allergy

[24601]

I'm not sure if I'm allergic to kava. Maybe I'm just going too hard, but it only takes a couple of days. I thought that maybe the kava was exacerbating seasonal allergies, but now it's winter and it's still happening. The skin around my eyes gets really red and sore. It doesn't seem to matter what variety I try. No creams or allergy pills help.

It's annoying, and I'm not looking forward to going to work looking like I've been crying. I'll probably take a few days off of kava.

 

[Edward]

It does sound like a particular type of dermo. I just started getting really dry skin on my hands. The only other possible dermo problems I have had are slightly funny eyes and a general all over itchy feeling but only when I have been using quite a bit. I've used coconut oil on my hands and they cleared up straight away. I think the cold weather here possibly contributed to the problem too. The usual advice is to stay off the kava for a while and wait for it to go away. I'm sure some more experienced users can help with this.

 

[Deleted User01]

Here what I have noticed. Yesterday I did a strong Kava, Hiwa. Right away, I needed Lip Balm. When I do Mo'i and especially Nene, I don't get the dry lips. So you might tell us what kind of Kava you are using. Also, if you do Micronized with Macas, you will get side effects. I always recommend the most Noble and lightest of Kavas, Nene, to see if you really have an allergy. Though it is lite compared to Hiwa, it will still knock you out at Bedtime. If you get dermo with Nene, then you may well be allergic to Kava.

 

[Sam Handwich]

Great advise Deleted User01. When I drink some of my favorite medium grinds like Squanch or KWK Loa I get the red itchy eyes described by the op. With Nene I have absolutely no eye issues whatsoever. Nene doesn't really have the fun euphoric feelings that the others have but it's great for relaxing and pain relief.

 

[24601]

I wasn't sure if it was dermo, because I thought that was from long term use, and I drink kava infrequently and this happens to me after a couple of days. I've tried GHK's Mahakea, Boroguru, and Mo'i, and KWK's Borugu, Fiji Loa Waka, and Pouni Ono, as well as some random stuff from a local herb vendor. All of them provoke this reaction - I think it's quantity rather than the variety, but next time I have the cash I'll try Nene.

I buy med grind only because that's what I can afford. It could also be my straining methods - I usually strain through a nylon stocking, and it leaves some sediment behind.

 

[Edward]

Some people advise doubling up the nylons. I find it ok with one.

 

[24601]

I use a heavy duty reinforced stocking so it's almost like doubling them up. I've tried muslin bags too but for me, reinforced nylon stockings last the longest.

 

[kavadude]

Try getting a fijian strainer. This should last for years and has about the right level of coarseness to not let much sediment through.

This does not sound like an allergy but rather like the dry eyes side effect that sometimes happens.

 

[24601]

It's not my actual eyes, but the eyelids and skin around my eyes that gets sore... the one time I went to a doc she said it looked like allergies but she didn't know anything about kava. I'll pick up a strainer next time I buy kava.

 

[24601]

I don't know if what I'm experiencing is dermopathy at all - I only drank kava for two days, and got the reaction. It got worse for three days after, when I stopped drinking kava for three days. Then I started drinking kava again for two days and it got better, even though I was drinking kava. After today I'm going to be out of kava, so I'm interested to see if it gets worse again after I stop.

 

[Edward]

@Schmedward most things will get worse again after you stop ;-)