Kava Question?

[kl.NDG]

I'm somewhat new to kava compared to most on here i'd reckon, and recently i've went for the more heavy handed kava's, namely tudei/isa. I'm very sensitive to most things and prone to anxiety/stress but this seems odd to me. After a night of heavy kava consumption (for me that's 4-6 tbsp) i wake up anxious, shakey, nauseated. This seems to happen with tudei almost every time, i sleep terrible and i'm just shakey and anxious the next day. I see no pharmacological reason this should happen, but has anyone ever experienced this difference between kava's? some seem to be for me and some actually make me worse. I have also tried low amounts of tudei and it was the same scenario except less pronounced.
Any insights or experiences that were similar?

 

[Buddhacide]

I've had that reaction with PNG kava before, although perhaps not as bad. At the time I bought a sampler and was doing them randomly without much research. So, it was easy to over do it on the stronger stuff. I have bad insominia and things that make other people sleep tend to keep me awake (Nytol, opiates, kava etc...) So, I hear you, some of us are more sensitive. When I dont sleep, anxiety is always a factor. My whole world seems to paralyze. Also, when you are doing any sort of intoxicant that relieves things like anxiety or insomnia, there is always a chance you will have an inverse reaction while using. Trust me, i've tried alot of different "remedies" and there is always a concern for rebound. Its a basic operating principle of neuroscience that neurons that are abnormally stimulated will become abnormally fatigued and this can be experienced as a hangover with the opposite effect of the drug itself. I  personally do not like feeling intoxicated when I wake up or hung over, regardless of what substance I consume. So, I intend to keep some tudei on hand because its really good, but treat it with respect for sure.

 

[kl.NDG]

Thanks, just wanted to make sure i wasn't crazy. I too have tried pretty much everything and have odd neurochemistry. I geuss this shit is just really too strong for me, lol.

 

[kl.NDG]

Also, is there any other kavas that you or others have found to do this? I just want to stay away or at least have an idea of what ones cause this. It doesnt seem to be DHM, perhaps it just the amount of DHM in the tudei's.

 

[kavalover]

The anxious, shaky, and nauseated effects you describe are identical to my experience with alcoholic hangovers. One time, I was drinking Kona Kava Farm when I first started drinking kava, and as I wasn't getting much effect, I used 4 cups of kava to 3 cups of water, and had a great time. I woke up that night feeling very nauseated, I had tremors in my legs and felt extremely cold and was sweating. My anxiety I think was provoked by the way I woke up feeling, but it was bad. I should also note that I had not eaten that day, and my consumption of water had been minimal. But yes, I've had this kind of experience on kava. Only once, and I had figured I had simply drank too much and haven't done that since LOL.



The mahakea from KKF was praised for being high in kavain though, not DHM, so I'm not sure.

 

[Buddhacide]

NDG, I'm getting back into kava as we speak and have placed several orders based on what I have read on this forum, so I'm no expert (yet,lol) but a suggestion I would make would be to use less, particularly if its a tudei/PNG. I normally use about 2-3 good tablespoons worth, and that normally does not leave me wanting more. I eat the root pulp along with the tea though (I actually make sort of a shake) , so I'm not sure how that might make a difference. Take it easier on the amounts and give it more time before you decide to drink more.



Also, remember that these things do affect people differently. For example, I have never been a heavy weed smoker. I have tons of friends that smoke weed constantly - exercise on it, read on it etc...I keep a small amount around for insomnia. But I could not possibly do it on a casual, social basis. I find its just too strong. You need listen to your body and dont wory about the what others are saying too much. There really is a vast difference between individuals for this sort of thing.