Saliva, kava, and oral absorption
- Thread starter Jerome
- Start date
I've read many reports of people just chewing and getting effected on very small doses. Here is one example.
https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=39049
https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=39049
Kava_Lavar
Kava Curious
Its interesting that you bring this up. I was thinking the other day that I can't believe that one can start feeling kava within minutes of drinking. Which leads me to believe that saliva is the key part in feeling effects. Other herbs/meds take time to start feeling anything so why is kava different?
I don't think i could put the root in my mouth like that but was thinking if one could get better effects if you were to swish/hold kava drink in mouth before swallowing. Rinse and Repeat. Does anyone do this?
I don't think i could put the root in my mouth like that but was thinking if one could get better effects if you were to swish/hold kava drink in mouth before swallowing. Rinse and Repeat. Does anyone do this?
Time to hit the lab!
YourOlePalAl
Kava Curious
I can say that I always swish with my kava, due to my appreciation for the different flavors, and doing that vs. chugging it all makes it hit you quicker and harder. The effects, once they've peaked, aren't that much different from chugging, but I appreciate the quicker onset for sure!
Ligermeat
Warm and Fuzzeh!
Yeah, chewing a little bit of root, maybe a half teaspoon, defiantly produces effects, for me at least. The only trade off is that it's much shorter lasting and tastes like absalute hell.
nabanga
Kava Enthusiast
In parts of Tafea Province & Tongoa in the Shepherds group, where it is still traditionally chewed for prep, they say that the saliva of the chewer starts to break it down in advance of the recipient drinking it, which gives it a stronger hit than other preps. I have no idea of the science, but it certainly holds true for me after hundreds of not-so-clinical trials..
I chewed green kava once, for prep, and whilst it definitely numbed my mouth & throat, it didn't absorb so much as to get me in any state. It does take an experienced chewer to work the root without swallowing much of the concentrate - if some of that stuff slips down then you're already spinning by the time the shell is filtered.
I chewed green kava once, for prep, and whilst it definitely numbed my mouth & throat, it didn't absorb so much as to get me in any state. It does take an experienced chewer to work the root without swallowing much of the concentrate - if some of that stuff slips down then you're already spinning by the time the shell is filtered.
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Jerome
Kava Lover
I put about a half table spoon under the tongue and just let the mouth juices flow. And they do flow with the bitter, numbing kava in the mouth. Once it became "liquidy" enough, I swallowed and cleaned my mouth with a couple gulps. I probably kept it in my mouth for a total of 5-8 minutes. There was some mild but noticeable head buzzing while the kava was still in my mouth. Probably helped being it was a mahakea micro powder, plenty potent. I repeated the process a couple times and it definitely had me reeling. If I get the chance this weekend I'll try again on an empty stomach and not so late at night. Taste didn't bother me at all.
Zac Imiola (Herbalist)
Kava Connoisseur
Hmm I may try this lmao ... I have whole roots at home and chewed them and it's definitley a thing haha
It's been hypothesized that enzymes in your saliva start breaking down the root which makes the kavalactones more readily available. I don't think it's proven, as Dr. Lebot, whose done more kava research than anyone, believes that it could simply be that the extreme force exibited on the root between your molars, is responsible for popping more cell walls and releasing more kavalactones.
I also noted, on my trip, that this strong chewed tanna kava has another obvious aspect to its strength. The size of the chewed up root ball that was used to prepare just one or two shells was huge and appeared even larger than what I'd use for a whole nights session at home. However, they don't even require lengthy kneading to achieve their famous potency. Once it's chewed, it gets put in a bag with a drizzle of water over it, while two guys twist the bag and push on it with stick while the liquids drip into a shell. That one shell is quite strong for such a short time of squeezing. To me this implies a lot of the extraction must have taken place during the chewing, perhaps it's a combination of the chewing and the saliva enzymes.
As for simple sublingual administration, yes it works, sometimes I tuck some in my lip and hold it there. It has a very light effect and would require several rounds to feel anything equivalent to shell. It's good for light anxiety relief though. You also have to consider that when you hold powder in your mouth the small particles mix with saliva and you swallow, at that point you're basically just drinking kava again which might be partially or largely why you can feel kava effects just by holding it in your mouth for a while.
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When you swallow alcohol on an empty stomach you feel the effects come on just as quickly as kava. I believe the same could be said for ghb as well.
I also noted, on my trip, that this strong chewed tanna kava has another obvious aspect to its strength. The size of the chewed up root ball that was used to prepare just one or two shells was huge and appeared even larger than what I'd use for a whole nights session at home. However, they don't even require lengthy kneading to achieve their famous potency. Once it's chewed, it gets put in a bag with a drizzle of water over it, while two guys twist the bag and push on it with stick while the liquids drip into a shell. That one shell is quite strong for such a short time of squeezing. To me this implies a lot of the extraction must have taken place during the chewing, perhaps it's a combination of the chewing and the saliva enzymes.
As for simple sublingual administration, yes it works, sometimes I tuck some in my lip and hold it there. It has a very light effect and would require several rounds to feel anything equivalent to shell. It's good for light anxiety relief though. You also have to consider that when you hold powder in your mouth the small particles mix with saliva and you swallow, at that point you're basically just drinking kava again which might be partially or largely why you can feel kava effects just by holding it in your mouth for a while.
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When you swallow alcohol on an empty stomach you feel the effects come on just as quickly as kava. I believe the same could be said for ghb as well.
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Ligermeat
Warm and Fuzzeh!
MWitt3
Newbie
Interesting I ended up here after researching “kava mixed with saliva”. This was prompted by a passage in a new biography of Captain Cook and his travels. Apparently he had a very bland diet but would try anything once. A Chieftain offered him kava (1776) premixed with the saliva of the chief’s servant. Unfortunately it’s not reported in the book what the effect was but I suspect the locals were on to ways to improve GI absorption.