Have you ever heard of kava before? Wondering what it is we are talking about and what good it can be? Then this post is a must-read for you, as kava, a plant native to South Africa, comes with a host of health benefits.

Are you interested in knowing more? Keep reading!

About Kava:

Kava, a native plant to South Africa, is referred by different names, like Ava Pepper, Ava Root, Kew, Kava Kava, Intoxicating pepper, Intoxicating long pepper, Kao, and many more.

The name ‘Kava’ was given by the legendary explorer, Captain Cook. However, the name was not discovered by Captain Cook. Kava was popular among Pacific Islanders for thousands of years. It is a popular social drink in South Pacific akin to alcohol in Western societies. Moreover, it still holds an important role in various ceremonies and rituals.

Kava tea is loaded with chemicals known as kava lactones. These lactones are the key active ingredient in Kava. However, any treatment with the Kava tea would show its effect after a minimum period of eight weeks. Although there is little research present about Kava benefits, it is used widely around the Southern Pacific region.

About Kava Tea:

The benefits of Kava plant come from its roots. Kava tea is prepared by finely grinding the roots and further letting this powder infuse in hot water to prepare tea. Kava roots are known to be loaded with rhizome components and lactones that are further purported to feature numerous health benefits. These lactones are generally believed to alleviate anxiety as well as mood swings.

Although it is new to many people, it has been popularly in use, not only for its pleasing qualities, but also for the various health benefits associated with it.

Identification & Effectiveness:

Kava plant belongs to the pepper family. The roots and underground stem are the parts used for medicinal purposes. These parts of the plant are treated and prepared to make drinks, pills, and extracts for use.

As stated by MedlinePlus, Kava tea could possibly be effective in the management of withdrawal symptoms related to medications (like benzodiazepines) for the treatment of anxiety (1).

Besides being an effective stress relieving agent, Kava tea has also been considered for over 3,000 years to possess medicinal properties. Additionally, the popularity of Kava tea in the food supplement market is due to its naturally occurring soothing properties.

Many studies have also revealed that the use of kava tea aids healthy weight loss and weight management (2).

Kava tea is usually available in the form of capsules, liquids, tablets, tinctures, and soft gels. Besides, it is also known for its anaesthetic and analgesic properties. These properties and benefits are explained further.

1. Ideal Stress Reliever:

Being a well-accepted natural sedative, the Kava tea proves quite effective in treating patients with chronic depression and stress (3). As a natural tranquilizer, Kava tea helps relieve stress and various symptoms associated with it, including depression, restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, and nervousness. It has also been proved by studies that the Kava root, the basic ingredient of kava tea, can relieve palpitations prompted by panic attacks.

2. Analgesic:

Loaded with intrinsic analgesic properties (4), Kava tea proves highly beneficial in relieving pain due to arthritis and muscle spasms. Moreover, the chronic pain experienced because of fibromyalgia can also be treated to a great extent through the regular use of this amazing tea.

3. Antispasmodic:

There are numerous medical and health conditions that feature muscle spasms as a common symptom, including menstruation. Research conducted on Kava root and the tea prepared with this root has proven that it can be used in the treatment of serious spasms.

4. Anaesthetic:

Kava tea is known to be blessed with anaesthetic properties. Consumption and use of kava root and the tea is known to numb body parts, albeit for a temporary period.

5. Treats Menopausal Syndrome:

Menopause is considered as one of the most difficult stages in the life of a woman. This stage is accompanied by various physical and psychological problems. Kava tea is bequeathed with anaesthetic, antispasmodic, sedative, and alterative properties. All these properties, when combined, help combat the menopausal syndrome in a more convenient manner.

6. Natural Cure For Insomnia:

The sedative and tranquilizing properties of the Kava root, which is transformed into finely ground powder, have been used by conventional physicians to treat various sleep disorders. Insomnia patients are often advised to consume Kava tea for better sleep at night (5).

7. Helps To Treat Uro-Genital Problems:

As reported by NCCAM (National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), the antispasmodic, antifungal, and diuretic properties of Kava tea have been used since time immemorial to treat various infections that are known to affect the urinary tract and bladder.

8. Supports Fast Recovery From Stroke:

Kava tea has the remarkable ability to control the area of the brain that is impacted by ischemia and stroke. This tea ensures, although indirectly, that there is no extensive damage to the brain. This way, it paves the way for a better and faster recovery from stroke.

9. Potential Cure For Cancer:

Studies have revealed that Kava root may play a role in the treatment of leukaemia and ovarian cancer (6). Being a natural anti-inflammatory agent as well as a natural analgesic, it is considered to be compatible with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. This helps provide relief from the pain experienced during such conditions.

Moreover, Kava tea also features sedative properties that induce sleep and have an effect of partial numbing. All these properties of Kava tea help cancer patients cope with the disease in a better and more convenient manner.

10. Helps Overcome Addiction Challenges:

Giving up any form of addiction is quite challenging. In addition to helping a person quit his addiction, the tranquilizing and sedative properties of Kava tea help combat withdrawal symptoms associated with the de-addiction process in a better way.

