Sip to Serenity: Exploring the Calming Benefits of Kava

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Along with providing information on whether Kava supplements might be right for you, this article also links to Fullscript where you can buy supplements online through Fullscript’s secure healthcare formulary and get free shipping and 20% off the retail price of professional-grade supplements.


Kava, a plant native to the Pacific Islands known for its calming properties. This ancient beverage, celebrated for its soothing effects, has found its way into the modern wellness sphere. From easing stress and anxiety to promoting better sleep, kava is making a name for itself in a world that’s more in need of relaxation than ever before. In this article, we will explore the benefits, preparation, and appropriate use of kava. We’ll also delve into the science behind its effects, ensuring you’re fully informed. And when you’re ready to experience the tranquility that kava offers, you can buy kava root online from our trusted store. Let’s embark on this journey into the serene world of kava together.

What is Kava?

Kava is a plant native to the South Pacific islands. People use its root for its calming effects. The key ingredient of Kava that makes it work is a group of substances called kavalactones. These kavalactones can help with relaxation, easing anxiety, and promoting better sleep.

While many people find Kava helpful, it’s also important to be aware of its side effects. Some users report nausea, dizziness, or drowsiness. In rare cases, heavy use of Kava might harm your liver. So, always check with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, including Kava.

What are the health benefits of Kava?

Here are some of the most recognized health benefits of Kava:

  • Anxiety Reduction: One of the most well-known benefits of Kava is its potential to reduce anxiety. Several clinical studies suggest that Kava can be as effective as some prescription anti-anxiety drugs without the risk of addiction. Kavalactones appear to affect the same pathways in the brain as certain anti-anxiety medications. [PMID: 12535473]
  • Promotes Better Sleep: Kava can help in improving sleep quality and reducing the time it takes to fall asleep. It’s especially beneficial for people who have insomnia due to anxiety.
  • Muscle Relaxation: Kava has muscle relaxant properties, which can be beneficial for individuals with muscle tension or pain.
  • Pain Relief: Some people use Kava as a pain reliever, especially for conditions characterized by muscle pain or tension. Its analgesic effects, though, are not as potent as many over-the-counter pain relievers.
  • Protection Against Neurodegenerative Diseases: Preliminary research suggests that kavalactones might have neuroprotective effects, potentially offering some level of protection against conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Mood Boost: Regular, moderate consumption of Kava can lead to improved mood and feelings of well-being.
  • Reduction of Symptoms in Menopause: Some women have reported that using Kava helps in reducing the symptoms of menopause, such as irritability and insomnia.

Is Kava Safe?

Cautions: Do NOT use kava if you have liver problems, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you’re taking other medications that can affect the liver. Don’t use Kava before driving or operating heavy machinery, as it can impair your reactions and judgment. It’s also recommended to avoid using Kava with alcohol, as this can increase the risk of liver damage and can also increase the sedative effects of Kava.

Dosage: Don’t exceed 70 mg kavalactones.

With that said, Kava is safe for short-term use, but it can sometimes cause side effects like headache, dizziness, drowsiness, depression, diarrhea, and occasional skin blisters or rashes.

During the peak of Kava’s popularity, some substandard supplements were manufactured that contained the leaves of the Kava plant, which are not considered safe. During that period, there were reports of severe liver damage, even from short-term use at normal doses. Many of the cases of liver damage involved the use of Kava products that contained parts of the plant other than the root, the use of other drugs or supplements along with Kava, or heavy alcohol consumption.

Medication Interactions

  • Sedatives: Since Kava can make you drowsy, it can amplify the effects of medications that cause sedation. This includes certain antihistamines, sedative pain medications, sleeping pills, and medications for anxiety or seizures.
  • Alcohol and drugs affecting the liver: Alcohol and other substances that can harm the liver might increase the risk of liver damage if taken with Kava.
  • Medications for Parkinson’s disease: Kava might increase the effects of these drugs, possibly leading to an increased risk of side effects.
  • Antidepressants: Combining Kava with antidepressants could increase the risk of liver damage and might also increase the effects of the antidepressants, possibly leading to an increased risk of side effects.
  • Medications changed by the liver: Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Kava might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down these medications, which could increase the effects and side effects of these medications.
  • Diuretics (water pills): Kava can make these drugs less effective, potentially interfering with their ability to control blood pressure or reduce swelling.

