Kava Kava

Body:

Kava‘The Peace Plant’ Family Name: PiperaceaeFamily Name: Pepper family Latin Name: Piper methysticum (Alsom Known As): Intoxicating pepper Common Names: kava-kava, kava pepper, kawa-kawa (Maori), ‘awa (Hawaii), ‘ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), and Sakau (Pohnpei)

Sitting With/Dreams/Sense of the Plant: 2/13/07, I took a bath because I was so stressed out, and I had an idea to put the Kava extract in it. I can’t believe how much it calmed me down! When I got out of the bath, I felt so peaceful and calm, and I was able to do my homework with no stressful feelings. I was just living in the present moment.

Body System Affiliations: 1. Nervous System2. Urinary System3. Digestive System4. Endocrine System

Botanical Description: Habit: A robust and attractive perennial shrub. Kava gardens and plantations grow perennially and are typically passed on through successive generations. Size: Grows to a height of ten feet (three meters) Leaves: Smooth, Heart-shaped Flowers: no flowers Stems: Fleshy stems. A mature plant may have more than 50 stalks, which have nodes, or bulging joints, between stalk sections. Underground Parts: The dried root is aromatic, bitter, and pungent, leaving mouth feeling slightly numbed, and is used in herbal medicine. The root structure consists of a large rootstock and a number of slender lateral roots. When Kava is prepared for drinking, the lateral roots and the rootstock are both used. Of the two, the lateral roots are more potent, containing a greater concentration of kavalactones, the relaxing agents in the plant. Personal Observation and Description: I love tropical looking plants, and kava is a very beautiful plant. It is a good representative of the Pacific Islands!

Ecology:Habitat: Moist forest. It grows naturally where rainfall is plentiful (over 2,000mm/yr). Ideal growing conditions range from 20-35 celsius degrees, and 70-100% relative humidity.Range: The Pacific islands of Hawaii, Federated States of Micronesia, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Samoas and Tonga.Native Where: Pacific Islands Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships: Food: Kava Beverage, consumed in the Pacific Islands. Medicine: Part Used: Kava root Medicinal Actions: The active tranquility-promoting constituents of kava are a group of resinous compounds known as kavalactones, and they have been the objects of chemical research for hundreds of years. There have been 6 out of 15 kavalactones that have been identified in the kava plant: methysticin (the resinous extract of kava), yangonon, dihydromethysticin (the most active tranquilizer), kavain, dihydrokavain, and demethoxy-yangonin. Many scientists performed tests on animals with these different kavalactones and found groundbreaking, pharmacological discoveries. Indications: Physicians and health specialists have been known to prescribe kava for pain, anxiety, insomnia, uncontrolled epilepsy, menstrual cramps, stiffness, and jet lag. Body System Associations: Nervous System Applications: Supplements, infusion, tincture, extract. Preparation: See the Harvesting section.

Pharmacy: According to an article from the Iowa State University, titled Food and Nutrition: Choices for Health, “Kava supplements should contain 50-15mg of kavalactones. A dosage of 100mg kava with a standardized 70% kavalactone concentration taken 1-3 times daily should reduce symptoms of mild anxiety. Americans spend $30 - $50 million on kava supplements every year.” There are also gelatin capsules of kava extract to be taken as muscle relaxants and can ease the pain of aching back, or sore neck, or any other cramped, sore, or injured muscle. Cautions: Avoid in pregnancy, lactation, with alcohol, do not use if taking anidepressants. Large amounts can cause dry skin, scaly rash, yellow discoloration of skin, hair and nails and bloodshot eyes. In Europe, there were reports of kava causing hepatotoxicity, when looked at closely most all cases were due to other causes, such as alcohol and drug abuse, a history of hepatitis, taking medications with known liver disease-causing side effects, or driving with an illegal level of alcohol in the blood but having a bottle of kava in the car (so the accident was attributed to kava). However, because the spiciness of kava potentiates drugs and has a direct action on the liver, avoid use as given.

Indigenous and Non-Western Use/Significance/Relationships:

Food: The indigenous tribes use the kava root to chew on, and they make drinks out of it. Medicine:Indigenous Group: The Pacific Islanders. Part Used: It is mainly the roots that are used for the medicinal properties. Medicinal Actions: Produces palpable, pleasurable, relaxing effect. Indications: The primary folk medicinal use of kava is for the relief of urogenital inflammation and cystitis, as well as drunk to relieve headaches, to restore vigor in the face and general weakness, to promote urination, to soothe and unruly stomach, to cure whooping cough in children, and to ease the symptoms of asthma and tuberculosis. Used to treat gonorrhea. Energetics: A Kava root cocktail played an important part in social and ceremonial life. It was especially important during meetings involving conflicts among parties trying to reconcile differences. It was also known for enhancing mental acuity, memory, and sensory perception. It is very relaxing. Preparation: Kava can be prepared by different methods. The roots and stumps of kava can be pounded, chewed or by grinding them and soaking them in cold water. Applications: By putting kava leaves in the vagina, abortions were said to be provoked. Useful for treating fungal infections and for soothing stings and skin inflammations.

