Kava that is good for sleep but not SLEEPY? Recommendations please

[GeeseCTM]

Sounds tricky. I suffer from basically chronic fatigue and brain fog.

I have an illness called Mast Cell activation syndrome. You don't have to really research it but let's just say, that sometimes I can have bouts of insomnia, and I don't like sleeping pills or anything that makes me unnaturally tired.

I do like things that will make me calm and relaxed.

If something makes me more tired, my anxiety increases and I can't sleep because I already have an aversion to being overly tired from years of suffering with these chronic fatigue issues.

I don't know what the hell they're using, but there is a kava bar that is two and a half hours away from me, and and they sold me some Kava that they told me was good for insomnia, and last night I had a pretty heavy bout of insomnia, and I finally decided to try it and drink it and man did it show me out. But, I'm sure they're not going to tell me the brand of they're using cuz they would hope that I would go back to them.

Nothing against them, they have a great product, but I'm sure making it on my own is going to save me a hell of a lot of money than 5-hour round trips to a place where it's already pretty expensive.

Anyway, so bottom line is, I'm looking for a Kava that is really good for insomnia, but it's not going to make me tired. A nice relaxed chill feeling is good. Something that can combat anxiety. Once I'm relaxed I can fall asleep. So that is why so many pharmaceuticals don't work for me. I don't need help being tired, I just need help being relaxed and I will meditate and do the rest. But of course, bonus if it's something that helps me maintain sleep once I go under.

Lol. Anyway, I think I made my point (◔‿◔) Let me know your recommendations. Sometime on Reddit mentioned Squanch Waka, but unfortunately that's not going to do me any good since they are out of stock.

Bonus Bonus if you know something that clears brain fog (can be separate). Not holding my breath but worth a shot

Thanks

 

[Edward]

It is a tricky thing you are asking because most heavy kavas which would be a knee jerk recommendation are going to make you feel tired. It sounds to me like you should probably try a few balanced kavas with just the right amount of headiness to counteract the heaviness but without getting you too stimulated. Most Borogu kavas are usually quite well balanced and I find I can sleep on them reasonably well despite the fact they are not outright heavy. Realkava Vanuatu Waka could do the trick. Maybe someone else can recommend some good balanced kavas as I tend to only drink heavies at the moment.

 

[Kavacus]

That was me about the Squanch, I didn't know they were out... Try KavaTime, they have a solid lineup of great kava and look through the reviews of various vendors on this site on the home page further down. Lots of good folks here don't be shy about questions.

Dave, Kavacus

 

[ThePiper]

Have you actually had an experience of anxiety or other problems from a "sleepy" kava? Because kava is much different than most sleep aids. To me there is almost no purely sleepy kava. It's more that some kava quiets my mind and makes it easier to drift off, and then some kava relaxes me in a more direct way, making me feel a little slowed down and relaxing my muscles, which is usually thought of as a "heavy" kava. It sounds like you want something less heavy but not stimulating. Kava vinaka's lawena or most other lawenas might be a good place to start. Lawena is the underground stump material, rather than the lateral roots, which is called waka. Waka's tend to simultaneously be more heavy, but it depends. You could also try Kalm with Kava's Vula waka. It's mostly chill and pleasant without being too heavy or stimulating.

You're going to have to try a few kinds most likely. You might ask the kava bar which cultivar they gave you. just act like you're curious about the region it originated from. If they share that with you, I could probably point you to the closest online product

 

[Groggy]

Try GHK Instant Mahakea, a heaping tablespoon does me in every time. It's a kava I recently started drinking again and it really is the blue label of kavas.

 

[GeeseCTM]

Have you actually had an experience of anxiety or other problems from a "sleepy" kava?

I just did today.

I bought some from that kava bar yesterday, and I took those stuff that they say is the lightest, and had a few bowls earlier. Didn't really notice much of a effect either way, but keep in mind I woke up and I already had brain fog and I didn't sleep well last night either until 5 a.m. when I took their more sedating one which they said was good for insomnia.

They have Everyday, and Premium.

The Premium chilled me out last night and helped me really sleep when I had bad insomnia and my anxiety was starting to mount because it was going closer to 5 am and if I don't sleep it becomes a HUGE problem with my already chronic fatigue.

So the Premium calmed that down with a couple L-Theanine caps.

Ok back to today. After a few bowls of what they call Everyday, didn't feel much of an effect except at some point I did get tired so I decided to mediate.

I usually mediate daily to clear fatigue and brain fog.

In this case, I meditated and then all of a sudden just felt like I wanted to take a nap so I sort of just went with it and got in a position where I can fall asleep and I'm just now waking up and it's 9:33 p.m..
Lol.

So even the "Everyday"b) the light stuff), added to my already crappy sleep and brain fog made me tired.

Honestly, I'm used to, if my sleep is bad on a night, getting wasted on alcohol and passing out and catching up on rest that way. but that's such a bad way to do it and I wake up with a hangover and it's just like this vicious cycle.

So I'm trying something new and hopefully healthier.

But now I'm rested when it's bed time so I hope I'm not up all night again and just repeat this process.

Ugh.
Chronic illness sucks.

 

[GeeseCTM]

Try GHK Instant Mahakea, a heaping tablespoon does me in every time. It's a kava I recently started drinking again and it really is the blue label of kavas.

Looking it up now. Thanks

 

[Edward]

@GeeseCTM I can't believe that a good, strong heavy kava wouldn't just knock you out in a similar way to alcohol. I made the switch to kava from alcohol a few years ago and if I drink certain kavas I can sleep 8 to 10 hours depending on how I dose and it's a black, remember nothing sleep, no dreams or anything. Alcohol helps you sleep but the quality of sleep is not good so you still wake up tired. A heavy kava should reduce your anxiety about feeling tired and you pretty much have no option but to just go to sleep!

Recommendations for knockout kavas are... stone or wow from N@H, Supreme from Kavafied, Hiwa from GHK, plenty of others but I would mention strongly to try Koro from Kava Time. It's a beautiful, cocoaey heavy Fijian kava and I sleep really well on it.

 

[Chillbert]

plenty of others but I would mention strongly to try Koro from Kava Time. It's a beautiful, cocoaey heavy Fijian kava and I sleep really well on it.

I second the Koro. Bought a pound on a whim and found a delicious (for kava), wonderful vibe in a glass. I drink my shells just before dinner, and the chill is perfect for an evening without being overwhelming. Went to bed, slept like a rock, and enjoyed a noticeable "Kava Shield" effect the next day. Bought two more pounds yesterday. It's a kava I want in my life for awhile.

 

[kavaaa]

You will probably have to experiment and find what works for you. Most heavy kavas don't really knock me out, they just relax me. I have sleep issues and almost never feel truly sleepy, however.
Boronguru from Kalm with Kava is good for me and would be my first recommendation, but I also recommend to just experiment with different heavy kavas and see which ones actually make you feel tired or relaxed.
I've heard Santo's Pride from KavaTime can knock you out in the way that you said you use alcohol to knock yourself out, but mine hasn't arrived yet so I can't confirm that at the moment.
I also second the CBD recommendation above. CBD helps me a lot with brain fog.

Edit: Santo's Pride is awesome. It's very relaxing and heavy, but clean and clear. It didnt make my brain foggy or groggy, just relaxed and sedated with some euphoria mixed in. I love it and reccomend it, but it looks like they're out of stock atm.