Kava

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Kava is an ancient crop of the western Pacific. Other names for kava include `awa (Hawaii), 'ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), and sakau (Pohnpei). Its scientific name is Piper methysticum. Kava is related to the black pepper--both have heart-shaped leaves and flowers similar to the flower spike of the anthurium. Kava also has a peppery taste. Since time immemorial kava has been a part of religious, political, and cultural life throughout the Pacific.

In Hawaii at least 30 varieties were used for medicinal, religious, political, cultural and social purposes by all social classes, men and women. Kava is the original pau hana drink of working people to relax and ease achy muscles. Kava was also given to fussy babies and children to calm them and help them sleep.

In Vanuatu, kava is drunk at night in a place called nakamal, "place for peace". Men drink it from a shell or empty coconut. Women were not allowed to drink kava historically. The Tamafa is a gift to the spiritual ancestors which consists of spitting a mouthful of kava drink, then telling a few words. The cult of Kava is different on each island of the archipelago. In Malekula, it is related to the cult of death. Sex and kava are related in Ni-Vanuatu culture. It is also used in traditional medicine, for fever, asthma, and aches, but the roots used for medicine are not the same ones used for drink. Pharmacologically, kava is recognized as an analgesic (pain killer), anxiolytic, and antibiotic. Kava certainly has a social, spiritual and medical purpose.

In the Western world, kava is used as an herbal remedy to ease the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Pharmacology

Pharmacologically, kava is not addictive and is considered safe. Its active principal ingredients are the kavalactones, of which there are six major ones used to identify the chemotype of a particular variety.

Preparation

Kava is traditionally consumed as a 'tea'; that is, an infusion made from straining a mixture of water and shredded, pounded, dried, or fresh root and/or stump. The plant may also be chewed as part of preparing kava; this will affect the final product due to the enzymes in saliva. The extract is an emulsion, consisting of suspended kavalactone droplets in a starchy suspension. The taste is slightly pungent, while the distinctive aroma varies if prepared from dry or fresh material and by variety. The color is gray to tan to greenish opaque.

Perhaps the simplest method of making the tea is to put two or more heaped tablespoons of kava root powder per person into a clean sock, tie a knot in it, and squeeze it repeatedly in a bowl of cold water.

In the west, it is often taken in pill form.

Effects

The effects of drinking kava, in order of sensation, are slight tongue and lip numbing; mildly talkative and euphoric behavior; calming, sense of well-being, clear thinking; and relaxed muscles. Sleep is restful and there are no after-effects the next day.

Other interesting uses of kava include: dispensation to military personnel (Fiji) to aid in vigilance and anxiety reduction; to provide concentration, focus, and muscle control before sports and music performances; to reduce the anxiety associated with public speaking and other public performances; use in corporate board rooms to aid in mental clarity, sociability and improved decision making.

Safety

Recently, concerns have been raised about kava's safety. France and Switzerland's regulatory drug agencies have outlawed kava completely, while Germany has made it available only by prescription. The United States' CDC has released a report (available on the internet) expressing reservations about the use of kava and its possibly adverse side effects (specifically severe hepatic toxicity). Some counter that the cases resulting in the hepatic liver toxicity included concomitant use of alcohol or other drugs. Another claim is that kava extracts used by patients experiencing liver toxicity were made with solvents other than the traditional water and that the whole plant was used rather than just the roots. The issue is controversial and debate is fueled by economic interests of kava-exporting nations of the pacific ocean as well as disagreements between the medical establishment and proponents of herbal and natural medicine. There is ongoing research into the causes of kava liver toxicity and why it apparently does not affect traditional kava users but no conclusive results are available at this time (Nov 2004).

Secondary Subtances and Hallucinogenic Effects

It should be noted that Kava contains several other purportedly psychoactive substances which are not appreciably soluble in alcohol or water, but are soluble in fats. Extractions of these into various vegetable oils with lecithin added are possible. Even though kava is usually an acquired taste, the taste of the resulting mixture is reportedly horrendous. The potential for use of kava as an hallucinogen therefore seems low.

It should also be noted that there are several varieties of kava plant, with varying concentrations of both primary and secondary psychoactive substances.

External links

• http://kavaforum.org
• http://kavafestival.org
• http://hawaiiankava.com
• http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/fb (click on nutraceuticals)
• http://www.iherb.com/iherb/kavkavin.html
• http://www.spc.int/cis/kava.htm
• http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=428 (includes list of isolated chemicals)
• http://www.drinkkava.com/ (First Kava Bar in North America)
• http://www.nakamalathome.com (Vanuatu Kava)
• Erowid's Kava vault (includes some details of secondary effects)

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