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Uplifting Kava?

Jonathan

Jonathan

All Hail Leon
Hi guys, I am new to Kava, relatively, have only been experiencing it for a couple of months. To this point, I have not actually tried the root itself. Only the NOW brand kava capsules (which suck, honestly), and a 33% kavalactone powder from kava.com, which is slightly better, but also contains soy lecithin and is not actually the pure root.

I'm looking to order some Kava root powder soon for my first try of the real experience, and have done quite a bit of research on sources. Right now I've come down to Kalm with Kava, Gourmet Hawaiian Kava, and Bula Kava House. I'm leaning towards getting the micronized sampler pack from GHK (to try their different types), but am curious about others' feedback on what would be a good place to start. I like what GHK has to say about removing the Maka and leaving only the fleshy part of the root for the micronized blends.

I don't have a lot of money to spend which is why I'm really trying to gain some feedback/opinions on what a good blend is to start with.

What I'm looking for is an uplifting experience that will not knock me out. Something I can read or play music with. If I may humbly ask, do you guys have any experience to share on what types or sources would work best to that end?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
S

Siosiua Lafitani

Newbie
Traditional mix of kava is the best, kava and water with no other ingredients like acetone and ethnol with their alcoholic nature, so just try water and kava roots and don't make it too concentrated thanks
 
S

Siosiua Lafitani

Newbie
What I have found out from the world deaths on kava from non-Pacific island background were due to the consumption of kava tablets and kava mix with other herbal ingredients. Kava and water mix is the only best way to drink kava for both Pacific island and non-Pacific island people. With the latter, they died from kava tablets because of the mix with chemicals like acetone and ethnol, it seems to be a reaction and non-Pacific islanders have no genetic element of kava in theirs unlike their Pacific island counterparts. No Pacific islander has died from drinking a few cups of kava every day until they abuse the substance which is a different story. So I advice non-Pacific islanders to please just use kava and water, and make sure the powder is real roots and not branches of kava
 
Jonathan

Jonathan

All Hail Leon
Thanks Siosiua, that's a good tip. I had found similar information which is why I'm looking to move towards the whole root and not use tablets any more. The NOW capsules also contain eluthero root which is actually a stimulant, like ginseng. It seems weird that they wouldn't just have kava in the capsules, but there you have it.

The 33% kavalactone powder I ordered is actually made from root only, no above ground materials, and is extracted using CO2, not solvents, so I feel ok about that. But like I said I'm looking to move towards using the whole root instead.

I also found this interesting paper: https://ewsd.wiv-isp.be/Publications on new psychoactive substances/Kava/Whitton2003_kava-lactones-GSH-safety.pdf - which states that the whole root contains glutathione, which helps to clear the detox pathways in the liver and prevent negative results from the rise in liver enzymes. Whereas extracts have had glutathione removed, so consuming extracts can actually cause a harmful rise in liver enzymes which can clog the detox liver pathways.

In my mind that would explain why pacific islanders (and others) have no liver problems from consuming whole kava root, because the natural glutathione present in the root helps balance out the liver. Mother nature really is amazing, it just goes to show that the natural way is always the best way. (y)
 
S

Siosiua Lafitani

Newbie
Thanks Steve & Jonathan, I registered here before after inviting by Gary but have been busy, and here I'm now with you guys enjoying the chat, and I have been exploring around here, really like it.

Just my brief profile FYI: I'm the dean of the Lo'au University based in Tonga but I'm from Canberra. I have been travelling back and forth between Tonga and Canberra since 2012 (I'm Tongan by birth). We launched the LU last year from Tonga, full online higher learning system (3 months in Tonga and 3 months in Canberra every year). I'm now in Canberra. I have been the leader of the Australian Kava Movement and we just established the World Kava Movement last month (where I first talked with Gary). We organized our first conference on kava here at the Australian National University in 2011 when kava was first publicly enforced (after its legislation in 2008 without consulting with us here in Canberra). We just formed the World Kava Movement. We have a website www.australiankavamovement.squarespace.com We're planning to have our second kava coneference again at the ANU in September this year, and you're most welcome to join us. We're about to publish a kava book from the papers of our first kava conference. Please click here to read more on our book: http://www.loauuniversity.edu.to/in...h-section-and-publication-of-lo-au-university Also click here to read the full support of Lo'au University to the AKM and WKM: http://www.loauuniversity.edu.to/in...e-upcoming-second-kava-conference-in-canberra

Cheers
 
nabanga

nabanga

Kava Enthusiast
Siosiua - that website is a great resource, thanks for posting he links. I will be in Tonga (Nukualofa) June-August - it would be interesting to talk to you about this over a few shells if you are there at that time.
 
