Spellwriter
Kava Curious
Hello all!
I discovered kava through my husband, who hit a kava bar when he was in Chicago for the World Series (GO CUBS GO!) I am sober from alcohol and all types of drugs including pot, so while I was initially hesitant I've found that kava does not pose any threat to my sobriety. I've found it to be self limiting (literally can't stomach more than 4 shells) and the effects mild, pleasant and not particularly "intoxicating".
Now, BECAUSE I'm an alcoholic I immediately went full tilt on kava. It took a few weeks for me to feel the anolyxotic effects but once I did I found it a nice way to wind down in the evening. I call it my "anti coffee."
However, after about 3 weeks of regular use, I broke out in an absolutely horrific rash. Hives and
Huge hot welts, tingly itchy spots from head to toe. I had thought initially it was a reaction to a contrast dye they rushed during a medical procedure I had, (which I still think may be the culprit of turning on my body's defense response, as I had no problems w kava until the day after this procedure.)
Anyway, by process of elimination I figured out that the kava was indeed causing the reaction, or at least perpetuating the prolonged response. After it cleared up entirely I began to reintroduce the suspected things into my system and once I added kava back the welts and hives returned. I was pretty bummed but I figured maybe I could just drink in case of emergency (panic attack, plane ride) and deal with the reaction later.
Now, I am a stubborn jerk. After my most recent reaction (all reputable vendors I sourced from here, with the reaction more pronounced in some vendors than others) I managed it very well and decided I could limit kava to once or twice a week.
I'd like to share my prep and preventative measures with this forum in the hopes it will help someone else (I searched a lot for others with this reaction to kava and pretty much all of the ones I came across decided to quit drinking it.)
First and foremost, brand. GHK has the least effect re: the hives; possibly (I think) due to the level of their grind, which does not allow as much sediment to pass through the bag.
Second, strain. I have had (so far, knock on wood) no reaction to boroguru. It may be the preventative measures I'll explain later, and it also may be that boroguru contains less of the type of Kavalactone that I am sensitive to. FWIW it seems to happen more with Fijian kavas.
Third, prep. I make a pitcher of iced earl grey tea, and steep my kava in that plus a little milk and some sweetener, kneed, TRIPLE strain and serve over ice. I find that it not only makes it taste better, it actually tastes GOOD.
Fourth, preventative. About an hour or so before drinking kava, I take 75 mgs of Benadryl, 150 of Zantac, and some ibuprofen. Kava binds to the histamine 1 & 2 receptors, and in my case this was triggering an aggressive autoimmune response. Taking these two drugs before kava ensures that my receptors are "turned off" when the kava hits. I repeat these pills the following morning and evening.
Fifth, water. The day after drinking kava I make sure to drink a TON of water.
And finally, timing. I know I can't drink it every day, So I always take a few days off after drinking at night for a day or two.
I hope this helps someone who feels they will have to give up kava due to the "allergic" response (which it really isn't, it's more of an autoimmune response to the histamine receptors recognizing kava as a foreign invader).
Thanks for reading, and I am glad I found this great forum (and kava!)
I discovered kava through my husband, who hit a kava bar when he was in Chicago for the World Series (GO CUBS GO!) I am sober from alcohol and all types of drugs including pot, so while I was initially hesitant I've found that kava does not pose any threat to my sobriety. I've found it to be self limiting (literally can't stomach more than 4 shells) and the effects mild, pleasant and not particularly "intoxicating".
Now, BECAUSE I'm an alcoholic I immediately went full tilt on kava. It took a few weeks for me to feel the anolyxotic effects but once I did I found it a nice way to wind down in the evening. I call it my "anti coffee."
However, after about 3 weeks of regular use, I broke out in an absolutely horrific rash. Hives and
Huge hot welts, tingly itchy spots from head to toe. I had thought initially it was a reaction to a contrast dye they rushed during a medical procedure I had, (which I still think may be the culprit of turning on my body's defense response, as I had no problems w kava until the day after this procedure.)
Anyway, by process of elimination I figured out that the kava was indeed causing the reaction, or at least perpetuating the prolonged response. After it cleared up entirely I began to reintroduce the suspected things into my system and once I added kava back the welts and hives returned. I was pretty bummed but I figured maybe I could just drink in case of emergency (panic attack, plane ride) and deal with the reaction later.
Now, I am a stubborn jerk. After my most recent reaction (all reputable vendors I sourced from here, with the reaction more pronounced in some vendors than others) I managed it very well and decided I could limit kava to once or twice a week.
I'd like to share my prep and preventative measures with this forum in the hopes it will help someone else (I searched a lot for others with this reaction to kava and pretty much all of the ones I came across decided to quit drinking it.)
First and foremost, brand. GHK has the least effect re: the hives; possibly (I think) due to the level of their grind, which does not allow as much sediment to pass through the bag.
Second, strain. I have had (so far, knock on wood) no reaction to boroguru. It may be the preventative measures I'll explain later, and it also may be that boroguru contains less of the type of Kavalactone that I am sensitive to. FWIW it seems to happen more with Fijian kavas.
Third, prep. I make a pitcher of iced earl grey tea, and steep my kava in that plus a little milk and some sweetener, kneed, TRIPLE strain and serve over ice. I find that it not only makes it taste better, it actually tastes GOOD.
Fourth, preventative. About an hour or so before drinking kava, I take 75 mgs of Benadryl, 150 of Zantac, and some ibuprofen. Kava binds to the histamine 1 & 2 receptors, and in my case this was triggering an aggressive autoimmune response. Taking these two drugs before kava ensures that my receptors are "turned off" when the kava hits. I repeat these pills the following morning and evening.
Fifth, water. The day after drinking kava I make sure to drink a TON of water.
And finally, timing. I know I can't drink it every day, So I always take a few days off after drinking at night for a day or two.
I hope this helps someone who feels they will have to give up kava due to the "allergic" response (which it really isn't, it's more of an autoimmune response to the histamine receptors recognizing kava as a foreign invader).
Thanks for reading, and I am glad I found this great forum (and kava!)
