Fighting Kava Nasuea, What's acceptable?

[Christian Laverty]

Hey guys. First post, so I'll keep it as brief as possible.

Ive been using Kava as a substitute for alcohol for awhile now (horrible sleep with any amount of alcohol for me) but always seem to have a certain degree of nasuea. Latley Ive branched out from my relativly weak "heavy Kava" to something more "heady" and it makes me puke every time. Even after the initial puking, drinking any other kind of beverage will make me queesy all over again. My current weekend regimine is 6 tbs spread out about 30 minutes maybe? To be clear, I am vommiting due to an upset stomache and not dizziness or an effect of too much kava. I feel great and even after the puking I just hit the mouth wash and go back to my buisness.

First of all I don't want to list the vendor or the types of kava im using (because the type will likly give away who the vendor is) for 2 reasons. One is it's my first post, I don't want to appear as a competitor trying to slander another. And the second is the owner has been a real gem. He Answered all of my "noobie" questions without any hesitation and ultimatly I got the feeling from talking to him that he is passionate about this and I want to see his buisness grow.

I will ,however, note I am using Micronized kava but the vendor I get it from does a solid job of removing... makas? insoluable fiber? I'm 100% sure I'm getting the highest quality Kava there is. I'm wondering if I can do maybe pepto? Ginger? A probiotic pill?

What is the secret to this- if any? I really hope the answer isn't to use less or spread it out more because I'm loving this heady stuff.

Thanks guys.. hope I don't seem like a pain in the rear.

 

[Nirad]

I too also get a bit queasy it seems, even with Kava from the vendor you are talking about so its not something particular to one vendor its just the way Kava seems to work. I don't get to the point of actually vomiting but I also like to drink a ginger beverage (real ginger in it not artificially flavored), I like Reeds Extra Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic) but also keep some ginger supplements in the cupboard. I'm pretty sure they are just powdered ginger in a capsule but if I need that extra kick it seems to help. I've also in the past done the blender method of making the Kava with a few slices of ginger and a dash of cinnamon but now I use the aluaball so there is not really a good way to add additives without dirtying more dishes unless it is in liquid form. Another user suggested a ceramic grater to seperate the ginger from the fibrous pulp but I have yet to try this.

 

[Zac Imiola (Herbalist)]

I recommend just getting ginger powder from the store.

I've been literally about to throw up from too much kava... took my finger licked it and stuck it in the powder and licked that off ... almost immediate relief ..

Kava neausa is caused by 2 reasons ..
1. the makas
2. it's energetically cooling, and therefore can slow digestion so much that neasua insues. for this reason I don't recommend peppermint for the nausea since it's cooling and is better for excessive stomach acid ( to much heat ) .

I personally wouldn't drink ginger ale Everytime I needed relief but the extra carbonation will help a bit too.. the reason I say I wouldnt drink ginger ale Everytime is because of the chemicals and sugar in there and cost issues ..
But whatever works works!

I also recommend going a bit slower.

6 tablespoons of medium grind within 30 min would have me puking too ...

 

[verticity]

One very important thing is to drink kava on an empty stomach. That has the dual benefits of making it more effective, and preventing nausea. The best time to drink kava is before a meal, not after.

Also, even though you are using micronized, your stomach might benefit from using an 80 micron filter on it. I am one of those people whose stomach cannot tolerate micronized kava, even from the most reputable vendors, unless I filter it. When you filter micronized, 99% of it passes through the filter, but the filter does catch some stuff.

Another thing is: 6 tablespoons of micronized kava within 30 minutes is quite a lot. I would recommend spacing it out a bit more.

 

[verticity]

Speaking of things that can make you barf: Copenhagen snuff (yecchhh)

 

[Christian Laverty]

Cope snuff is the best! I didn't care for snuff either for the longest time. I stuck to longcuts, like Grizz wintergreen.

Im gonna grab some ginger on the way home from work tonight. Friday is kava day for me.

Vert - you got a suggestion on a filter? Just google 80 micron filter and pick the first one? Are all filters created equal?

 

[verticity]

Cope snuff is the best! I didn't care for snuff either for the longest time. I stuck to longcuts, like Grizz wintergreen.

Im gonna grab some ginger on the way home from work tonight. Friday is kava day for me.

Vert - you got a suggestion on a filter? Just google 80 micron filter and pick the first one? Are all filters created equal?

ugh. I used to use that stuff when I was very young. Fortunately I stopped using it before anything really bad happened, although I do have a tooth that is dead and permanently discolored to show for my indulgence. (When I used it, the tin did not have the warning on it; that's an indication of how long ago it was, and how old I am now)

For a filter, if you place an order with Cactus Kava he will send you a free 80 (or 75?) micron filter. These are what I use:
http://www.cactuskava.com/product/strainer-bag

You can also buy a nut milk bag, but be sure it is rated at 75 or 80 microns (many nut milk bags are 200-300 microns). Some people use knee-high stockings. I used to do that, but the micron rating on them is ill-defined because they are made of stretchy material, and they are not really food-safe. Also some people use paint strainer bags, but those are too big: approx. 300 microns.

