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ta-va

ta-va

Earth Bound
Hi Kavaforums. I feel I know a tiny little about some of you already, having been a lurker for a little bit. Many helpful and informative posts here.
I'm doing OK in life, I think, but always searching for something a bit more revealing and spiritually uplifting that isn't as harsh as the booze and I find the MJ makes me a bit jumpy and paranoid at times - so hardly bother with that any more.
Research brought me to Kava and after a bit of looking around at the culture, history and modern (western-ized?) incarnations of the root I've decided to jump in and check this out.
So I bought 200g of Bula Kava House Instant. I'm hoping it makes it OK to me in the UK. I expect another week or so and it will either arrive or customs will have their fun with it. I love the idea of trad Kava preparation and drinking from what I've seen of it, but felt I needed something quick and guaranteed potency to see me through what I expect to be RT. (Who knows, maybe not?).
So as a complete noob to any sort of Kava or Kava experience, can anybody recommend the dose I should take and should I take it daily. Does RT build up tolerance over time even if some daily sessions are missed or will I have to take a dose every day without fail to ensure I pass RT?
I was just thinking to start with a tablespoon mixed with 8 ounces water (250 ml). Should I up this if I'm not feeling anything, i.e. do another tablespoon 20 minutes later - and then should I leave it there and repeat daily, or should I continue upping my dose until I feel something?
I've read a few threads from newbies and think I get the overall idea on what is recommended for getting through RT without too many side effects but I couldn't find anything, in particular, about this "instant" stuff I've bought. I just hope it gets here!. Any insights would be most welcomed. And thanks for allowing me into this forum.

Darren
 
kavadude

kavadude

❦ॐ tanuki tamer
Just take a tablespoon on an empty stomach, and don't be afraid to drink more if you don't feel anything in about an hour.

20 minutes would be fine too, I think but the faster you do it the more likely you might be to run into a bit of nausea/stomach upset.

You don't need to take it daily, but since you have instant, it's not like you have to set aside a lot of time to do it, so I would.

Welcome aboard, Darren.
 
ta-va

ta-va

Earth Bound
kavadude said:
Just take a tablespoon on an empty stomach, and don't be afraid to drink more if you don't feel anything in about an hour.

20 minutes would be fine too, I think but the faster you do it the more likely you might be to run into a bit of nausea/stomach upset.

You don't need to take it daily, but since you have instant, it's not like you have to set aside a lot of time to do it, so I would.

Welcome aboard, Darren.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the reply and your welcome, kavadude. I think the way you've suggested is sensible. Like a couple of comments I've seen here, I'd think my wife might not like me banging about at night, kneading root juice through nylons into a large wooden bowl. She'll think I'm doing something crazy and I don't think it would help my first experience at the root. I'd like to keep it as low key as possible to start, hence why I picked the instant. I'll be introducing (my use of it) gradually to her. I'm not trying to be sneaky with her - it's just how I know she'll react until I can explain what and why I'm doing it.

Just another quick question:
I see these videos of people going into Kava bars and they always seem a little intoxicated after a couple of shells with no mention of reverse tolerance (I've never seen anybody say they've had no effect). Is it possible for me to get a bit of effect (even under reverse tolerance) if I take enough. I know nobody can call RT until it happens but say I got it on my first couple of drinks, is it still possible to feel effects with more taken (I understand side effects of nausea etc might come into play).
 
kavadude

kavadude

❦ॐ tanuki tamer
Darren, I've been kinda skeptical of reverse tolerance for a long time. I think there is more of a learning curve where you figure out how to prepare it (not a problem with a quality instant like the one you've purchased), the proper dose, and learn to, silly as it sounds, "listen to the kava" and stay away from things that can dull the experience. It's possible you might get it quickly.

I'll tell you one of my earliest kava experiences was getting tired of messing around with powdered root prep (which I wasn't doing very well) and eating the better part of a jar of extract, which made me feel out and out stoned. So yes, it's possible. Just work your way to the bottom of the instant bag (over a few days) and see what happens would be my advice.

Also, in my experience non kava drinkers find the whole straining and drinking muddy water process not weird or suspicious, but highly amusing.
 
