The word Kava originates from the Polynesian word “awa,” which means bitter. It is a root extract beverage made from the Piper methysticum plant (a plant native to Western Pacific islands.). This popular social drink is occasionally serving ceremonies for relaxation. In the 2000s, due to reports that Kava has health-hazard concerns, the government order its withdrawal from the market in Europe and Canada.
How Long Will Kava Last Inside Your System?
Most people take this drink to help cope with stress, sleeping problems, and other health conditions. This controversial drink still has no scientific evidence to support whether this drink is adequate for the abovementioned uses.
There are countries in the Pacific Regions that are famous for the production of Kava, such as Micronesia, Vanuatu, Fiji, The Samoas, Tonga, and even the state of Hawaii in the United States.
This root-extracted beverage has a long story of being an alternative medicine because of its relaxing and euphoric effect. Some take it traditionally by mixing Kava with boiled water to form a tea, but sometimes this comes in a tablet dose.
There are some contributing reasons to try Kava; to reduce anxiety, feel calm, better sleeping routine, and have the desire to perform well. Mostly, the essential here is you should first identify the proper dosage, side effects, and basics before having your Kava for the first time.
According to the National Health Institute, this drink has a mild anxiety-reducing effect, a factor why many still use it as a recreational drug and medicine. In addition, too much consumption may lead to severe liver damage.
Anything we consume, such as food, substance, or even chemicals, takes time to process through the body. Diverse composition types of Kava may stay in your body longer than others.
Based on thesurvey conducted by researchers, some claim they can feel the adverse effects for four or more hours, while others claim they only feel it for one or two hours. Differ in testimonials, some claim it stays in the body for 12 hours, and others claim it stays in the body for a week.
The length of time Kava lasts on many factors. These include one’s metabolism, the dosage of the drug you consumed daily, and even the type you consumed.
Here’s a deeper look at the factors one must consider.
Metabolism
Metabolism refers to the conversion of food to energy from the body by eliminated wastes. Just like any other drink or substance, Kava is also metabolized by the human body. Such factors as age, gender, or even weight may affect the reaction, speed, and metabolism length.
Life of Kava
Like any other herbals and medicines, Kava has a half-life, which means that the dosage of the drug and the frequency of consumption are equivalent to the drug’s amount and concentration.
Dosage of Kava
There are different dosages of Kava depending on the person who will consume it. For instance, the recommended dosage of cava should not exceed 300mg a day. In that case, if a user wants to have an all-day-long effect, you have to break the dosage by 100 milligrams per cup to have at least three consuming in a day. There is no clear evidence of overdosage incorporated into Kava. Consuming an enormous amount of Kava might make you feel more tranquilized.
The Number of Kavalactones
Kavalactones are primarily the reason for the effects that you will feel after consuming Kava. If the dopamine levels increased, the brain tells your body to be good. Therefore, when you purchase Kava, it should be based on the percentage of Kavalaktones you want to receive per consumption. Kavalactones range from three to twenty percent, having twenty the strongest in effect. Between fifteen to seventy milligrams is the suggested light dosage of Kavalactones.
Possible Reverse in Tolerance
Reverse intolerance refers to the state of not feeling the effect of Kava for first-time drinkers. Its length varies from the percentage consumed, the drinker’s metabolism, age, and more.
The Type of Kava Consumed
There are two types of Kava; noble and non-noble. Many have said that the non-noble one lasts a more prolonged effect than the effect of the noble kind.
It is still necessary to differentiate between the two to have a significant outcome of effects on you and determine the length of the impact in your body.
How is Kava Absorbed?
Kavalactones are lipid-soluble, having low absorption in the gastrointestinal tract while rapid in gut absorption. Scientifically, Kavalactones are rapidly absorbed or dissolved in the small intestine and transported to the liver. For some resin components of Kava, the absorption rate was more significant than being given as an isolated substance.
The most significant factor that affects the effects of Kava is the immersion of the active kavalactones in the digestive system. So Kava is being absorbed by the body?
The body uses two significant pathways to circulate particles from the digestive tract down to the bloodstream — for water-dissolving compounds and compounds that are fat-soluble.
Fat-soluble substances will dissolve in solvents and fats but will not dissolve in water.
The absorption level from the pathway of fat-soluble is slower than those of the water-soluble. Blood is water-based. Therefore compounds that dissolve quickly in water can move directly to the bloodstream.
The digestive tract linings are now absorbing the Kavalactones. In some instances, Fat-soluble compounds need to dissolve first into the body through the fatty substance called lymph tissue. Then it will move into the lymph — alongside the cardiovascular system.
Before being combined with the blood, the lymph moves to the heart through some particular proteins allowing fatty compositions to liquefy with the blood. And because lymph fluid slowly travels through the body, this duration takes time.
Furthermore, the lymph was is not pumped by the cardiovascular system and solely relied on a sequence to go around the body. In addition, it will take a specific minute for Kavalactones to transfer from the lymph in the digestive tract to the systemic circulation that is needed to take effect.
What are the effects of Kava?
Known active chemicals in Kava which are kavalactones (extracted from kava roots), can vary widely. It depends on the drink preparation, and the quantity of powdered Kava added to the water defines the dosage strength of Kava.
Kava is also known as a central nervous system depressant. When consumed, Kava can still produce similar symptoms to drunkenness, difficulty with balance, and slurred speech even with no alcohol content.
Effects on you will vary depending on your body mass, general health, frequency of consumption, strength and amount, and taking other medication simultaneously. Common effects include:
Relief from Stress
Relief from Anxiety
Relaxation
Improved conversation
Social interactions
Decreased muscle tension
What are the side effects of Kava?
If there is no moderation, several side effects when drinking Kava are evident. Mouth consumption of Kava is safe when taken for up to six months. Prolonged consumption can make you unable to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not take Kava before having a drive. If you know adolescents suffering from addiction, learn more about teen addiction treatment programs, and adolescent intensive outpatient programs in Los Angeles.
Liver damage can be one of the results of the prolonged consumption of Kava. Intake of Kava for one to three months might result in a liver transplant and, worse- death in some cases. Early signs and symptoms of liver damage include yellowish eyes and skin (jaundice), fatigue, and darker urine. But these cases appear to be relatively minimal. Most people who have used Kava have not experienced liver toxicity.
Furthermore, some experts believe that the liver toxicity seen in these cases cannot directly link to Kava. Other factors may have contributed to these toxic effects. To be on the safe, people who choose to consume Kava can get liver function tests.
Special Precautions and Warnings
When you are considering the use of herbal supplements such as Kava, seek your doctor’s advice. You may also consider consulting a practitioner trained in the use of herbal/health supplements not to put your health at risk.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Consumption of Kava is considered unsafe for a pregnant or breastfeeding individual. Mouth consumption of Kava is dangerous. It might affect the uterus, and some of the content of hazardous chemicals in Kava might mix with breast milk and might hurt a breastfed infant.
Liver Disease
Liver problems might occur while taking Kava, even in healthy people. People who have a history of liver problems should avoid consuming Kava.
Parkinson Disease
People diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease should not take Kava as it will make the condition worse.
Surgery
Kava directly affects the human central nervous system. It triggers the increase of effects of anesthesia and other medications used during and after surgery. Persons with at least two weeks of scheduled surgery shout not consume or take Kava as it will affect your before and after surgery medication.
