"The Smell Issue" - Altered olfactory perception or signal processing during peak?

[zipfurl]

Hello!

I started using Kava first time last week.

Material / Method: Pacific Elixir Instant from Kava Society (Exp 20/01/2028), 7.5 g dispersed in 250 ml H2O @ RT, consumed within 5 minutes on empty stomach)

Result: In addition to the desired effect, suddenly an unknown smell was strongly present during the "heady peak", for at least 20 minutes, then fading away slowly. I can exclude the smell was a local issue as it was everywhere even when I left my room. I was able to reproduce it 24 hours later, exactly the same happened again.

I am wondering about the science behind this, but I could not find any information about modulation of olfactory receptors in the nose or changes in the olfactory cortex. It seems other people experienced similar issues, I found two threads in a kava subreddit where several confirmed comparable effects. But I was not able to retrieve some deeper informations in scientific databases about this, not even some kind of reports of particulary this side effect.

This could indicate to me that it is a rather new phenomenon. Perhaps it is related to the composition of the used blend, but it's only speculation, on reddit the used materials are not mentioned in an adequate way.

Can some of you confirm similar experiences - especially when using other kava (e.g. non-instant single cultivars)?

 

[Go Krunk Yourself]

Hello Scientist zipfurl,

Honestly the reason you haven't found much is there isn't much to find in the medical literature. However, we are a little obsessed with our little root here so I will theorize. If kava affects GABAergic inhibition in the limbic system, it might transiently alter how the brain processes smell perception, especially smells tied to memory or emotion. I would think the thing to pay the most attention to would be the chemo type of this batch you had.

Curiously, Yangonin binds to the CB1 receptors which are also activated by that plant which is way more popular, especially in Colorado, but not way as cool. CB1 is found in olfactory areas of the brain and modulates smell in animal models. However humans are weird and we haven't fully replicated or understood it as the same. So it's just a theory.

 

[zipfurl]

Hi,

thanks for your thoughts... For Yangonin a K(i) of 0.72 μM has been reported (Ligresti et al. 2012). This is a much lower affinity when compared to Cannabinoids such as THC which are in the nanomolar range. I would be surprised if this explains the quite heavy effect which is absent even after consumption of larger THC/Cannabinoid amounts.

However, as suggested, I think i will give other strains with different yangonine levels a try and check if I experience similar issues.I tried a 30 % kava extract today (manufacturer & chemical profile unknown). The described side-effect was absent here, but actually any remarkable effect at all, too. For investigational purposes material from Kava Society should be preferred due to the availability of UHPLC data...

Still would appreciate any comparable experience reports from other forum members. By the way, at this moment I would describe the smell to be similar to some synthetic peach aroma.

Refs
LIGRESTI, Alessia, et al. Kavalactones and the endocannabinoid system: the plant-derived yangonin is a novel CB1 receptor ligand. Pharmacological Research, 2012, 66. Jg., Nr. 2, S. 163-169.