 minutes and then squeeze it after. A blender also works.


Here are some recipes:

Originally Posted by Recipes

TRADITIONAL KAVA PREPARATION

Place approximately 3 to 6 rounded tablespoons of kava (more or less depending on your preference) in a filter cloth and immerse in one quart of room temperature water; there is no need to either heat or chill the water. We recommend using a filter cloth such as our Authentic Fiji Strainer Bag; other fabrics that work well are pantyhose, paint strainer bags, cloth tea bags, etc. For at least 1 -2 minutes massage the cloth to thoroughly extract the fine wet powder into the water while retaining the coarse left-overs in the bag, for stronger flavor massage longer. You need to really squeeze and work the kava while it is in the strainer bag, not just let it soak like a bag of tea! At the end of this process wring out the cloth (and coarse left-overs) of any excess water and the kava is ready to drink. For a kava party use about 4 to 6 oz. of kava powder to 1 gal. of water. Drink and enjoy! This is the way kava is prepared throughout the Polynesian islands of the South Pacific. Learn to enjoy the unique flavor of kava, but if you wish to enhance the flavor, sweetener may be added as well as fruit juice or your favorite herbs such as: licorice powder, fresh grated ginger, etc. Kava is not soluble in water therefore you try to release as much fine powder as possible into the water and keep it suspended with frequent stirring. Below are some more imaginative kava recipes from Kule'a Farm Kava drinkers!


KAVA CHAI A recipe I've been working on perfecting is spiced chai-style kava. I found straight kava to be a little strange, so I like to brew a pot of concentrated spiced-chai style kava to be mixed with the desired amount of hot milk, & sweetened with the desired amount of honey. I just simmer a smallish pot of water with a double-load of kava, healthy measures of cloves, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, cardamom, and nutmeg. After it's brewed to the desired strength, I'll pour the mixture through the straining bag to filter out the solids, which leaves me with the brew that I can add any amount of hot milk I like. The spice amounts to add will vary depending on how spicy people like their beverage. You can make large batches of the concentrate to refrigerate once your favorite measurements are established, to avoid doing the brewing process each time you want a cup. You can even froth your milk & make it a kava-latte! Hope you enjoy!

VANILLA KAVA Like your ideas of sharing stories & recipes. Here is a short recipe. This will be for the people that like something QUICK & EASY!! Just add a few drops of vanilla extract to each cup of Kava made. It mellows the flavour. ....Enjoy....

KAVA MILK SHAKE Here's a Kava recipe I tried and liked: Take Kava powder and mix it through a strainer bag into milk, just like you do with water. Then, put this milk into your blender and add your favorite ice cream. You could add anything else you want, too. Mix it up and you have a Kava milk shake! It is very refreshing, especially if you use mint chocolate chip ice cream (my favorite kind). Hope you like it!

FIZZY KAVA Wish I had a neat recipe to contribute, but I've gotten to like the taste of Kava. Occasionally I'll use seltzer water for fizzy kava, but that's not particularly imaginative.

LEMON KAVA I mix about one half cup of kava with 32 oz of water and flavor it with just a touch of lemon flavored crystal light(it has to be lemon). The secret is to NOT make it taste like lemonade, but just to mask and add a hint of lemon to the natural kava taste.(approx. 1 tsp, and it has to be sugar free).

CINNAMON SPICE KAVA This is the recipe for a 3 cup batch "Espresso" style brew... Warning: this may exceed the recommended daily FDA limitations, so drink with caution! For smoothest flavor, temperature of water is very important, hence the different temps. of water. Anyways, here it is: Fill bowl with: 2 cups ice cold water, 1 cup room temp. water. Fill fine mesh strainer with: 6 heaping teaspoons of Kule'a Farm Kava powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon powder. Dip strainer bag in water and be sure to agitate contents thoroughly for full dispersion of the magic Kava. ENJOY!