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ta-va

ta-va

Earth Bound
Kavadude, many thanks! I'm probably overdoing the whole "some Kava is coming!!!" thing.
I'm looking forward to digging in and enjoying the experience for myself. I just don't want to overdo it and miss out on a good thing.
I'll do the sensible thing. Start out small, wait a while, and take it up in notches.
I'm very much aware of what many here have stated that you "let it get you up to where you want to be"
Looking forward to receiving the root and I'll report back.
I appreciate your time, Kavadude, for reading and advising me.
 
ta-va

ta-va

Earth Bound
kavadude said:
Darren, I've been kinda skeptical of reverse tolerance for a long time. I think there is more of a learning curve where you figure out how to prepare it (not a problem with a quality instant like the one you've purchased), the proper dose, and learn to, silly as it sounds, "listen to the kava" and stay away from things that can dull the experience. It's possible you might get it quickly.

I'll tell you one of my earliest kava experiences was getting tired of messing around with powdered root prep (which I wasn't doing very well) and eating the better part of a jar of extract, which made me feel out and out stoned. So yes, it's possible. Just work your way to the bottom of the instant bag (over a few days) and see what happens would be my advice.

Also, in my experience non kava drinkers find the whole straining and drinking muddy water process not weird or suspicious, but highly amusing.
Click to expand...
Thanks Kavadude - I've also seen this mentioned a few times and I will try to go with this mantra: "Listen to the Kava". I have a feeling that getting tuned to nature might be good here. I have a side of me that has always felt attuned to nature but never quite saw out my potential harmony with it. Maybe this time?
 
avahZ

avahZ

YAHWEH Shalom
Welcome aboard! Lurked for a bit, but officially I am new here also. I am sure most of us do lurk. It seems this place comes and goes in waves of new members and we are currently in a new wave. But I have noticed there are some experienced kava vets here that are always willing to put up with 1.2 x 10 questions from newbs.

About RT, I always figured I didn't experience it and I tend to be a lightweight. What I have noticed is the effect started out for me as more body/heavy, but as I have used it i am beginning to notice a more heady effect with any kava. Mahakea was the first to hit me in the head, then Moi. This could be because of the kavalactone percent in Mahakea and the Moi's chemotype. I like the body effect as I have issues with muscle cramps and kava works VERY well with me for that. But, I like a good heady effect (not too heady or krunked, I don't like bumping into walls) when I don't have to worry about going to work the next day, so Pan Fried Fridays are fun around here for me. After a good heady kava I will followup with Boroguru before bed and wake up with some lingering but nice effects.
 
D

Deleted User01

@ta-va, welcome to the forum! ::awesomesmiles:: I'll let the other members give you advice on dosage and such. I'm too busy talking about the confederate flag. :rolleyes:
 
D

Deleted User01

Hawaii is nice, but I remember Chris telling me how much a gallon of milk and a gallon of gasoline costs and then it didn't sound so good. Unless you have a solar powered vehicle and a couple of cows, then you're in business. ::awesomesmiles::
 
ta-va

ta-va

Earth Bound
Hey avahZ thanks for your welcoming me in and it feels nice to be in a new wave :) of noobs :bag:
Also, thanks for sharing your experiences with Kava - like you say, there are a good number of Kava vets here and they are all doing a great job in meeting our questions and giving out a feel of what we might expect. Seems to me that Kava is a very personal experience and varies incredibly from one individual to another so, to that extent, I hope to take all the best advice I can get and then steer the ship "with the Kava at the keel" and go with it where I want it to go. (Or where IT takes me)

I don't know how it will affect me until I start experimenting, but at least here, I have a lot of good advice and guidance to go on, including yours.
Thanks for acknowledging me Deleted User01, even if you needed to get back to your confederate debate. Being from the UK, I only know a little of such things but I know they are contentious and fiercely debated. I don't know if it offends anyone but I wish you all a happy July 4th holiday tomorrow. Probably ironic coming from a Brit but ..... whahhhh

I hope my root comes this week and I'll do my best to shed light on its effects on a noobie - for the noobs that will continue to come.
 