Supplement Interactions

  • Other sedatives: Supplements that have a sedative effect could enhance the drowsiness caused by Kava. This includes supplements like St. John’s Wort, Valerian root, and Melatonin.
  • Supplements that can harm the liver: Some supplements can cause harm to the liver, and combining these with Kava might increase the risk of liver damage. This includes supplements like comfrey, chaparral, and pennyroyal.
  • Supplements that affect blood clotting: Kava might slow down blood clotting, so taking it with supplements that also affect clotting could increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. This includes supplements like garlic, ginkgo, and fish oil.
  • Diuretic supplements: Kava might interact with diuretic supplements, potentially reducing their effectiveness.
  • Supplements affecting the nervous system: Kava can impact the nervous system and might increase the effects of other supplements that also affect the nervous system.

Why Professionals Choose the Fullscript Formulary

Your health is on the line. Health professionals know that many other online and retail options set a very low bar for quality–sometimes amazingly low. The Fullscript formulary is the most secure online source for the highest quality brands securely sourced to assure freshness and purity. Here’s what makes Fullscript the best:

  • Meticulous vetting of brand quality. Health professionals trust Fullscript to continuously monitor the quality of each item on the platform. Other retailers operate with profit as their highest or only motive when choosing brands. Fullscript cares only about quality and reliability. Unlike discount stores, large online marketplaces, and other retailers you won’t find ingredients sourced from China or other questionable locations or companies.
  • Always 20% Discount off the manufacturer’s retail price. When you follow any link from Supplement-Sciences.com, you will automatically get 20% off the retail price.
  • Free shipping over $50.
  • Freshness. Fullscript prioritizes freshness over bulk buying even if it means an increased risk of briefly being out of stock.
  • Top quality phone and online support. When you call, knowledgeable humans at Fullscript answer your questions.
  • How It Works:
    • Easy Sign-up & No Spam Email: Click the “View Product” button below to be taken to Fullscript’s login page where you can quickly create your secure account with just your name, email, and phone number. Then you will be taken directly to the product page.
    • Wide variety of supplement options: Once you sign in to your account, you are not limited to the products listed below. You will see similar items listed at the bottom of each product page on Fullscript.
    • Search For What You Want: Once inside Fullscript, you can search for the exact brands and products you want from their wide selection of quality brands.

Kava by Gaia Herbs

Adults take 1 capsule 3 times daily between meals. Maximum time of use: 1 month.

Amount Per 1 Capsule Serving
Total Carbohydrate  … <1g
Kava root extract+ … 442mg
(Piper methysticum)
Kavalactones … 75mg

Other Ingredients: Vegetable glycerin, lecithin (non-GMO), water, and capsule (vegetable cellulose)



To Sum It Up

Kava, a traditional beverage of the Pacific Islands, has a unique blend of compounds that offer a range of health benefits, from reducing anxiety to promoting better sleep. As with all natural remedies, it’s essential to approach Kava with knowledge and respect for its potency and cultural significance. While its calming effects and potential to alleviate certain ailments are promising, it’s crucial to consume it in moderation and seek guidance from a healthcare professional. The journey into the world of Kava illustrates the profound wisdom that traditional cultures can offer, revealing that sometimes, age-old solutions can complement modern lifestyles in the quest for well-being.


This Article is Not a Substitute for Medical Advice

Dietary supplements are not designed to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The Supplement Sciences website seeks to provide comprehensive access to the most relevant supplement information along with convenient online ordering. We do not provide medical advice and cannot guarantee that every product suggested is completely without risk. Since each person is unique in their health history and medication use, it is important to discuss supplements with your personal physician. Specifically, pregnant women and individuals being treated for cancer or liver or kidney problems must consult their physician about every nutritional supplement they plan to take. People taking medications for the treatment of HIV or with a history of organ transplant must not take supplements without consulting with their physician.


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Supplement Sciences

Staff Authors at Nutriscape have been working on this article and it is still a work in progress. Please feel free to login and comment on what you see so far.

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