Interesting Facts About Kava Tea Preparation:

1. A Soothing Cup Of Tea:

Kava Kava, a native plant to Polynesia, is used in parts, specifically the roots, to make a relaxing and calming tea. Kava kava relaxes muscles, thereby ensuring better sleep besides reducing stress and making people more sociable. Surprisingly, Kava tea is also usually offered during important government meetings and weddings. It also is offered during other stressful events, such as demise in the family, to produce a calming effect on the nerves and thus reducing the chances of conflict.

2. A Cold Cup Of Kava Tea:

The active and main ingredients of Kava Kava are usually destroyed at a high temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, when making Kava tea, it is recommended to use a thermometer, so as to make sure the temperature of the brew doesn’t cross 120 degrees F. This would help to keep the benefits of kava kava intact and unharmed.

One good option is to prepare large amounts of the tea. This can be done by putting the root powder or the roots in a crock pot with a liquid of your choice and then turning it on to a temperature of 120 degrees F or even less. Thereafter, let the powder steep for about an hour. Thereafter, the cool tea can be consumed to enjoy its benefits.

3. Cream For The Tea:

While learning to prepare Kava tea, you might discover that the use of a fatty liquid base, like soy milk, coconut milk, or cow’s milk, can increase the extraction rate as well as the strength of the tea. It has also been found that these liquid bases also improve the texture as well as the taste of the tea. Using water can increase the amount of time required to steep the tea.

4. Create The Perfect Brew:

Once you have decided to heat the liquid base, add Kava root powder to the heated liquid and cover it with a lid. If you are preparing your tea in milk, steep the tea for about 30 minutes; or else you can steep in water for about 45 minutes. Once the tea has reached the required strength, avoid reheating. However, it is important to ensure the temperature of the liquid does not exceed 120 degrees F.

If you are making cold Kava tea, put the powder in a cold liquid and put it inside the refrigerator overnight for an improved taste and effective results. Remember, it is very important to grind Kava root finely to extract all its benefits. Also, make sure you use a fine strainer, like muslin or coffee filter, to extract the powder from the liquid. This should be done prior to drinking the tea.

Recipes To Prepare Kava Tea:

Every individual has a different recipe to prepare Kava tea. The common methods to prepare this tea include:

Method I – The Kava Tea Powder:

Generally, Kava tea powder is easily available at local health food stores. There are many different types of Kava available under different brand names. Look for a good brand through trial and error.

The next step is to mix the powder in water. However, remember to remove the root powder before drinking. This can be done through a large teabag or by filtering the drink later. However, for those who like some extra fibre can leave the tea unstrained.

Finally, the amount of Kava powder is added to the drink according to your taste. More amount of powder means a more potent drink.

Method II – The Strainer Method:

The initial step in the preparation of the tea by the strainer method begins with adding the Kava powder directly into the water and mixing it thoroughly. If needed, you can opt to use a blender for large quantities or use a spoon for preparing one cup.

Allow the Kava and water to mix for at least 10 minutes. During this time, allow the blender to have a couple of breaks. The next step is to filter the Kava using a strainer. It can be a wire mesh or cheesecloth. It is worth noting that coffee filters don’t work well for filtering Kava tea.

Method III – The Kneading Method:

For this method, take a shallow bowl. Fill it with the desired quantity of water. Three cups or more is an appropriate quantity. Follow by placing a square cloth inside the bowl. Fill the clean cloth with the desired quantity of Kava powder. Then knead this Kava in the water. Make sure the powder doesn’t escape into the bowl. As the process is completed, pull the straining cloth out and squeeze out as much liquid as possible from it.

Method IV – Kava Teabags:

Besides the powder, Kava teabags are a great option to prepare tasty and effective Kava tea. It also is easy and saves time. Kava tea bags form the real crux of any Kava supplement. However, if you are not using whole kava root and a powder mix, capsule, or powder tea, try making sure the chosen supplement contains Kava extract and not just the dried and powdered root. This is because, without extraction of any form, plain powdered root might not be active physiologically.

Here is how you can brew Kava tea using Kava teabags:

1. Pour boiling water over 1-2 tea bags.
2. Allow the bags to steep for about 5-10 minutes.
3. It is highly recommended to use cool water, as water heated at more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit might degrade kava lactones, thus reducing the effectiveness of the brew.

Precautionary Tips:

The use of herbs to strengthen the body and protect it from various diseases has been in practice for thousands of years. However, herbs also contain certain components that can prompt side effects and react with other herbs, medications and/or supplements. Hence, it is advisable to consume herbs and herbal products with care.

It is best to consume herbs under expert supervision of a physician or health care provider who is qualified and has vast knowledge of botanical medicine.

Kava tea is not recommended for pregnant and lactating women(7). Also, avoid drinking this tea if you are going to have a surgery as it can protract the impact of anaesthesia.

We hope this post has helped you. Do give your feedback by commenting in the box below!

References:

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by Daiwik Suresh Gejji via STYLECRAZE