Propagation: Technique: Different methods: 1. Sections of kava stalks are laid in trenches of mud, where they sprout, and then they are planted in shallow trenches, where they grow to maturity. 2. Kava stalks are cut at a diagonal and simply planted pointed ends downward in the ground, where its roots grow, sending up numerous new stalks above the ground.

*Timing:

Harvest:

Plant Part: Roots, usually best after about 5 years of age. *Season of Harvest: Method of Harvest: It is uprooted, with great care, pulling up as much of the potent lateral roots as possible. The stalks of the kava plant are then trimmed from the root, and the root should be scrubbed and washed clean, making sure there is no soil attached. Ecological Considerations of Harvest: Pounding, grinding, or grating. It is strained through nylon bag Cultural Considerations of Harvest: Cultural traditions believe that mastication, or chewing the root produces a stronger kava. Captain Cook observes: “ Kava is made in the most disgusting manner that can be imagines, from the juice contained in the roots of a species of pepper tree. This root is cut small, and the pieces chewed by several people, who spit the macerated mass into the bowl, where some water of coconuts is poured upon it. They then strain it through a quantity of the fibres of coconuts, squeezing the chips, till all their juices mix with the coconut milk; and the whole liquor is decanted into another bowl. They swallow this nauseous stuff as fast as possible; and some old topers value themselves on being able to empty a great number of bowls.” After the root has been mixed with water, it is kneaded or stirred for a while until the water has a muddy, yellowish looking appearance, and then it is strained usually through a wide swath of palm fiber.

Personal Experience:Food: I’ve tried Kava tea, which has relieved stress so that I can do my homework. I have also had a tincture which has calmed me so much, but at the same time has kept me incredibly alert! Medicine:Part Used: I believe the Medicinal part used is the root. I have taken it in pill form as well as a liquid tincture and infusion. Desired Medicinal Actions: Calm me down as well as keeping me alert and focused. Targeted Indications: stress, fear, anxiety Site Location: I think I have seen the plant in Hawaii, but am not sure. Site Description: I know that it grows in Hawaii, where I have been, and I know that the Hawaiian islands are very tropical, with a warm temperature. Experience: I have a big fear of flying, and my mother and I were about to get onto a plane to fly from the east coast to the west. I was really scared because I wasn’t going to be able to sit next to her. She had some Kava Kava supplements that she gave to me, and when I got on the plane, I felt at peace, very relaxed, but very alert at the same time. I was able to do my homework without that scary feeling in my stomach. *If you did not harvest the plant yourself, use the following titles: *Procurement: Source Condition Dried, fresh, etc. Cost: I have bought tea for about 5$, and a pill form for an average of about 17$, infusion for about 10$. Other Procurement Information: None found. Application/Preparation/Pharmacy: Applications: I have only had it in tea and pill form and as an infusion. Pharmacy: I have had no more then 4 cups of tea a day when I do my homework. I have put about 30 drops of tincture in my water a day. And if I take kava in pill form, I take no more then 2 a day. Reason/Purpose: I have always been intrigued by the traditional stories I have heard about this plant, so I was interested in furthering my understanding of it’s impressive qualities! Before consuming it, I was hoping for a calming effect, while at the same time keeping me incredibly alert. Experience: My hopes came true! I found this plant to be extremely calming and relaxing, and it did indeed keep me incredibly alert. In fact, it did more than just that! It expanded my thinking process, which lead to more creative ideas and thoughts! Cautions based on experience: Although it mainly keeps me incredibly alert most of the time, there was one time when I drank a cup of kava tea before doing my homework, and I couldn’t stay awake! I fell asleep. So I have to watch out for that as well! I think I just drank the cup of tea really fast, and I was very awake for a few minutes and then I just crashed! Maybe it was a sign that my body was in need of the rest… what a way to relieve stress!

Other Notes of Interest: Current research suggests that it may have first been domesticated less than 3,000 years ago in Vanuatu (which used to be called the New Hebrides), a group of islands in eastern Melanesia. Chewing the kava root can liberate more kavalactones from the pulp than other methods because saliva contains the enzyme ptyalin, which breaks down starchy components in the pulp.

Cautions: Alcohol and Kava do not mix! It can cause a major damage to the liver! Pregnant or lactating women should avoid using kava. If kava is used in great excess, it can cause what is known as kava-induced dermopathy, a patchy scaling of the skin. I think that Dosage is important to know for Kava! Some product labels recommend a maximum of 300 milligrams of kavalactones, but regular kava drinkers consume anywhere from 500 to 2500 milligrams of kavalactones per day for years at a time without any apparent ill effects. Some studies have shown that a daily dose of between 70 and 210 milligrams of kavalactones can effectively relieve stress and anxiety! For sleep, a dose of 150 to 200 milligrams of kavalactones should be taken 30 or 60 minutes before hand.

Anastarr Ricketts - Healing Gardens - Winter Quarter - 2007 Bibliography:

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/nutrition/supplements/kava.php [1]

2. Phyllis A. Baclch. Prescription for Herbal Healing. New York: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, 2002.3. http://www.biopsychiatry.com/kava/ [2]4. Kilham, Chris. Psyche Delicacies. United States of America: Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, 2001.5. Tierra, Lesley. Healing With the Herbs of Life. Berkley, California: Crossing Press, 2003.6. Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Herbal Healing. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 2002.

Name: Anastarr Ricketts