ta-va

ta-va

Earth Bound
So I received the instant green from Bula Kava House and some candies from GKE last week. I happened to be on holiday in Wales last week but managed to get the instant from the post office just before we left. Customs (who had held it for 5 days according to the tracking) charge to pay £2 and handling fee from Royal Mail £8(damned rip-off!!). Anyway, I was drinking alcohol most nights when away so didn't bother too much. I was too excited not to try the stuff out, though, and had a couple of nights where I'd take a couple of tspns in cold water at a time.
The taste was OK. I could tell what all the fuss was about but I think the BKH instant green must be at the weaker end of the gross scale as it wasn't too bad to me. Smelt like fishfood, I thought! :LOL:
I could feel something and definite numbness to mouth (which was quite nice). I had a funny day the day after taking my first cup of the stuff, where I felt a bit nauseous (but only gently) in my stomach but kept getting very happy moments throughout the day. I didn't know if it was a placebo effect or what but I definitely got the giggles to myself in waves through the day that seemed out of place but very welcomed.

So, since being back and having fewer (alcohol) drinking nights I've been doing 2 tspns at a time and repeated this after 20 mins if I didn't feel much or the effects wore off very quickly. I definitely felt a mild buzz that wore off very quickly those few times over the weekend, kinda sinky/floaty feeling and again the giggling to myself - but knowing about the RT, I thought this was a good omen for this root and that the proper effects were yet to come.

Tonight, I got down to the last batch of my first 100g tin and was starting to wonder if I should save the next tin for when I'm out of RT as it seems it's one of the more expensive ways to do Kava. I did the last two tspns and it was the normal minimal chill. At this point I thought sod it :wtf: and went for another 3 teaspoons about 10 mins later.

Now I think I might have it!!!

The effect was much stronger than any previous times and was extremely nice and chilled. I got a kind of heaviness came over me but, yet, at the same time it was floaty and I got the waves of happiness / lack of worries thing that I've heard so much about. Loved it and want to try more now. Maybe I just hadn't been taking enough dose in the first place or spacing them apart too much? Anyway, I feel that I've experienced Kava for real this time and it was pretty wonderful.

By the way I've been using the candies 4/5 a day thinking the more of the stuff I take around the clock the quicker I'll break through and they are also quite nice and numbing and after a few I had been getting fleeting glimpses of some kind of more meditative state. I'm hoping that these might also show a bit more effect now. I like how they taste and numb the mouth anyhow so it's all good.

So I hope I'm there - I'll report back after tomorrow's efforts with an update. I'm off for another go at the instant green. Thanks Bula Kava House and Global Kava Exports for getting the products to me in good order and helping me to "Break my duck" in the kava culture. And thanks to all of you knowledgeable people on this forum where I've been picking up a lot of good info over the past few weeks.

Bula ::happyshell::
 
ta-va

ta-va

Earth Bound
So I got home from work today (a very busy day) and had a little half hour nap. (Sleep last night was excellent for me and I felt pretty refreshed all day - but still only 5 hours sleep but I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow which was very welcomed.)

It had been 6 hours since my last meal so I took 2 tspns of the instant mix in water (I'm liking the taste more and more). Went out into the garden because I thought it might make a nice chill-space, lots of green everywhere. It seemed there was a bit too much going on to appreciate any effects. Came back in and took another 2 teaspoons (10 minutes later) and this time it hit me nice. A bit trippy, spacey in the head. A nice relaxed, dread body. I'm really liking this herb. I'm going to eat a couple of candies to see if it keeps the feeling going. I don't want to overdo this. It's pretty much where I want to be, but I hope to spread it out longer than I got last night.

It seems I am out the other side of any tolerance now and can start to experiment with my dose, spacing and where I want to take this next. I'm thinking I'm gonna have to order some root powder and get into trad prep as the instant has been a great friend getting me this far but is not massively cost effective. I also love the whole bowls and preparation stuff that I've seen. It seems that this root deserves to be prepared and served in the same way as the traditional cultures would do it.

Thanks for listening! ::happyshell:: ::kavaleaf:: ::tanoa::
 
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