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a little help and advice please

C

cawiggins78

Newbie
Hi. My name is Chad. I am new to kava. I have never used it as of yet. So...a little background about me...

I have a very high stress level with anxiety and depression. I am currently prescribed 5mg valium 2x per day as well as 1mg Klonopin 2-3x per day. This helps a little, but really the only thing that helps is smoking 2-3 hits of kind bud mj once a day (a dangerous proposition for me considering they do random drug testing at work).

I am looking for kava to replace the mj I currently use. I also want to stop the benzos. Checked with doc and she said give it a go. So, what brands and types do you recommend? If possible, I really want a euphoric effect that lasts a prolonged amount of time. So, please tell me, is this a reasonable expectation, where should I buy, and what kind do you recommend? Also, what amount should I buy? Thanks In advance for any advice!
 
Steve Mariotti

Steve Mariotti

Kavapithecus Krunkarensis
Review Maestro
Welcome @cawiggins78!

I think you'll find kava works well for anxiety, is helpful in reducing benzos and for dealing with withdrawal, and in my experience is much more effective than MJ for anxiety relief. MJ worked to some degree for me initially, but after years of regular use, actually increased my anxiety. The only panic attack I've had in my life was the result of both an incredibly stressful life situation and MJ.

Kava, however, is incredibly relaxing and helps me with my social anxiety as well as generalized anxiety, both of which improves my outlook to mostly stave off depression. There's a lot of good that kava has for me.

If you're looking for prolonged euphoria, I would recommend the "heady" varieties of kava. Right now, your best bets are varieties like Mo'i from Gourmet Hawaiian Kava, and Pouni Ono from Kalm with Kava.

Given that you're completely new to kava it's entirely possible (or even likely) that you'll experience a period called "Reverse Tolerance" before your body becomes sensitive to kava's full effects. During that time, drinking kava may not do much for you, may make you just a little sleepy, or may give you short-lasting effects. Many have had good luck taking Gaia herbs Kava capsules (I don't know the exact name) to get through RT.

If you do experience RT, then an economical kava to drink would make sense. Since you're looking for heady results, I could recommend ordering a pound of KavaBoy kava through the Kava Forums Store (for the discount) and invest in a straining bag. Prepare the kava using the traditional prep method, by putting the medium grind root powder in the bag and kneading it under water for 10 minutes, drinking the liquid and tossing what's left over in the bag. There are easier ways to get kava (kava drinks, kava concentrate drink mix, instant kavas, micronized kavas) but those tend to be more expensive. KavaBoy kava is a heady variety, so when you eventually get sensitized, you'll already be getting the effects you like.

If cost-effectiveness is less of a concern than convenience, I would recommend getting Mo'i from Gourmet Hawaiian Kava in either the Instant or Micronized preparation. These you simply mix in water and chug down a bit at a time. Very convenient, potent, and you'll also be getting the effects you want.

Of course, you could be like the lucky ones and not have an RT to worry about, in which case you'll be enjoying the benefits of kava right off the bat.

Please feel free to ask any and all questions, there are a lot of knowledgeable people who are here to help.
 
C

cawiggins78

Newbie
Picked up the micronized Mo'i from GHK. IT LOOKED LIKE THE WAY TO GO. COULDONLY AFFORD A HALF POUND. How long do you suspect that will last? Also, should I go buy some Kava caps and start taking those until my order arrives? Would that help with any RT? I actually experienced RT with mj about 20 years ago. No effect until about the 8th time. Then it happened while I was driving. Lola. Scary stuff. I actually pulled over at a church and prayed (I'm not even religious, but it was a come to Jesus moment at the time). Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this journey from the drugged out anxiety ridden life into a better one.
 
Steve Mariotti

Steve Mariotti

Kavapithecus Krunkarensis
Review Maestro
A half pound should probably last a goodly long time. I wouldn't buy just any old kava caps. There are specific ones that have the Kava Forums seal of approval, and I know the Gaia Herbs ones are among them. Someone more knowledgeable than me should chime in here.

I have 1/4 pound of GHK Mo'i micro coming this weekend, along with some Nene and Mahakea. I'm really looking forward to my first outing with GHK micro!
 
verticity

verticity

I'm interested in things
I've had good experiences with the Gaia capsules. I would take 3-6 of them for the equivalent of 1 shell of kava. They are verified noble by Deleted User:
Amazon productYou might be able to find them at your local "vitamin store"
 
Steve Mariotti

Steve Mariotti

Kavapithecus Krunkarensis
Review Maestro
cawiggins78 said:
Well, I'm a verified kava nut now. I have gone through a half pound of m'oi micro from GHK in about 2 weeks. Got my reverse tolerance out in about one week. Man, this stuff is great! Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Ahhh... a whole world has opened up to you now.
 
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