Curious about long term use: Possible health benefits and tolerance?

[kl.nanocyte]

I'm just getting into kava, and I've been wondering if any of you have noticed any health benefits from regular use. I assume that the alleviation of stress and anxiety in itself would be beneficial to the body in general, but have any of you found anything specific that you might attribute to regular kava use? I'm aware that heavy use over long periods of time can lead to temporary skin problems, but I'm wondering if I should start taking a tablespoon or so a day, as it seems that, from what I've read, kava doesn't really put much stress on the body with moderate use, as other substances might.

I also wonder about the reverse tolerance I've been reading about. Have you guys actually found that you notice the effects from smaller amounts of kava? I had two tablespoons of Rex's Fiji Waka tonight, and it made me quite relaxed, but I did end up feeling a mild nausea after a little while. Thankfully, the kava helped me get into a meditative state much more easily than normal, and I was able to manage the nausea through that state. (I usually meditate by focusing attention on different body parts and dissociating any sensation from them until I no longer feel my body. Kava made it much easier to become aware of and control these sensations.)

Anyway, I'm curious about what you guys have experienced after using kava for a while.

 

[Vekta]

When I first started using Hawaiian kava Center's Mahakea the effects were pretty subtle. I've got 1/4 of a pound left now and it's down right relaxing now. I certainly believe it's grown on me and I feel more from it than when I first started using it. I don't use smaller amounts but its gotten incrementally more effectiveness out of the same dose of kava. (2 tbsp:1 cup-2 cups water eyeballing it)



Sometimes I get an annoying pain in my right knee. It happens during cold weather or when my shoe inserts get really old and flattened out. Kava has been a really nice pain reliever in between insole replacements and cold spells. Other than that it's mostly stress relief and helping me with my social anxiety. My personal space bubble is no longer a 6 foot+ radius and stuff that causes drama slides off me a lot easier thus eliminating said drama.