Still No Effects From Kava

[Easko]

I've had the experience of having fresh kava root in south Florida and it is interesting. Kinda like a speedy roll, but not as intense. Trust me, this is coming from a recovering opiate addict and profound drug user. The tincture and supplements only work (kinda) if taken in extreme doses. Everyone reacts differently. Know your body.
If you're going to go the tincture route, take at least 10x the dose. I've had limited success mixing it with tinctures of valerian, hops, passion flower and catnip. Stick with something you know will work. I suggest poppy tea as far as legality is concerned.

 

[ALEX111]

is there anyone that is an expert on kava?

 

[vjblather]

I've used kava between 5 and 10 times now, and I still get very subtle effects from it, if any. It's almost like the satisfaction I get from drinking kava is just knowing that I've injested a mind-altering substance--even if it doesn't do much most of the time.

<Source Removed> -GM

Last night I had my largest dose of kava ever. I think it was 3 tablespoons of regular root powder, plus 5 grams of lateral root powder from a free sample they sent me. (Supposedly that stuff is more potent.) So that's somewhere in the range of 10-30 grams of pure root powder...which, I would think, is a lot.

The results: little to nothing. Definitely no real body high...felt relaxed enough to stare upwards and think for 5-10 minutes, but I'd also had a long day and was a bit drained. No sensation of drunkenness, though maybe I should have walked around more after drinking the large dose. I was still able to get stressed out about lingering love life baggage...and at the same time I was able to not obsess over my pending problems and just say "fuck it for tonight".

I drink it cold (as directed) and don't blend it into drink (more than stirring it in, that is). The kava is good enough to numb my tongue and lips for maybe 5 minutes or less.

How much root do you all typically need to drink in order to get the effects I'm looking for--i.e., euphoria, sedation, body high? Right now it makes me sleepy for maybe half an hour, and I think it reduces my anxiety a bit. It does work better to make me drowsy than OTC sleeping pills, however.

Effective kava preparation involves use of about 2 to 1 parts water to kava root powder. So, if you're using 8 oz. water, then use 1/2 cup root powder. This is the only way to get the effects you're seeking. I'm fairly new to kava myself, and I have learned through trial and error but also checking [No sources]. They have excellent step by step prep info. [No sources] both sells kava root and runs a kava bar in [No sources]. It wasn't until I started using the basic 2 to 1 ratio that I really started feeling the effects, which are awesome. You should use the blender for at least a minute or two. Good luck!

 

[vjblather]

The reason for some European governments banning kava was that some unscrupulous herb distributors were using the leaves and stems of the plant. These parts are extremely toxic to the liver and are NEVER used by the native peoples who regularly use kava root in their social lives.

 

[doppelganga196]

IME, the extracts don't do anything at all. from what i've read, Kava only really works if you have fresh roots, i guess it looses potency really fast. or maybe Kava is entirely placebo.

anyone on this board ever get effects from Kava?

I've not yet read all the replys here, but i have had 'effects' from Kava. I had mine sent from Hawaii (powdered root) & would use 6-8 tablespoons of the stuff. I find to get high from this stuff you haaave to have a little 'kava party' oh yeah. Make a bowel of a litre's worth & drink leisurely over the day... As sombody else said on erowid "its like a herbal lithium"

 

[Gormur]

i have some kava root from vanuatu, and it's actually pretty fucking potent.. i'd describe the effects to be similar to a combination of pregabalin & diazepam, but a bit more euphoric and spacey

the effects last for a few hours if you redose a few times in a row (ime).. however, redosing many times in a day/night gives me stomach cramps that seem to last forever, as well as major problems urinating.. so i don't think it's very safe; (it's hard on the liver)

btw, you can do a cold water extractation (warm water seems to make it less psychoactive); let it sit in the water for a while.. the longer the better.. but it's about 1/3 as potent as simply leaving a 'quid' in your cheek for a good 10-15min, which is the most effective method - your mouth goes numb and the effects kick in within 3-5 minutes, gradually building in intensity...

