What Is Kava?

The plant known as Piper methysticum is part of the pepper plant family and is also used for the tranquilizing drink kava. The kava plant's main ingredient is kavalactone, which can be used to help relieve stress, anxiety, insomnia, social anxiety and migraines while keeping the mind alert.

Origins

The Piper methysticum plant, thought to have originated in Oceania, was made into a herbal ceremonial drink, inducing relaxation. Kava plants are now widely used within the Western Pacific. Captain Cook's voyages to the Pacific not only opened new coastlines to the world but it was because of these voyages that the Piper methysticum plant became known widely around the world.

Roots

The roots of the Piper methysticum plant are what is used to make the herbal drink. The roots are compressed to allow the natural fluid to be released from the roots. The liquid released is then mixed with water and consumed immediately. The taste of the kava drink is one of sour dirt and soil.

Kavalactones

Kavalactones are the active ingredients found within the kava plant's roots. With 18 types of kavalactones found so far, the tranquilizing drink is better made using the roots only. Kavalactones contain a condensation product of an alcohol group and a carboxylic acid group within each molecule (see Resources.) The kavalactones are passed through to the blood stream from the stomach and then travel to the brain.

Short Term Effects

Kava can induce sleep and relaxation, but it also can cause numbness in the throat and mouth, loss of muscle control, nausea and red eyes. Kava also has long-term affects that might cause permanent damage to an individual's body and mind.

Warning

The idea of drinking a natural product that could actually alleviate stress and other medical types of conditions can sound tempting, but kava can bring long-term effects such as destroying parts of the nervous system, loss of balance, physical trembling and can also destroy the functions of the liver and produce scaly or yellowish skin (see Resources).