Posted by clairey on January 15, 2004, at 4:11:37
In reply to the real Kava » clairey, posted by tealady on January 14, 2004, at 19:29:28
> > I know with kava kava you have to buy the good stuff for it to work!!
> > tried normal caps but they are useless
> > i want something that will make me relaxed, not drowsy, and aware of everything that goes on still. And something to get rid of my anxiety would be good!!
> > Thanks
> Here's a description from talking to someone who has spent some time in the Pacific Islands.
> The real Kava..as made by the pacific islanders involves digging up some roots..slashing them to get more than the soaking, then wrapping the roots in cloth(like an old towel) and sticking them in a bucket of water...which becomes muddy as they haven't washed the roots.
> Then you just remove the roots and drink. It tastes like grassy mud and poison mixed together I'm told. Basically yuk! so you don't drink it for the taste or refreshment..as in beer. I know I've tried it many years ago in the Sth Pacific too, but only a sip to be polite like, and yes it tasted yuk.
> It begins by kinda numbing your lips and tongue immediately, and the more you drink the more of your tongue gets kinda numb. The yuk flavour absorbs into your tongue and you can't get rid of it.
> Its best taken just near bedtime as when you wake up in the morning there is no hangover effects at all..but if you drink it earlier, about a couple of hours after drinking it you feel "wierd" as you go thru a letdown. Bad feeling was the best description I could get.
> The natives seem to only drink it near bedtime. It does relax you, but doesn't make you noticeably drowsy, perhaps a little.
> Basically they drink it as the local beer tastes even worse I gather ..and the imported beer is way out of the price range.
> I heard they tried to encourage the aborigines at Arnhem Land to drink Kava instead of beer (all the natives of the Sth Pacific and aborigines in Oz appear to not tolerate beer...no ability to be able to tell when to stop and very angry drunks)...but I think they found it increased heart and other medical problems.
> From the above, I guess it mustn't be TOO addictive as the natives don't seem to lie around drinking it all day, like say beetle nut gets chewed in NG,...but if they only use in mostly before bed at night..it must mean the letdown during the day is not worth it. Note- they have a sleep for 2 hrs or so in the middle of the day and the natives in St Pacific don't seem to drink kava then. Perhaps its good if you have night time anxiety? or problems relaxing to get to sleep? I'll probably give it a go myself in a couple of months..if I can stand the taste enough.
> OK, here's a link to the Arnhem Land stuff
> http://www.pacificislands.cc/pm102003/pmdefault.php?urlarticleid=0026
> looks like it can be addictive.
> Jan
>Thanks for that, sounds scary!! suppose if you have a little bit it wont harm you. Bit like weed i suppose and thats easy to smoke in the daytime, but addictive! oh well
thanks
poster:clairey
thread:300567
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040110/msgs/301020.html