take it on an empty stomach, otherwise it may not do much & you might throw up or get stomach cramps (or both) - i'm speaking from experience =(

the thing is, it will fuck you up a bit.. but it's not the kind of high that's immediately noticeable.. especially if you're thinking it's going to dramatically alter your perception or something.. it's not a majorly recreational substance, IMO.. BUT it will help people a lot of people with anxiety issues and some CNS withdrawal symptoms (i've used it moderately in benzo withdrawal, and it really helped)

ps- i'm on it right now, and i just realized i'm talking way too much

 

[Gormur]

kava iz safe 4 daily use

i used it daily for about 2 weeks while withdrawing from alprazolam

some things i noticed after a few days of use:

-i had no appetite at all & couldn't eat (stomach cramps)
-i couldn't urinate very well or often, and it was always very dark urine
-if i didn't have any kava or not enough, i started to sweat a lot and get irritable (also couldn't sleep)
-my skin became pale and itchy (after the first week of use)
-my tolerance doubled within 4-5 days (kinda scary)
-the euphoric and anxiolytic effects wore off and i felt depressed more easily

so.. idk how safe it is to consume kava daily. i don't know if anyone knows that for sure, but i don't think it's a good idea, due to my experience

now i consume it once in a while, and it's fine (once or twice a month)

peace

 

[opiaddict]

Kava

I ahve heard if you but from local small organic farms, you don't get all the stems n crap. The kavalactones are in the root extract. I honestly never get of on kava, but I think there is a science to it. If it's worth your time, try googling kava farms and read many different prep processes. Some use grain alcohol as a preservative, or maybe the alcohol is what gets you high. I don't know, but I'd like to! I want an easy, legal way to get relaxed way relaxed, without the hassle of getting it from the doc, like the benzos. Sure they are great, but I take about 10 mg/day sometimes. for a sew days 3-5, I have no WD from a short strong dose of benzos. But I sometimes use kava tea, at least three tea bags with valerian and chamomile. It kinda helps, but you don't get high.

 

[opiaddict]

Bye the way I was referring to 10mgs of klonopin. Sorry.

 

[raznaruk138]

The trick with getting consistent good effects with kava is just to get the straight root use about 2-5 grams and chew it, like chew (between cheek and gum) leave it there for about 10-15 mins, taste really isn't that bad at all,especially looking back at some of the vile concoctions i have put down in the past lol. It will make your mouth numb and you will feel strong relaxation and a rather pleasant sense of well being within 20-30 minutes,i do anyway.to me it feels more like soma or a muscle relaxer than a benzo or opiate. i get a nice body buzz from it. The extracts,pills,teas,etc, just don't seem to cut it, for me anyway, and they are awfully expensive for less than impressive results, like i see ppl on here talking about using 3-4 tablespoons (approx 12-18 grams) for tea and feeling little or nothing,or eating half a bottle of kava pills with little to no effect. I get chopped kava root, from a local herb shop,. 2oz's cost me 8$. 2-3 grams chewed will get me feeling nice 5g will put me on the sofa.

It seems something in saliva either activates the kavalactones or increases the bioavailability significantly, it was originally prepared by having the virgins in the tribe chew the root and spit it into a bowl which would then be consumed. and after trying kava many other ways and not being impressed, the chewing method works.

I will also add I am no novice when it comes to drugs 10+ years opiate habit ,and plenty of experience with everything else, kava still works fine. But with that being said it is what it is, its not heroin and its not xanax if you want that high do those drugs, but kava can be rather enjoyable too especially in conjunction with opiates/mj.

 

[vjblather]

Kava works - here's how it's done

Those who say kava doesn't have much of an effect don't know what they're doing, haven't had quality kava made right, or both. I've been so "krunk" I couldn't walk (not a state I thought of as enjoyable), but if you make it right with decent root and drink the right amount, it is awesome. Here's how it's done:

Ingredients and materials:

1. Kava root ground to a consistency of a coarse flour – about a rounded half cup per serving
2. Lecithin granules – about a teaspoon per batch
3. Blender
4. Warm water, just a little warmer than lukewarm
5. Strainer bag or cloth, and bowl. I recommend two strainer bags doubled up so that they don’t tear during the straining of the kava.

