Most of the long time regulars of this site drink kava daily or near-daily. The vast majority, if not all of them, report healthy livers when we get our blood work done, some show elevated cholesterol. Breaks are typically only to let 'kava dermopathy' clear up...or whatever else. Nearly every adult male in Vanuatu & Fiji drink kava regularly. Kava does not create physical dependence/withdrawal symptoms like many other common psychoactive drugs or medicines. The only thing I notice from stopping kava suddenly is that I get intense vivid dreams that wake me up throughout the night.
Thank you for all that.
We don't know to what degree genetics play a role in dermopathy, the genetics I was referring to was in reference to kava's overall safety.
if you need to take a break, you should take a break. If you don't, then it's optional. Listen to the kava, if it says don't drink, then don't drink, even if you can't think of any reason other than "the kava told me not to."
I've been drinking most nights since 1995 and have had no Ill effects. I had a full liver check and ultrasound recently and its all good. As Shakas mentioned, the only time I stop is when I get bad dermo which for me is eye related these days more than skin for some reason.
It's only weak on the Shakas scale, but back on the mercator projection it's more like normal
I do the same as Krunkie. I usually drink daily, but strenght depends on what the kava and my body tells me. Sometimes I simply don’t feel like it.
I consider the Shaka-Scale to be synonymous with the Vanuatu-scale. Krunkie's-scale is more akin to the Fijian or Tongan-scale.
fwiw ftr typically the way it works is I use 4 TBS grind to make up a litre in 2 washes, 500 ml on the first and 400 on the second. Throw the makas in the freezer to accumulate for 4 mor washes of mongrel grog. With that litre I made, I just start drinking it until I feel like I want to. Might take 4 oz, ight take the whole jar.I consider the Shaka-Scale to be synonymous with the Vanuatu-scale. Krunkie's-scale is more akin to the Fijian or Tongan-scale.
Considering that Krunkie McKrunkface drinks kava all day long, his low doses make sense and do actually add up over the course of the day. Where as in Vanuatu or the sɥɐʞɐs archipelago, we'd save all those little daytime doses and turn them into to one big dose in the evening. Krunkie McKrunkface is among a lucky group of people who can buy 'weak kava', like Best Fiji Kava, then make a 'weak batch' like 2 or 3 tablespoons and get a very perceptible and pleasant experience from it. I'm not sure I'd call that normal though, but I do think it's a great advantage.
I don't actually have to be awake to start drinking kava, I can do it in a liminal state of consciousness, just like with the kava zombie walk urination, but certainly when I'm awake is soon enough. The only thing is on the other end, I always try to leave at least an hour gap between the last shell and beddie-byes. It doesn't always happen but I am pretty good about it, and the longer the gap the better. Oh, I do get that same feeling you do, the "this is the best herb in the world feeling " and got that with a real wallop this morning on a minute amount of very powerful mongrel 3rd wash. I just don't get a crash after the initial feeling. I'm not saying I stay at that level of pure joy all day, I tend to gently settle down to a comfortable plateau for work.
I can prep a half gallon of grog in under 5 minutes with very very little effort thanks to the genius of the AluBall.
in general you will get stronger effects on an empty stomach. In my case, I drink so much kava so often I just completely ignore any "rules" about eating and just eat whenever I feel like it. But I understand you are just starting out and eager to provoke effects for the first time, so in your case you probably want to fast for 4 hours or so before drinking any kava. And remember to pace yourself. If you aren't getting an effect, don't just suddenly drink more. Wait 20 minutes, THEN drink more. Particularly with those new to kava it can usually take 20 - 30 minutes before effects kick in, even up to 45 minutes in some cases, but usually 20 - 30. That's if they are going to happen. I drank kava daily for 2 months before I got any effects when I started. OTOH, my son got effects from his very first sip.
My gosh, you are a patient man.
