Kava
Kava is a traditional Pacific Island root known for its profound relaxing, anxiolytic, and muscle-easing effects. It acts as a nonaddictive nervine that calms the body without depressing cognition, easing muscular tension, nerve pain, and stress-related conditions. Kava also supports urinary comfort, reduces pain-induced insomnia, and offers topical benefits for fungal infections, bites, and rashes.
The Latin name means “intoxicating pepper,” referencing its pepper family lineage and psychoactive, calming qualities.
Kava eases muscular tension, spasms, and pain, benefiting conditions such as fibromyalgia, tension headaches, neuralgia, sciatica, carpal tunnel flare-ups, and uterine or bladder cramping. It is a powerful nervine that reduces anxiety, nervousness, restlessness, and stress-induced symptoms including palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, and insomnia. Kava acts as a mood-elevating calmative useful for depression related to stress, depletion, or nervous exhaustion. It reduces withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines and nicotine, decreases social inhibition, and gently supports libido in individuals with stress-related sexual tension.For urinary discomfort, Kava alleviates pain associated with interstitial cystitis, urethritis, passing kidney stones, or irritability from prostate swelling. Topically or internally, it reduces itching and pain from insect bites, stings, poison oak/ivy, fungal infections (Candida, tinea, athlete’s foot, ringworm), and nerve irritation in the gums.
For thousands of years, Kava has held ceremonial and spiritual significance in Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. Traditionally reserved for chiefs, priests, elders, and nobles, it was consumed during rites of passage, village meetings, conflict resolution, and peacekeeping ceremonies. Kava strengthened social bonds, facilitated connection with ancestors, and was used for naming rituals, marriages, funerals, and healing gatherings. The root was historically chewed, mixed with coconut water, and strained to prepare the beverage. Diluted extracts were also applied topically for itching caused by infections or poison ivy.
A woody perennial shrub with a large root crown and multiple erect shoots 2–4 meters tall, often green, reddish-brown, or purple. Stems are 1–3 cm in diameter with swollen nodes and leaf scars. Leaves are large, cordate, palmately veined, and 10–30 cm long. Kava is dioecious and sterile, rarely flowering; when present, flowers appear as narrow, yellow-green spikes without petals or sepals. Male flowers contain two stamens; female flowers have a single carpel.
Internal use is contraindicated during endogenous depression and should not be used by children. Avoid combining with prescription antidepressants, anxiolytics, sedatives, analgesics, psychotropics, dopamine antagonists (e.g., used for Parkinson’s), or alcohol due to potential interactions and liver burden. Excessive use can cause visual disturbances, oculomotor effects, dizziness, or temporary paralysis. Do not use longer than 3–6 consecutive months. Avoid operating heavy machinery while using Kava. Contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation.
Christina Sinadinos, David Hoffman, Bryan Bowen, all relevant CHSHS lectures.