 

[Christian Laverty]

Vert, you're a champ. Thanks for the advice. Honestly, I'm surprised to see another dipper (or x dipper). When I first heard about kava I figured the bunch would be a bunch of liberal yuppies. Clearly not the case. I know the risk of cancer is exaggerated due to bad information and technology at the time of evaluating snuff, but I didn't know the risk of toothloss and gum disease was real.

Anyway, I bought 3 strainers from them. Would you personally advice I reuse them?

So far the ginger seems to be working. I usaully get sick about and hour or two after drinking the kava so we will see. It was not a powder though, it was in pill form.

I understand that powder is in the pill but powders seem to always work better for me no matter what it is, like kava!

 

[Christian Laverty]

Well, looking at about 2 hours deep in this kava. 6 tbs of boroguru. Feels more heavy than it used too.. That's odd. It used to get me jacked and wound for sound. Maybe I'll branch out to moi next?

I think between the ginger and straining I will be able to drink as much as I want and not worry about the nausea. Outstanding advice gentlemen, I'm very appreciative!

Edit: never mind about the heavy. It's here now! Full energetic heavy woop woop

 

[verticity]

Vert, you're a champ. Thanks for the advice. Honestly, I'm surprised to see another dipper (or x dipper). When I first heard about kava I figured the bunch would be a bunch of liberal yuppies. Clearly not the case. I know the risk of cancer is exaggerated due to bad information and technology at the time of evaluating snuff, but I didn't know the risk of toothloss and gum disease was real.

Anyway, I bought 3 strainers from them. Would you personally advice I reuse them?

So far the ginger seems to be working. I usaully get sick about and hour or two after drinking the kava so we will see. It was not a powder though, it was in pill form.

I understand that powder is in the pill but powders seem to always work better for me no matter what it is, like kava!

Smokeless tobacco was convenient when I was a teenager living at home to conceal my nicotine addiction from my parents...lol...although arguably I was a liberal yuppie.

 

[verticity]

Anyway, I bought 3 strainers from them. Would you personally advice I reuse them?

The strainers are very durable, and can be re-used many times. They are difficult to clean, though, because they get gunked up with kavalactones which are not water soluble. I have been using an ultrasonic cleaner to clean mine.

 

[Edward]

6 tbsps of micro in 30 mins sounds like a lot, definitely enough to make me feel really ill. I'm sure you would still be happy with the effects if you slowed it down just a bit?

 

[Zaphod]

I am going to go with Edward on this one 6TBS of GHK's micros in 30 minutes would have me heaving. At most I was up to 3TBS taken all at once and I would be good for the night (4-5 hrs). Even that occasionally had me on the edge of wanting to hurl if it was Moi. I would go slower, and space them out over a longer period. I enjoy slowly building up throughout the evening now that I have switched to traditional prep. You can always take more - real hard to cut back once you already downed a bunch and start to feel ill.

 

[Crunked]

6 tbsps of micro in 30 mins sounds like a lot, definitely enough to make me feel really ill. I'm sure you would still be happy with the effects if you slowed it down just a bit?

+1
I find having a shell every 20 minutes is usually safe. 6tbls would make 3-4 shells for me. I realize that would make your kava drinking period longer, but it is going to be much more stomach friendly and should give you a better session with longer effects. And better sleep.

 

[Kava Wolf]

Vert, you're a champ. Thanks for the advice. Honestly, I'm surprised to see another dipper (or x dipper). When I first heard about kava I figured the bunch would be a bunch of liberal yuppies. Clearly not the case. I know the risk of cancer is exaggerated due to bad information and technology at the time of evaluating snuff, but I didn't know the risk of toothloss and gum disease was real.

Anyway, I bought 3 strainers from them. Would you personally advice I reuse them?

So far the ginger seems to be working. I usaully get sick about and hour or two after drinking the kava so we will see. It was not a powder though, it was in pill form.

I understand that powder is in the pill but powders seem to always work better for me no matter what it is, like kava!

@Christian Laverty...I too was a dipper. Cope and Skoal. I just posted in a thread about an hour ago wondering if anyone in the forum has tried dipping instant kava. Hope to get a answer. This might make a guy hurl too!

 

[Nirad]

I've not tried instant, but I can say don't try med grind . I had a sore throat once on a trip and didn't have anything at hand and figured a pinch of med grind could help numb my throat. Swallowing the spit did numb my throat nicely but a lip full of little wood chips was not very comfortable!
I have read about some people who used extracts under the tongue so I can't see why you wouldn't get at least a numb mouth and maybe some effect.

 

[Myk]

Are you dipping during the kava session ? I could see that interaction causing puking. I don't want to judge but 6Tbsps of micro in a half hour sounds extreme. Generally if you drink too much kava you will puke and puking kava is a tragedy. Listen to the kava and give it a chance to speak to you, have a couple shells,
listen.If it says drink more drink more but give it a chance . It's not a race to oblivion