Kava
General Information
Kava (Piper methysticum) is a tropical evergreen shrub with large heart-shaped leaves and woody stems. Its thick roots are mashed or ground and made into a cold and bitter-tasting beverage used similarly to alcohol. It has a long history of ritual and recreational use in Pacific Polynesia and is now a common herbal product, used widely by those in certain societies as part of a 'Kava Culture.'
History
Kava is used for medicinal, religious, political, cultural and social purposes throughout the Pacific, and have been for many years. Though the exact geographical origin and the date of the initial discovery of Kava as a psychoactive plant are unknown, there are several legends as to its discovery in the various ancient Pacific communities.
Kava cultures are the religious and cultural traditions of western Oceania which consume kava. There are similarities in the use of kava between the different cultures, but each one also has its own traditions.
These cultures have a great respect for the plant and place a high importance on it. In Fiji, for example, a formal yaqona (kava) ceremony will often accompany important social, political, religious, etc. functions, usually involving a ritual presentation of the bundled roots as a sevusevu (gift), and drinking of the yaqona itself.
Western interest in the plant started as early as 1778, upon Captain Cook's voyages to the Pacific islands - though it was at the time seen as inferior to alcohol. However, through medium of the Internet, the plant has in recent times become available worldwide to end users - and use is now more widespread either through alternative preperations of the traditional beverage (usually involving additional flavourings such as sugar or coconut milk) or taking a powdered form of the substance in capsules. This has led to regulation in some countries such as the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Dosage
Oral
Dried Kava root contains approximately 3-20% kavalactones, depending on the strain.
Kavalactone dosage:
Light: 50-70mg
Common: 70-150mg
Strong: 150-200mg
Heavy: 300mg +
Duration
Oral
Onset: 20-30 minutes (onset is faster depending on the dose)
Peak: 3 hours
Total Duration: 3-6 hours
After-effects: 9-18 hours
Effects
Postive
- Mild euphoria
- Relaxation
Neutral
- Eyes become more sensitive
- High doses cause somnolence (a state of near-sleep) that leads to a deep, dreamless sleep often described as restful
Negative
- Lazy days after consumption of kava
- Possible hepatotoxicity (liver damage)
Harm Reduction
- Avoid driving and operating heavy machinery.
- Do not combine Kava with other CNS depressants (such as Alcohol, Opioids, GHB and Benzodiazepines).
- Pregnant women and people with endogenous psychoses should avoid Kava.
- Various components of the plant have been shown to cause hepatotoxicity, though usually issues arise from contaminants due to poor quality control or conditions of growing. Ensure the product is acquired from a reputable source.
Interactions
Check out our Drug Combinations page and chart for interactions and combinations of common drugs.
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Research has suggested that kavalactones potentiate GABAA activity, but do not alter levels of dopamine and serotonin in the CNS. It is thought to do this via modulating GABA activity via altering the lipid membrane structure and sodium channel function.
Heavy, long-term kava use does not cause any reduction of ability in saccade and cognitive tests, but is associated with elevated liver enzymes.
Desmethoxyyangonin, one of the six major kavalactones, is a reversible MAO-B inhibitor (Ki 280 nM) and is able to increase dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens. This finding might correspond to the slightly euphoric action of kava.
Kavain, in both enantiomeric forms, inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine at the transporter (NAT), but not of serotonin (SERT). An elevated extracellular norepinephrine level in the brain may account for the reported enhancement of attention and focus.
Yangonin, another major kavalactone, has been demonstrated to act as a CB1 agonist. This mechanism is also responsible for the effects of THC and likely contributes to the psychoactive effects of kava.
Legal status
For a breakdown of the legal status of Kava click here.