Kava has been used for hundreds of years in ceremonial and social practices. Kava is known for its calming and socially-lubricating effects, as well as its earthy taste and the tingly feeling it leaves on your lips. Though kava is regarded largely as a social beverage, it is also used for a variety of medical purposes.
Kava is most well known for its effectiveness in treating social and generalized anxiety. Many people experience a relaxing and calming effect, which can be quite comparable to the impacts of anti-anxiety medicines that people are prescribed, but sourced naturally as opposed to being sourced from pharmaceutical companies. It is not entirely understood how exactly kava reduces anxiety symptoms, but according to the National Center of Biotechnology Information, kava is understood to have an effect on the GABA receptors in the brain.
This noradrenergic effect differentiates the central bio-behavioral effects of kava from those of alcohol and benzodiazepines [32], while the combination of GABA modulation and increased noradrenergic activation contributes to feelings of physical relaxation with increased hedonic tone, with no deleterious effects on cognition [33].
The anxiety-relieving effects of kava are a large part of why kava bars are so popular. Kava helps anxious people, anxious people become less anxious and talk to each other!
Kava is known to help treat people with insomnia as well. Kava is very relaxing, and works as a very mild sedative. In people who do not have insomnia, kava can be very relaxing. I personally drink kava when I want to get to bed early, because it keeps me calm and relaxed. For people with insomnia, a moderate dose of kava can often instigate slight sedating effects, and help regulate sleep. Studies have shown that kava will aid in falling asleep, but has no impact on REM sleep. For this Kava is sometimes used specifically for insomnia, because for many insomniacs, it is the process of getting to sleep that is the primary issue.
Kava is known to have some pain-killing, muscle-relaxing, and anti-convulsive properties as well. Women have been using kava in the United States for relief from menstrual cramp pain for decades, as kava can help relax tense muscles and as a result, reduce cramping all together. People have been known to consume kava to assist in treating symptoms of migraines, cystic fibrosis, joint pain and many other ailments. Many believe that kava may even have some anti-cancer effects, though this is not yet proven conclusively.
Although kava has many wonderful health benefits, it is important to be aware of the fact that, as with anything, there is such a thing as too much kava. Common signs that you need to lay off the kava include dry and flaky skin, dehydration, drowsiness, confusion, skin rash, and diarrhea. If you are experiencing these symptoms and are a regular consumer of kava, I highly recommend you stop drinking kava for a few days and check for improvement, or contact your doctor. Negative health implications for my kava are extremely rare, but nevertheless it is important to be sure you know exactly what to look out for.