Kava In Your Cup

About a couple of months back, a good friend was telling me about her experience with kava at the local kava bar. I had absolutely no idea about what kava was at the time or why there was a bar dedicated to it, but she had me at, “its effects are similar to that of an edible”, so I had to find out what the deal was. A few weeks later, I found myself in a kava bar, The Root of Happiness  and was pleasantly surprised. I found out through a friend who had never been to a kava bar, that one needs a little preparation before visiting. So I’m going to give you a heads up.

Kava is actually a root of the Kava (piper methysticum) plant and it is ground into a powder form. From there it can mixed into flavored drinks and teas, made into tinctures, paste, pills, etc. Yes, its effects are similar to that of a marijuana edible (minus the paranoia) so to walk into the bar and see everyone slumped over and slouched down didn’t come as a shock. It is completely legal, however. In fact, a lot of health food stores sell it in its various forms.  Everyone in the bar was essentially, relaxed!  What I learned on my first visit is that the kava root is indigenous to Western Pacific islands. There was a clear tribute to Hawaii in the decor and while the effects of Kava are very relaxing and calming it doesn’t impair you to the point of not being able to drive or function. As It was explained to me, the more you consume kava in frequency, the less you need to feel its effects the next time you take it. I’m not completely sold on that idea quit yet but nevertheless I went for it. Just a heads up, kava doesn’t taste all that great. In mean it’s not the most disgusting thing I’d ever tasted but keep in mind that it is a root so it does have that “earthy” type of taste to it. Also, it has a little bit of a numbing quality to it. Almost immediately a tingling numbness could be felt on my lips, tongue, and the roof of my mouth but it only lasted a brief moment. After a bowl of kava in liquid form with a little bit of flavoring, a pineapple chaser followed by a straight shot, chai tea with kava, and a sample of a lemony type of paste; I was feeling good. I mean damn good!  It is probably the most relaxed I’d been in a really long time. It’s kind of a hard feeling to describe but it’s kind of like being really happy to be in the moment and not really giving a shit about anything going on around you. I wasn’t stressed or concerned about work. I didn’t (and usually don’t) have a care about any drama going on. I just felt good and relaxed. And that is what kava does and why people take it. It’s been linked to helping people with anxiety disorders, high stress levels, and promotes sleep, which is what I like to use it for. I never sleep.

If you find your way to your local kava bar, I would recommend checking out the mix drinks if available. You my find tasty concoctions like the Kavajiito or (my new favorite) the Lanai Lemonade

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which I have to tell you is probably the best damn lemonade I’ve ever had in my entire life! Like lemonade straight from the kava gods. A quick google maps search and you may find a kava bar in your neighborhood.

There a couple if things you need to know before trying kava. For example, you may want to avoid alcohol when taking kava as it has a high fiber content and may not mesh well when drinking. I had a hard apple cider about 90 minutes after and was just fine, but you should still be cautious. Also, some articles suggest that kava taken on a regular basis over a long period of time can be damaging to the liver although I’m unsure if there is concrete evidence to support this. Perhaps consulting a physician would be wise if you think you would want to take kava on a consist basis. Don’t let the small print sway you though. Try it for yourself and let’s relax and unwind together. I’d love to hear your thoughts about it. Or your experience if you’re a regular participant!