Steve Mariotti

Steve Mariotti

Kavapithecus Krunkarensis
Review Maestro
Thanks for the links, @Siosiua Lafitani.

I went and followed your facebook pages for WKM and AKM:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Kava-Movement-Fair-go/119095841503349
https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Kava-Movement/362571737260344

It seems like promoting the safety (especially the relative safety as compared to alcohol) aspect is key. Kava as something that can be healing as opposed to "used" as "yet another" drug. The pills in the Australian formulary that contain kava, have those been tested independently? Your article made it sound like maybe some collusion between the pharmaceutical companies and the governing bodies is suspected. Assessing the relative safety of the pills vs. brewed kava could be another key.

It's frustrating reading about Australia vs. Kava. I get the same feeling of apoplectic rage as when I follow US politics.

Welcome again to the forums! Please use us as a resource if you can. I would love to see that ban lifted and see the Australian government get fully informed on kava.
 
Jonathan

Jonathan

All Hail Leon
It seems like Dr. Siosiua's post about this should be it's own thread? This is really important information, and I would hate for it to get buried in my own thread about a simple question. For what it's worth, I'd suggest breaking it out with it's own title so more people can learn about this book and the Australian movement. :)
 
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S

Siosiua Lafitani

Newbie
Steve and Jonathan thank you. Indeed there is health value in kava and not just a contrast between it and alcohol. We have mentioned its health value but you're right Steve more works to be done on this area. Of course Jonathan the title of the book will be structured to reflect details and clarity so more people can learn from it. We haven't promote it online even though we have published an article for the public to be aware its existing. We will soon open its own fb page and page on our website.
 
S

Siosiua Lafitani

Newbie
Nabanga sorry for overlooking your message. I will be in Tonga from May to first week of August. Feel free to contact me and catch up.
My email: [email protected] /Telephone: 676 24849 /Mobile: 676 8436317.

Hello guys, additionally kava in Tonga has a social, medicinal, political, therapeutic/psychological, cultural/historical and religious/sacred characters. Social kava in the nature of kava club is a recent development. The medicinal, political, therapeutic, cultural and religious are the very old ones. Lo'au Lineage was our ancient intellectual class that masterminded the officialization of kava within our political system, cultural and religious contexts. Cheers.
 
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Jonathan

Jonathan

All Hail Leon
Just placed my order for some Mahakea Micronized from GHK, my first time trying the actual root and not an extract. Looking forward to it! Of course I will be religiously checking the mail over the next week or so. ;) From what I've read on the forum, Mahakea sounds like it'll fit what I'm looking for. I'm sure I'll be trying other varieties in the future. Have read a lot of comments about the Moi too, so perhaps I'll get some of that next.

Come oooooon mailman! :p
 
Pacifico

Pacifico

Kava Enthusiast
Jonathan said:
Just placed my order for some Mahakea Micronized from GHK, my first time trying the actual root and not an extract. Looking forward to it! Of course I will be religiously checking the mail over the next week or so. ;) From what I've read on the forum, Mahakea sounds like it'll fit what I'm looking for. I'm sure I'll be trying other varieties in the future. Have read a lot of comments about the Moi too, so perhaps I'll get some of that next.

Come oooooon mailman! :p
Click to expand...

What country are you in? I just have the post office text me the updates. I know every time my kava changes cities!
 
Pacifico

Pacifico

Kava Enthusiast
Well Chris is going to send you a tracking number. You look it up. (It might not show anything right away.) To the right, it will say something about receiving emails or text messages about it. Sign up. Game over.
 
Jonathan

Jonathan

All Hail Leon
Woohoo! Just signed up for the USPS test message updates. :) Don't know why I've never done this before, it's a great little tool... T-minus 3-5 business days to Mahakea. ;)
 
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