How Does Kava Make You Feel?
Kava, also known as kava kava, isn’t some recent internet health craze. The kava plant’s unique calming properties have been appreciated for centuries by Pacific Islanders in ceremonies and public gatherings. There are also kava bars, with locations all across the world, and kava exports in countries like Fiji and Vanuatu are bringing in tens of millions of dollars each year.
However, there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding kava use and its properties for those who’ve never tried it themselves. Some assume it’s similar to depressants like drugs or alcohol, but this doesn’t quite describe kava’s unique effects.
So, how does kava kava make you feel? This article will put your mind at ease and give you a better idea of what to expect when consuming kava for the first time.
What To Expect When Taking Kava
Before drinking kava, it's important to know what you’re getting into.
So, to start, what does kava taste like?
Kava is known for being bitter and earthy and sometimes peppery in flavor. Kava root powder is prepared with water to create a kava tea. Because of the taste, some people will add sweeteners to their kava drink or chase their tea with a more palatable drink, like juice.
It’s worth noting here that most people don’t drink kava for the taste—rather, they drink it to reap the powerful calming benefits of its chemical properties.
Users usually experience both physical and mental effects after drinking kava. Some physical phenomena include:
Muscle relaxation
A subtle numbing sensation in the mouth and throat
Drowsiness (with certain strains/dosages)
The mental effects of kava consumption are often the most appealing and desired. They can include:
Joyful, euphoric feelings
Relaxed, sociable mood
General calmness and well-being
In several studies, kava has been shown to be particularly effective in alleviating symptoms associated with occasional anxiety and insomnia.
Does Kava Make You Feel Buzzed or High?
As you can see, kava has many pleasant, soothing qualities that can ease stress and tension while improving mood. For some, this reminds them of the effects of alcohol or recreational drugs.
To be clear, kava doesn’t contain any alcohol. However, some of its effects, especially when taken in large doses, mimic the effects of alcohol, such as impaired balance and speech. High doses of kava can also make you nauseous, another similarity to alcohol.
How Long Do the Effects of Kava Last?
Most varieties of kava available for purchase and consumption are known as noble kava. So, how long does kava last? These strains are generally fast-acting—you can experience effects within 15-20 minutes, and these effects can last for a few hours.
There are some varieties of kava, known as tudei kava, that have much more long-lasting effects. In fact, tudie kava’s effects can stretch over several days, hence the name tudei (two-day). This type of kava is less common for recreational use as its effects are more intense and less desirable than noble kava.
The length of kava’s influence will also depend on the kava strain you’re using and the amount you take. Kava strains are described as either heady or heavy. Heady kava has a lighter, more uplifting effect, while heavy kava causes more drowsiness and is typically used for sleep.
How Much is a Dose of Kava?
The proper dosage of kava is dependent on several different factors:
Kavalactone content – Kavalactone is the active chemical in kava that produces its relaxing effects. When determining the proper dosage of kava, you must consider the kavalactone content in the specific strain of kava you’re drinking. The higher it is, the less you need to take.
Your size – Similar to alcohol, kava’s effect on your body will depend on your height and weight. The same amount of kava will affect larger people less, and smaller people more.
Tolerance – While kava addiction is very unlikely, it is possible to build up a tolerance to it with frequent use. Over time, this may mean a frequent kava drinker will need to take more kava to achieve the same effects as before.
A general rule of thumb that experts recommend is to keep kavalactone consumption under 250 mg per day; an effective dose of kava can contain anywhere from 70 to 250 mg.
It’s also important to remember that kava can negatively react with other medications or substances. To that end, if you take any medications and want to try kava, consult a doctor first to learn if it’s right for you.
Discover the Soothing Magic of Kava with Kava Coalition
The more that kava and its properties are studied and understood, the more accessible it will be to those who need it most—and at Kava Coalition, we’re dedicated to providing well-researched, trustworthy kava information to those who seek it. In fact, it’s our mission to promote the power of kava through education, research, and advocacy.
We hope we’ve alleviated any anxieties you may have had surrounding the question of how does kava make you feel. To learn more about kava and the miraculous benefits it has to offer, explore our website and our other blogs.
Sources:
Pacific Trade Invest. Industry Focus: Kava, the Green Gold of the Pacific. https://pacifictradeinvest.com/en/stories/focus/industry-focus-kava-the-green-gold-of-the-pacific/
BetterHealth Channel. Kava. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/kava
Kalm With Kava. Trying Kava for the First Time? Here’s What to Expect. https://kalmwithkava.com/kava-first-time/
Designer Kava. Different Kava Strains and Kava Cultivars. https://designerkava.com/blogs/news/different-kava-strains-kava-cultivars
Healthline. Kava Kava: Benefits, Side Effects, and Dosage. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/kava-kava