Collection: Kava & Kava Products
welcome to Healing Herbals' Kava Collection, where we showcase top quality kava products sourced from the leading quality regions which are famous for cultivating this fantastic plant. Kava, Piper methysticum, has long been highly sought after for hundreds of years on the South Pacific islands, like Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, and Hawaii, due to its relaxing and medicinal values.
Active Compounds in Kava
The most active compounds found in kava are the kavalactones, a series of lactone compounds which cause its psychoactivity. Among the 19 kavalactones, there are six that are most prominent:
Kavain: Its ability to elevate the mood and tranquilize.
Dihydrokavain (DHK): Calms irritability and restlessness.
Methysticin: Exudes potential neuroprotection.
Dihydromethysticin (DHM): Calms the muscles and induces serenity.
Yangonin: Intercepts the cannabinoid receptors of the brain, inducing calmness.
Desmethoxyyangonin (DMY): Causes concentration and clarity with mild uplifting effect.
These kavalactones interact synergistically to create kava's classic effects of relaxation, decreased anxiety, and enhanced mental clarity.
Traditional and Modern Uses
Traditionally, kava has served as a ceremonial drink by macerating the root and mixing it with water. It is the foundation for religious and social ceremonies in Pacific cultures and functions as a representative of unity and friendship. Today, kava is used to alleviate stress, anxiety, and insomnia and offers a natural alternative to chemical treatment.
Growing Regions
Kava thrives within the tropical conditions of the South Pacific and is traditionally grown in:
Vanuatu: Referenced as the source of kava cultivation.
Fiji: Grown for high-quality kava with the precise amount of kavalactone.
Samoa: Valued highly and utilized in many ceremonies.
Hawaii: 'Awa, or Hawaiian kava, is valued for its unique taste and strength.
Methods and Effects of Consumption
Kava is traditionally consumed in a liquid solution form of water and root powder. Kava effect is mental tranquility without mentally dulling effects, hence usable for unwinding and social occasion purposes. A few people have some subtle anesthetic feeling on the mouth and tongue, but this is natural when one uses kava
