What form of Kava should I take, in order to experience the most potent effect?!
Question:
What form of Kava should I take, in order to experience the most potent effect?
I know there are many different ways to ingest Kava. For example, there is a liquid extract, a paste, capsules, and of course, you can sift the powdered root to make the traditional tea. Considering that I would only use Kava from Vanuatu (supposedly the strongest), what is the best form of Kava to use in order to experience the strongest effects? Secondly, do you know of any tricks or tips for hightening the effect of the Kava? I have read of Kava experiences that sound incredible, but everything I have tried has literally offered little to no felt effects. Any ideas? Thanks so much!
Answers:
How to Take It -
Dosage: The recommended dose is 250 mg of a standardized extract, two or three times a day. Consult your doctor if you have been taking kava for more than three months because prolonged use increases the chance of side effects.
Guidelines for use: Do not exceed the recommended dose. Higher dosages can lead to intoxication or disorientation. (One man in Utah was convicted of driving under the influence after spending the evening consuming 16 cups of kava tea, which caused him to stagger, slur his speech, and drive as if drunk on alcohol.)
In addition, unless your doctor recommends it, avoid this herb if you are regularly taking other drugs that affect the central nervous system, such as antidepressants, sedatives, or tranquilizers. It's also a good idea to avoid drinking alcohol when using kava. Kava is, however, sometimes combined with herbal supplements that affect the brain, such as the antidepressant St. John's wort. Kava usually acts within minutes, though for some people with severe anxiety, the full benefits may not be apparent until up to eight weeks after first consuming the herb.
Shopping Hints -
Look for extracts standardized to contain at least 30% of the herb's active ingredients, which are called kavalactones.
Buy kava that's been extracted from the root of the plant -- and not a product that has only purified kavalactones. The root extracts appear to contain a blend of beneficial substances, in addition to kavalactones.
warnings -
Pregnant or breast-feeding women should not use kava.
Don't take kava if you have Parkinson's disease. It may make symptoms worse.
May cause excessive drowsiness if taken with antidepressants, muscle relaxants, narcotic pain relievers, antipsychotics, and buspirone.