Procedure:

1. Put a cup of warm water in the blender.
2. Put the lecithin in the water and turn on the blender for 20-30 seconds until the lecithin granules are dissolved.
3. Add the kava root powder and the rest of the water. Use 12-16 ounces per serving.
4. Blend on low briefly just enough to stir and mix it all together.
5. Allow the mixture to soak for about 30 minutes.
6. Turn on the blender for 5 minutes. If the kava water mixture becomes thicker and mud-like during blending, you may add a little more water to keep it swirling in the blender.
7. Pour the blended kava liquid into your strainer bag(s) placed over a bowl. You may find it easier to pour a small amount at a time – a fist-sized amount – as this is easier to work with and squeeze out more completely.
8. Knead the wet kava root in the bag and squeeze as much of the water out as you can.
9. Pour or ladle the kava juice from the bowl into a cup and drink it down quickly.

Within about 10 minutes, you will feel a wave of euphoria. This initial euphoria last roughly an hour give or take, but you will feel mellow for several hours. Drink another cup or two if you want to maintain your initial wave feeling. It is true that some people need a few times to get an effect. This is called paying your dues to the kava gods.

Enjoy!

 

[korei]

I've had a lot of Kava... typically you need good ground stuff from vanuatu, fiji or hawaii.... 2 heaping tablespoons for 1 cup of water. and maybe use some lecithin or a bit of oil....and blend in a blender for about 10 min.... then you need a nylon strainer and a big bowl and pour everything into the nylon strainer in the bowl and squeeze squeeze squeeze the root powder for another 5 or 10 min. then stir up everything that has settled in your bowl...pour yourself a shell of it and drink it quick.... have a few more shells over the hour or so...
it starts working better a couple days in...
i've had definite effects.... nothin to party on... just a feeling of daily tension being released...and mild content feeling that might make you smile....then sleep

over doing it to try to feel more from it just leads for nausea and slow sloppy movement

 

[65daysofstatic]

What's a good amount of 250mg kava kava capsules to get the full effect?

 

[kokomo]

Those who say kava doesn't have much of an effect don't know what they're doing, haven't had quality kava made right, or both. I've been so "krunk" I couldn't walk (not a state I thought of as enjoyable), but if you make it right with decent root and drink the right amount, it is awesome. Here's how it's done:

Ingredients and materials:

1. Kava root ground to a consistency of a coarse flour – about a rounded half cup per serving
2. Lecithin granules – about a teaspoon per batch
3. Blender
4. Warm water, just a little warmer than lukewarm
5. Strainer bag or cloth, and bowl. I recommend two strainer bags doubled up so that they don’t tear during the straining of the kava.

Procedure:

1. Put a cup of warm water in the blender.
2. Put the lecithin in the water and turn on the blender for 20-30 seconds until the lecithin granules are dissolved.
3. Add the kava root powder and the rest of the water. Use 12-16 ounces per serving.
4. Blend on low briefly just enough to stir and mix it all together.
5. Allow the mixture to soak for about 30 minutes.
6. Turn on the blender for 5 minutes. If the kava water mixture becomes thicker and mud-like during blending, you may add a little more water to keep it swirling in the blender.
7. Pour the blended kava liquid into your strainer bag(s) placed over a bowl. You may find it easier to pour a small amount at a time – a fist-sized amount – as this is easier to work with and squeeze out more completely.
8. Knead the wet kava root in the bag and squeeze as much of the water out as you can.
9. Pour or ladle the kava juice from the bowl into a cup and drink it down quickly.

Within about 10 minutes, you will feel a wave of euphoria. This initial euphoria last roughly an hour give or take, but you will feel mellow for several hours. Drink another cup or two if you want to maintain your initial wave feeling. It is true that some people need a few times to get an effect. This is called paying your dues to the kava gods.

Enjoy!

well no offense but i still think sum skag and a bottle of kpins gimme much more euphoria