Still no effect

[kl.draikin]

Hi everyone,

As I said earlier I took 225mg a day of Gaia Herbs Kava in capsules for a month. Then I started drinking Premium Fijian Kava 4 days ago, 2 tsp a day. So far Kava (either capsules or powder) did nothing to improve my anxiety. Should I take more each day ?

 

[kl.grudge]

I avoided the capsules thanks to advice from the board, but I think the general consensus is that they are worthless so erase that month. 2 teaspoons is a tiny amount, think more 2 to 3 tablespoons blended or massaged in a bag in 2 to 3 cups of water. Start drinking this amount and see if you are feeling any effects (maybe not on the anxiety) but any effect?

 

[Ed!]

Your reverse tolerance may not have worked it out yet, or you may be hard headed, or both (as it was with me).



For me, I was drinking kava regularly for a month before I suddenly felt the effects. 2 tbsp would also be too low for me, even now, to get much effect out of most kavas. I would say go ahead and try more, but if it doesn't work then just stay patient and work that reverse tolerance out.
Edit: Oh, you said two tsp... yeah, that's not enough. I'll go up to a half-cup of the stuff sometimes.

 

[Dan]

I always say this here, but an empty or near-empty stomach is crucial for me (and many others).  Try that if you haven't.

 

[kl.grudge]

Oh, and just to clarify for me (and be aware that different kava effect people differently) PK Fijian has a stimulating effect and doesn't do much for anxiety. That is why I asked if you get any effect. Fijian just gives me a happy, floaty effect but doesn't do much for the anxiety. So a result but the wrong one just might mean you tried the wrong kava for you.

 

[kl.new2kava]

Reverse tolerance is a different beast for all of us. Those capsules only have a pinch of kava in each of them and the kavalactones may sound respectable but there actually pretty laughable.

Typically I use about 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of root for a session which is 30-60 grams and kava root has about 10-20% kavalactones. You typically only extract 50% of the kavalactones so if I average the kavalactones to 15% I get 30x 150mg /2 = 2.25 grams of kavalactones or 4.5 for a 60gram batch.



Also 2 tsp of kava is really light. I typically use no less than 1/4 cup and up to 1/2 cup for a days sessions. I got blitzed today on 1/3 cup of melo melo. Basically get a big quantity, say a kilo and drink 1/4 cup a day for month. Then you should be getting good effects.



Also it isn't like a medication that you can take once daily and expect it to resolve anxiety throughout the day. I'd recommend getting thru your reverse tolerace and then making big and strong batchs of a few quarts at time and leaving them in the fridge, then have a few shells whenever you want to unwind.



If your looking for instant as needed relief I would try paradise's extracts or kava candy, both are effective and instantly relaxing as well as not overpowering.

 

[kl.NDG]

I would add to what others have said, make sure it's an empty stomach. I would suggest 4 tablespoons of fijian soaked overnight, shaken throughout the night and morning. Then massage it for a couple minutes and drink on an empty stomach in the morning. I don't dilute my kava as much as some here. I have 4 tablespoons of kava in 2 cups of water sometimes less. I also would suggest using warm, steaming water, not intensely hot but hot to the touch. The heat will help extract lipophilic kavalactones (all of them) better. Don't boil the water just let it run hot and use that as the water you immerse the kava in. I never massage, I always use a shaker bottle and just shake violently after allowing it to sit for several hours. Works just fine.

 

[Prince Philip]

In the "drug culture," you'll often times hear the mantra of "set, setting, and dose." Your mindset and your environment are just as important, if not more so, than your drug.



I recommend you light a candle or two in a dark room and look at this picture and say this prayer before every shell.



http://upload.wikimedia.o...beth_and_Philip_1953.jpg



"Prince Philip

Son of the mighty mountain spirit Kalpwapen

Brother to John Frum

May you return to Tanna soon

May you bring cargo to all who are worthy

Bulah!"



I bring Blessed Krunkness to all who keep holy my name

I am the Bacchus of Bulah, the Dionysus of Divine Pepper, the King of Kava (well, the Prince Regent of Kava, but work with me here)!





When in doubt, add more Tiki.

 

[Prince Philip]

On second thought, use this picture. When you drink kava while looking at this picture, I will know, and I will also be drinking kava with you.



http://www.gettyimages.co...ava-news-photo/106929087



P.S. Whales Teeth Kava is a fairly middle-of-the road Fijian kava. Quite relaxing, but also the sort of kava you can keep doing official diplomatic/stately functions with.



I think I'll print this picture out myself, so I can drink kava with myself while I drink kava with myself.

 

[Paradise Kava]

Join the club.
The first time I drank kava I had about 14 cups (yes big giant red frat boy cups) of kava and barely felt a thing.
I did have the persistence thing down.
Second day, I went to the same kava bar (in Kalapana back in the day) and I was krunked to perfection in 2 cups.  So all I would say is don't give up and try enough in one sitting.
A.G

 

[kl.likeskava]

I have been drinking kava off and on for about a year now but still consider myself a noob. I just recently found this forum which explains a lot about why I am not having the desired effects. It looks like I have to keep drinking until it kicks in. Its a strange way for this to work, so I will keep at it.   I know that everyone is different, but I found that 3 tbs to 2 cups works best for me.  
I use a canning strainer bag and massage in water for about 10 minutes. Then I take about 1/2cup shot wait about 10 minutes and repeat. I get slight tingles in the mouth but that's gone fairly quickly. 
Question: 1) Am I not massaging long enough to make this strong? 2) Does this sound like I am doing the right thing? 
Please take a look at the left side on from the kava liquid.   
1) Is it normal that I will have some kava grind in my mix? 2) Is it safe to consume the grind? 3) Is the purpose of using a strainer is for consistency so that your not drinking thick mud? 4) Can you blend the kava without using a strainer bag and drinking it straight-up? 
I asked a lot here, so thanks for taking the time to read to help out a noob. (smiley: embarassed)
Thanks! 

