Introducing myself
- Thread starter Sadie
- Start date
Ok great. Here is my finale.
Kava has a bunch of different chemicals in it. But there are six major ones that cause the kava effects you get from consuming it. They are:
1 = demethoxy-yangonin
2 = Dihydrokavain
3 = Yangonin
4 = Kavain
5 = Dihydromethysticin
6 = Methysticin
They all exhibit different effects like one makes the kava more heady while another more heavy.
So in my phony example, replace the word glass x with the above kavalactone chemical (instead of water). By doing this you would get the following:
Glass2 (Dihydrokavain) = 250 ml = 50%
Glass 6 (Methysticin) = 90 ml = 18%
Glass4 (Kavain) = 80 ml = 16%
Glass3 (Yangonin) = 50 ml = 10%
Glass 5 (Dihydromethysticin) = 20 ml = 4%
Glass1 (Methysticin) = 10 ml = 2%
I've clicked on the names you've underlined and it's very helpful...I have numbers on the Kava I have and will save this to work out what the numbers on the back mean...this really has been very helpful and I appreciate it very much
So if you use the chemotype we came up with in the last post of 264351. It would simply mean that for this phony example the largest quantity of chemical in the kava is Dihydrokavain and the least quantity of chemical in it is Methysticin.
Now take a "real" chemotype. Let's use your Nene. It has a Chemotype of 463251. This means that it has more of the chemical Kavain in it than anything else and the least chemical in Nene is Methysticin.
If you understand that, I have one more fun filled fact for you.
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
Oh sorry to hear that.
(Hope it was the Nene and not me that gave you the headache )Ok, this is my last stand.... If you look at our example below and add up the percentages of the first 3 glasses, you get 50% + 18% + 16% = 80%.
Glass2 (Dihydrokavain) = 250 ml = 50%
Glass 6 (Methysticin) = 90 ml = 18%
Glass4 (Kavain) = 80 ml = 16%
Glass3 (Yangonin) = 50 ml = 10%
Glass 5 (Dihydromethysticin) = 20 ml = 4%
Glass1 (Methysticin) = 10 ml = 2%
So in our example 80% of the chemicals in this kava has the chemicals Dihydrokavain + Methysticin + Kavain in it. The percentage of the first three chemicals of the chemotype in most kava is nearly always 70% or more. So when you look at the chemotype for all the different kava's, you can more or less just ignore the last three digits and just pay attention to the first three digits only.
So in your Nene, (chemotype 463251), it has mostly Kavain, Methysticin, and Yangonin in it. Each chemical exhibits different properties to give you the effects you get. So when you find something you really like, just look for other kava's that have the same first 3 digits in their chemotype and you should end up getting similar effects from it.
Hope that helps. I don't think I succeeded in making my explanation simple, but with enough kava and time, I'll one day figure out a way.
@shakas has lying around somewhere a good description of the effects that each chemical exhibits. Maybe he'll enlighten us with his greatness and explain it to us. Then I can add that info to The FAQs section of the Kavapedia.
kavadude
❦ॐ tanuki tamer
Chemotype describes the relative concentration of kavalactones. So something with the '2' on the left is going to have more dihydrokavain. Dihydrokavain is considered by most to contribute to the heavy effects, so something with 2 on the left is probably what you want. For example, GHK Boroguru is 42xxxx, so that would be a good heavy kava. Nene is 463251, so that one could be assumed to be on the headier side. The placement of that 2 is really the most important factor in "heaviness" IMO.
Personally, I've never been a big fan of attributing the effects of the kava to individual kavalactones. Not that it's a bad idea, I just don't trust my ability to objectively do so.
So basically my advice would be to not worry about it, read through reviews and ask on here for recommendations based on what you want.
Personally, I've never been a big fan of attributing the effects of the kava to individual kavalactones. Not that it's a bad idea, I just don't trust my ability to objectively do so.
So basically my advice would be to not worry about it, read through reviews and ask on here for recommendations based on what you want.
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
Do you have a rule of thumb for the other effects by any chance?
2 = Heavy
? = Heady
? = Sedation
? = Anti-Anxiety
kavadude
❦ॐ tanuki tamer
Hmm, I suppose I'd have to go with
2 = Heavy
4 = Heady
2 = Sedation
Kava = Anti-Anxiety
I'm also coming around to @Deleted User's idea that yangonin adds some real "zang" to the experience that is hard to put into words.
2 = Heavy
4 = Heady
2 = Sedation
Kava = Anti-Anxiety
I'm also coming around to @Deleted User's idea that yangonin adds some real "zang" to the experience that is hard to put into words.
