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There are many notable
effects of kava that are renown the world over.
Throughout the plant’s long, rich history, the virtues
of kava have been discussed and espoused among the
people of the Pacific Islands and beyond. Most commonly,
those who use kava find that it helps them focus, relax,
and be more at ease in a social context. These effects
have been well-documented throughout the history of the
islands.
Kava produces an effect on the body like no other
botanical. Unlike other herbs, or even prescription
medications, kava calms as well as focuses, and it is
used by everyone from athletes to businessmen to
dignitaries and diplomats, to those who just want to
have a peaceful ending to their day.
For sufferers of back pain, Kava has been proven to be
an effective pain reliever. This is in part due to the
muscle relaxing properties of this splendid plant,
which, for some reason, seems to focus its natural pain
relief on the back area of the body. We know a large
number of people personally who have eased the pain of
their arthritis, as well as removed all traces of
morning back pain with kava, after growing accustomed to
this pain over time, often for years.
Homeopathically, kava is used to treat such conditions
as states of excitation and exhaustion. In many parts of
the world (not the United States), kava is used to help
reduce excitability in children, often as an alternative
to Prozac. In Hawaii, restless and feverish children are
given kava root (pre-chewed by their mothers), twice a
day to calm and soothe them in their state of duress.
All across the South Pacific, kava is used as a
calmative for children and adults. It has been shown to
not only calm them, but also to help them better cope
with the stresses and pressures of the world around
them. Reportedly, some articles we have read propose
that the consumption of Prozac may have possible links
to increased suicide, but there has never been a single
incident like that reported throughout the long history
of kava.
Traditional ritual use of the plant includes the
legendary kava ceremony. Kava ceremonies date back
thousands of years and are still practiced today in
Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu. Kava ceremonies range
from the formal ceremony to the informal gathering. They
can function as a greeting custom for guests, as a
component of tribal negotiations, and as part of the
soothing social drinking get-togethers that take place
in the evenings. Many world-class athletes and
dignitaries, as well as average citizens, incorporate
kava into their daily lives.
Perhaps the best part about kava is that despite all of
its beneficial effects, it is completely non-addictive.
For us in Hawaii, the best effect of kava is simply the
sociability that it offers everyone who consumes it. We
feel more comfortable and more talkative, and we feel
like telling long stories late into the night, as we
drink several glasses of kava throughout the night, just
like your favorite drink. |