 Fijian Kava from Paradise!

 

[The Kap'n]

1.) 10-20 Minutes seems to be long enough when I'm kneading kava.
2.) Yes, but add more. Use about a cup of kava with 2 cups of water. Also drink your entire batch at once. You want to flood your system with the lactones. (Also very important when first starting is to get that blood level of kavalactones up to its highest for the longest amount of time. This will quickly decrease your natural reverse tollerance)
1.) It is normal to find some small grind in your final product, very fine. Think if you dissolved flour into water and let it sit. That fine.
2.) Yes, but if you're using a canning strainer you may need to double, or even triple the material as it looks like your grind is way too big and making its way through your filter material.
3.) Before I started suffering from kava dermapothy I would spoon out 3 tablespoons of kava into a coffee mug, mix with water and drink. This is A way to do it, but not the best, or even recommended due to the intense effects it will have on the overall health of your skin. Drinking sawdust powder also causes some hefty gag reflex, as well as doubling the amount of anxiety you may get before you drink it. 
4.) I went too far and answered in number 3. In short you don't want to unless it's instant. Straining and kneading is actually what I find to be a necessary part of kava preparation. If nothing else it gives you time to further appreciate it.

 

[kl.grudge]

Just want to second Kapmcrunk advice. I too overcame my kava tolerance with one 'take to an 11' session. I should have stopped at 8 or 9, but that is just me (obsessive, compulsive). But just as the good Kap' said, filtering is your friend unless you are sure you can handle the raw kava grind (and a big session is not the time to try that). Definitely properly prepare and dramatically increase your dose until you feel it. Of course make sure your in a place where you don't have to do anything in case you get sleepy or really krunked - safety first kids.

 

[kl.draikin]

Ok, today I added one tsp. so I drank 3 heaping tsp. in 2 cups of water. An hour after that, I was dizzy for about 2 hours (I'm not a big fan of dizziness). Is that normal ?

Also, how long does Kava remains active in the body ? I'm asking so that I know when I can drink more shells.

 

[Paradise Kava]

EDIT - oops. You boys already answered this. Good job! Here is my 2 cents anyway.

" Then I take about 1/2cup shot wait about 10 minutes and repeat. I get slight tingles in the mouth but that's gone fairly quickly."

Perhaps there is too much time there in between there.



Also, try panty hose to keep it cleaner tasting.



Kava fiber has been strained out for 3000 years in the South Pacific. It's not what you're after, simply put.



Hope that helps.

A.G

 

[kl.grudge]

Ok, today I added one tsp. so I drank 3 heaping tsp. in 2 cups of water. An hour after that, I was dizzy for about 2 hours (I'm not a big fan of dizziness). Is that normal ?
Also, how long does Kava remains active in the body ? I'm asking so that I know when I can drink more shells.

Draikin, I think you are saying tsp (teaspoon) probably when you mean tbsp (tablespoon).  I think that is causing some confusion.  For me, Fijian (no doubt a high quality kava, this is not a knock) is very 'head' centered and gives me a strong 'floating'/dizzy feeling and cranks me up.  Others have a different experience and this is normal for kava, although each kava has a base characteristic that most people feel, the details are purely individual. 

This may not be the best kava for you since you are trying to tackle anxiety.  PK's Hawaiian is more balanced for me (some head, some body), so you can try that or go for a mostly body kava instead.

The good news is that you are feeling the effects of kava so now you are on the way to finding the right one and zeroing in on your 'kava zone' (how much kava for the effect you are trying to reach).  For example, I use kava during the day for anxiety while I work, so I can't get knocked out.  Therefore I am somewhere in the 1 to 2 tablespoon range with a teaspoon equivalent 'shot' every so often.  If I get too tired, I drink a moderate amount of caffeine to balance out.  All of that just comes with experience and testing.

 

[kl.Dubkava]

Im still quite new to kava but for me it took about 6 sessions for me to aquiant myself with the effects. I had tried it a bunch of times before going on holiday and felt nothing more than a slight tiredness. I went to Spain for 10 days and had no kava in that period but my first try on my return I could feel right away. Strange how it works. Stick with it, but as Grudge said maybe the strain is not for you. For me It's quite a subtle effect until you really start to recognise it.

 

[kl.draikin]

But does the fact that I get dizzy with Fijian Kava mean that it's the only effect I'll ever experience with this particular Kava ? Also, does it mean I've already achieved reverse tolerance ?

 

[kl.NDG]

I would suggest you have achieved reverse tolerance, the dizzyness is part of the buzz of this particular kava, it's very heady. However, I also feel really relaxed, mildly euphoric and have a reduction in pain from this kava. I get the dizzyness thing also.

 

[kl.draikin]

I do feel dizzy but my anxiety doesn't go away