The Health Benefits of Drinking Kava: Why You Should Try It
Arising from the Polynesian term meaning bitter, Kava is an extract or beverage excavated from the root of the Piper methysticum plant. Since ancient times, it has been named for catering to the Indigenous community of the South Pacific as a traditional remedy and herbal supplement. It is often appreciated as a recreational beverage and a dietary addition. This article elucidates everything about Kava: benefits backed up by scientific studies.
Bite-Size Information About Kava
History and Origin
The beverage arises from the Piper methysticum plant, whose roots yield kava kava. This plant belongs to the pepper family and is believed to have originated in the South Pacific’s tiny island of Vanuatu before spreading throughout Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa. The initial founders of the Kava processed it using traditional methods, such as pounding or grinding it to a paste and mixing it with coconut milk or water for drinking. Those people predominantly consumed it to facilitate social interaction, enhance relaxation, and alleviate stress and anxiety.
Time-honored Uses of Pacific Island Cultures
Additionally, during those ages, Kava became a part of religious observances and traditional customs. It became an important symbol of respect, a catalyst for solitude and serenity, and a means of commemorating significant milestones within the ancient community. It was believed that drinking Kava could enhance an individual’s mood and mental state. However, this depends from person to person, depending on the strength of the Kava and how it is prepared.
Primary Ingredients
The prime ingredient in Kava is the kavalactones, which account for up to 20% of the dried plant’s roots’ total weight. It is believed that these kavalactones owe to the unique effects of the plant, which provide ranges of mild relaxation to stronger sedation if an individual consumes them in large quantities.
Different Avatars of Kava
Kava: benefits for ingestion in various forms, such as capsules, tea, liquid, or powder. Despite being legal to sell in the United States, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has recommended cautious use of Kava since March 2002. Furthermore, starting from 1 December 2021, Australia allowed the importation of Kava for commercial purposes without quantity limitations.
Kava Tea
The most common way to consume Kava is through tea, which is easily accessible. It is available for purchase either on its own or with other herbs that promote relaxation and is generally brewed with hot water. Therefore, while selecting kava teas, it is important to look into their kavalactone content and other ingredients and avoid ingredients as “proprietary blends.”
Kava Liquid or Tincture
This is a liquid type of kava, available in small bottles ranging from 2 to 6 ounces (59 to 177 milliliters). It can be taken using a dropper or mixed with juice or another drink to mask its whiskey-like taste. Consuming only a small amount is crucial, as the kavalactones are concentrated, making kava liquid and tincture more potent than other forms.
Kava Capsules
Individuals who do not wish to consume the liquid form of Kava can switch to the capsule version instead, which is a tasteless and convenient way to consume Kava extract. Consuming capsules can provide consistent effects because they contain a set amount of kavalactones, which allows the body to experience the best benefits without experiencing an overdose or insufficiency. However, the drawback here is that the rate of absorption by the body is slower when consumed in the form of capsules than drinking it as a tincture or tea.
How is Kava Beneficial to the Body for the Time Being?
Human research has illuminated the potential health benefits of Kava. Nonetheless, it is essential to understand that the range of studies involving humans is currently limited and has produced conflicting results. These include:
1. Lowers Pain
When a selected number of specimens underwent research, it was evident that the kavalactones present in Kava had pain-relieving properties. However, further speculation was needed to prove the potential benefits completely.
2. Helps Treat Insomnia
This is one of the noteworthy benefits of Kava. It is seen that this extract has the potential to improve sleep quality and manage sleep-related conditions by acting on the GABA receptors in the brain. As a result of this action, the nerve excitability is reduced, thereby promoting a relaxed state, which is believed to help address stress-related sleep issues like insomnia.
However, not many studies are available to prove that Kava is the best sleep aid, even though some have shown promising outcomes.
For example, one study demonstrated enhanced sleep quality in individuals who were administered a daily dose of kava extract for four weeks, as opposed to those who received a placebo. But, additional research is required to confirm these findings.
3. Inflammation
It is observed that the anti-inflammatory characteristics of Kava could potentially be beneficial in managing conditions associated with inflammation. A few research have suggested that altering kava compounds may result in a possibility to help boost its anti-inflammatory effects. However, more studies are required to prove this fact because a few reports have counterfeited this fact, stating that kava exposure could lead to an inflammatory response.
4. Improves Mental Health
Numerous preliminary studies have explored the potential of Kava to enhance various facets of mental well-being and its impact on sleep and anxiety. These areas may encompass cognition, memory, and mood control. Although findings on the cognitive effects of Kava’s benefits are inconclusive, some evidence indicates its potential to enhance memory, learning, and other cognitive functions. Further research is required in this area.
5. Drops Down Anxiety
Recently, there have been discoveries of evidence proving that Kava helps treat anxiety. Researchers conducted a review in 2020 to investigate the potential of Kava in treating mild and moderate anxiety levels. After examining seven studies, they found three suggested Kava’s superiority over a placebo. The results were similar even during the systematic review conducted in 2018 on seven clinical trials, where three proved Kava’s efficiency in lowering anxiety. This made the researchers propose that Kava is beneficial for short-term anxiety management only.
Conclusion
Besides the benefits mentioned above, Kava also helps fight cancer, regulates blood pressure, lowers cholesterol levels, treats cough and cold, eases menstrual cramps and erectile dysfunction, and treats toothache. However, studies that prove these benefits are not strong enough or conclusive. Therefore, it is best to consult with a healthcare provider before introducing Kava into your daily routine.
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FAQs
1. Is it Safe to Drink Kava?
Based on expert consultation, drinking Kava at optimal levels under 400 mg a day is safe for most individuals. Nevertheless, this dosage is just an estimate and can vary from person to person. Check it out with your health consultant before taking a drink.
2. Are Kava and Alcohol the Same?
The factor shared by both alcohol and a Kava drink is its calming influence. However, the levels of mental clouding of a Kava drink are lower compared to that of alcohol.
3. Who Cannot Drink Kava?
It is advisable to avoid Kava for children or people with liver disease, for those driving or operating heavy machinery, consuming alcohol, taking medications that induce sedation, undergoing surgery, pregnant or breastfeeding, or a procedure with anesthesia.
¹ Huck O, Han X, Mulhall H, Gumenchuk I, Cai B, Panek J, Iyer R, Amar S. Identification of a kavain analog with efficient anti-inflammatory effects. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):12940. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-49383-8
² Shimoda LM, Park C, Stokes AJ, Gomes HH, Turner H. Pacific island ‘Awa (Kava) extracts, but not isolated kavalactones, promote proinflammatory responses in model mast cells. Phytother Res. 2012;26(12):1934-41. doi:10.1002/ptr.4652
³ Smith K, Leiras C. The effectiveness and safety of Kava Kava for treating anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and analysis of randomized clinical trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018;33:107-117. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.09.003