Not very satisfied with the effects so far

[dontmindme]

So maybe it's reverse tolerance still in play but I'm just not feeling very intense effects. I am using the 11yr waka micronized kava at about 1.5-2 tbsp per 1-1.5cup of water. I drink that and about 10-15 minutes later my body feels kind of 'heavy' and then it goes away after about 5 minutes. I just started trying out kava a little over a week ago and have been drinking a couple of drinks per night.

Do I just need to keep drinking more? I'd hope this isn't the solution as it's not very pleasant to drink and the only real way I can feel anything is if I haven't eaten in hours. Postponing eating dinner to drink kava doesn't seem very pleasant. Will the effects be stronger and last longer if I keep going if I'm still in RT?

Thanks

 

[Kavakaize]

Depends on strain and varies person to person but I use 4 tblsp per 12 oz of water

 

[sɥɐʞɐs]

You're probably still in RT. Although, there are a handful of people who never experience it.
You're also likely to be drinking way too little kava, although there's another handful of people that get completely full kava experiences from small doses.
A lot of beginners describe the feeling you're describing, a not-so-spectacular or noticeable buzz, that goes away too quickly.
Not eating before kava to make sure it works it's best is common practice, now and forever.
You sound like you're putting a lot of rules and expectation upon the kava, which you don't get to do, kava requires some experimentation to get things to work optimally for you, and it's not same for everyone. I personally use about 5-7 Tbsp of micronized kava split into about 4 or 5 shells over the course of an hour or 2, for best effect.
Outside of the above information, I could only recommend becoming a pharmaceutical chemist and creating a designer drug out of the constituents within the kava plant, that makes it behave in a way you'd prefer. If you do this, please contact me with samples, I'd love to try it.

​

 

[HeadHodge]

You're probably still in RT. Although, there are a handful of people who never experience it.
You're also likely to be drinking way too little kava, although there's another handful of people that get completely full kava experiences from small doses.
A lot of beginners describe the feeling you're describing, a not-so-spectacular or noticeable buzz, that goes away too quickly.
Not eating before kava to make sure it works it's best is common practice, now and forever.
You sound like you're putting a lot of rules and expectation upon the kava, which you don't get to do, kava requires some experimentation to get things to work optimally for you, and it's not same for everyone. I personally use about 5-7 Tbsp of micronized kava split into about 4 or 5 shells over the course of an hour or 2, for best effect.
Outside of the above information, I could only recommend becoming a pharmaceutical chemist and creating a designer drug out of the constituents within the kava plant, that makes it behave in a way you'd prefer. If you do this, please contact me with samples, I'd love to try it.

​

What a great answer!!!

 

[Steph]

I've only been drinking kava for about a month. It wasn't until week three that I began to feel the effects of the kava. Over time, I have tried quite a few different kinds, experiencing different levels of strength. I also found having more kava and spreading it out over four shells. Last night I tried Wow from N@H. I had my best effects yet. I used half a cup to two cups of water spread out over four shells. I agree, I'd like it to last longer, but I think that's the way Kava works.

 

[Deleted User01]

@dontmindme, I almost took your advice and wasn't going to mind you but I have no will power. You might still be in RT. A quick and dirty way to get kavalactones is to take some of those Kava Capsules that Gaia sells. Also, one type of kava may well be heavy and another "heady". So try different kavas on your journey. Just keep putting Kavalactones in your system and one day the light will go on and you'll say, "Mannnn, I'm too relaxed to bellyache about RT anymore". That's when you know you got it.

 

[winder]

The 11 year waka micro can be pretty intense stuff - and since it's micro your dosage is about what I find works for me just fine. That said, it's not really what I'd consider a good "beginners" kava. It does have that heavy initial effect but the rest is more lingering and subtle and can take a while to really tune into (I like that one before a night out at a concert or at the end of a very long, stressful day, but it's not one I prefer for daily use. It's a bit tough to get down *and* I find it gives me dermo pretty fast.)

You might do better with something like the extracts from Paradise Kava. They are very heady and more of a euphoric lift, and if you're struggling with drinking the kava the pleasant (or more pleasant, at least) taste of the extracts can help. I've found even after a light meal I can take a little extract and feel it. I think some others here have said that the extracts helped them get through reverse tolerance quicker as well because they pack such a strong punch.

 

[ta-va]

I think we (mostly) all went through that early phase of doubt, discouragement and scepticism, thinking that this stuff was being overhyped by sensitive people as I went through a 100 grams of BKH instant and a couple or pounds of other root kavas over a 3 week period until I felt anything much at all. Then, one day, as somebody above said, the light went on. It was a bit like magic. Honestly, an epiphany. You will get there. And you'll likely need less than you've been used to taking once you reach that point to get great effects.

I was a bit scared early on (in all honesty) as is probably reasonable with taking any new substance, with overdosing and so I kept up a regular but smallish dose schedule over those weeks. In hindsight, I realise that I probably could have broken through earlier with a higher dosage over a shorter time. Plus the fact that your preparation methods will improve as you go and learn and see how everybody else is getting the most out of it. It does seem to be some kind of build-up effect going on. Anyway, keep looking around the threads here. There are other, more palatable ways to get those early kavalactones in such as the concentrates, candies, instants and extracts. And various ways of masking the taste or taking the edge off with chasers.

I understand your concerns about the way it can interfere with food schedules and that has been one of my biggest bugbears, as the optimum time for me to take it and enjoy it would be after work, some four hours after a decent lunch meal (when I'd be expected to sit down with the missus and eat the evening meal).

Now I'm through RT and I've experimented with timings, dosages, prepping and varieties, I tend to eat a lighter version of what I would have used to have at the same time so do not miss out with the important meal at the end of the day with my other half but can enjoy it as a relaxer at about 9/10 at night when there's still time to enjoy it for a good couple of hours and it's a nice primer for some delicious sleep, which I have always struggled with.

As a nice side effect, this has all dramatically improved my waistline by simply laying off the heavier evening meals of old and the almost nightly booze I would used to have consumed.

Good luck and keep us informed. Bula

 

[dr phalloid]

yeah some really good advice given here,i started my kava journey with capsules and use to open them and place in my mouth to see if they would numb my mouth,i love the mouth numbing effects of kava.looking back I find it funny,i tried to get a old friend to join me at the time and they did purchase for a short period but then said it was either to weak,or didant work.funny though everytime I had capsules or later grog they were more than happy to have some of mine as long as he was paying for it.but really keep at it cause eventually the effects got so good I gave alcohol up totally,that was 7 years ago now and swapping alcohol with kava was one of the best desions ive ever made.as for starving yourself theres no need I personally have ashell or two then if im hungry I have a banna or two+a apple,and can carry on with kava drinking,healthy combination.then when im hungry I have my normal meal.remember not eating can make you anxious,im diabetic so not eating regular is no no.youll find a balance theres lots of good advice here+try to relax and enjoy your kava ride.

 

[Mr. Kava]

1 cup of good noble fiji waka
4 cups water
strain well after kneeding
drink all of it over 90 min
on empty stomach (2-4 hrs no food)
eat some kind of fatty food after last shell to boost latent kava effects

Im pretty sure if you do this, you will feel the effects of Kava.