You are all very clever and scientific! Here was I thinking it was just some powder....not being funny...I had the day from Hell today and I don't know if it was because I had a 'heady' Kava and then a 'heavy' Kava...I got through the day but my head has thumped despite gallons of water and a 3 mile walk with the dogs...is it not wise to mix? I read someone on here talk about mixing some to go to a party and it worked well. I very much appreciate the numbers thing and it does make sense to me. I think the Nene has to maybe be strained through a finer mesh or something...I haven't had a hangover in 18 years of non drinking and today was like the worst I used to have. I should know better than to run head long into doing stuff I don't understand. But I do. Will thread carefully from here on in...and use these numbers as a guide
Headhodge....I will keep you up to date but it is very boring...hubby is picking me up something to hydrate me on his way home and I've emailed the vendor to ask for advice on prep Nene...Global Kava Exports (they're on here aren't they). Also I know this is a bit late in the day but I just checked my packages and there's no numbers on any of them...I know if I maybe search somewhere on here I can find what each strain/type contains number wise...I really feel like shit...it might just be something I ate...greasy chicken late last night...I don't want it to be Kava
Has just occurred to me that I have a Genetic eye condition that might be the root of the headaches. I've been having 2 steroid injections into my left eye since Nov - last treatment was a week ago...maybe that's the source of the headaches....can't see so am always straining...it can't be Kava...no not now I've found something so interesting and fun and safe...just had some Koniak (?) I really like the effects...was going to follow with a lower dose of Nene later this evening...is this a bad idea? I feel on the verge of hurling so now I can add nausea to my list of whatever today was about
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
@Sadie. Koniak can be pretty strong and overdoing that can definitely give you nausea. If it were me I would actually mix some of the Koniak with the Nene. The Nene would give you a little more headyness and the Koniak would give you more of the heavyness afterward. I do this all the time with Nambawan and Koniak. If you try that, maybe 50/50 of both or try 70/30. 70% Nene and 30% Koniak
Thanks Headhodge. So do you put them both in the same nylon (what I use) to knead and prepare and then strain together? Put in the same container? I never thought of this. I have some Nene (not much compared to last night) in the fridge...didn't know I could mix them together in the same batch..will try that tomorrow...head is banging so maybe I should stop for tonight. I have to say I like the Koniak as I feel my mouth numb straight away and am starting to feel a little of the euphoria and headiness with it whereas the Nene seems very weak to me, in taste as well as effect. Still I'm a newbie and only in my first month so I guess experimentation is the key..thanks
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
Never mixed after I prepped, always mixed the powder together first. But since you already have some grog made, I don't see why you couldn't whip up Koniak and then blend that with your Nene grog.
Shit - I'm so impatient. Already had my Koniak about 2 hours ago....I've been reading lots today on here and asking myself 'why didn't you think of searching for that before throwing yourself 100% at it'...I'll have my Nene in a bit...just hope I don't suffer tomorrow like I did today, thanks for your tips, much appreciated
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
I'd want film at 9! Actually I just want to enjoy the benefits without overdoing it and making myself sick...step back and have a bit of respect for this stuff I say to myself...sober and clean for 18 years and there's that little addict part of me that is greedy and impatient...what can I say I'm Irish...
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
Haha... I wouldn't call it addictive behavior. Just impatient excitement of trying something new. I was you when I first started.
Nene is working lovely...I can't believe that this is a plant, safe. I'm so glad I found it and found this forum, it's the friendliest and has so much to read...have a good weekend in Sunny San Diego...lucky you...we're all holding our breath for spring which is just round the corner..have a good weekend
Update on my progress with RT and other things. I ignored my vendors advice - said use a 15 denier nylon sock for the kneading part of the progress - I used lyrca for the past 3 weeks - got 15 denier granny nylon socks today and what a difference, much much finer than what I've been using. I ignored Steve Mariotti's advice somewhere on here about leaving it 30 mins between drinks. Today I either broke the RT or because I followed the advice it has worked. I had 45grams of Tongan Warrior in 500ml kneading through the much thinner granny sock and it has knocked me out and there is lots left (did 2nd strain with approx. 300ml warm water. I left it 30 mins between drinking approx. 10floz and I have been stuck to my sofa for the last two hours.
Positive side effects so far of Kava for me is my digestive system is working the way it should...opiate pain killers threw it all off for 5 years, constipation/bloated/gas etc...don't know if it's the Kava or not but that's gone...I've always drank lots of water throughout the day, exercised and tried everything OTC and natural herbals to no effect - nice side benefit for me
Lesson: listen to advice from experienced people and stop doing it my own way first...just to..feel a bit drunk to be honest so not having any more today...I won't use this much again, not entirely sure the feeling is something I want, something a bit milder maybe..I'll try lower dose from now on...thanks for all the tips
Positive side effects so far of Kava for me is my digestive system is working the way it should...opiate pain killers threw it all off for 5 years, constipation/bloated/gas etc...don't know if it's the Kava or not but that's gone...I've always drank lots of water throughout the day, exercised and tried everything OTC and natural herbals to no effect - nice side benefit for me
Lesson: listen to advice from experienced people and stop doing it my own way first...just to..feel a bit drunk to be honest so not having any more today...I won't use this much again, not entirely sure the feeling is something I want, something a bit milder maybe..I'll try lower dose from now on...thanks for all the tips