Whether you want to try Kava at home or are thinking of stopping by a Hawaii Kava bar, there’s a lot to know about this ancient therapy.
Finding Serenity Anywhere
Just a photograph of our beautiful Hawaiian Islands can put you in a relaxed state of mind and cause you to dream of a Hawaii Vacation. It may even get you to take a deep breath and possibly lower your blood pressure. You may imagine swaying palm trees and endless beaches…but life can sneak up and snatch your tranquility with a quick slap.
Lasting tranquility is possible, and you don’t have to live in Hawaii to obtain it. The people of Oceania — made up of some ten thousand islands within the Polynesian Triangle of Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia — have been using this dream supplement for more than 3000 years.
What is Kava
Kava Kava, or Kava for short, is an entrenched character in the lives of Pacific islanders. It’s used for spiritual, social, and political reasons – it’s Fiji’s national drink and the official drink of the South Seas. is the official drink of the South Seas and Fiji’s national drink.
Kava is made from the ground root of the Piper genus (same family as black pepper). The benefits of this ancient herb are many. In fact, in 1999, German doctors prescribed Kava to 350,000 patients for anxiety-related disorders.
Kava Benefits
An excerpt from Kava by Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, Ph.D, lists the herb’s healing and therapeutic properties:
- relieves everyday stress
- significantly lowers anxiety after one week of use
- effectively manages long-term anxiety
- is as effective as some prescription drugs in reducing serious anxiety
- induces relaxation
- acts as a muscle relaxant
- has pain-relieving properties
- may help prevent abnormal blood clotting
- acts as an anti-convulsive
- may protect the brain
- may help smokers and alcoholics kick the habit
- improves alertness, memory, and reaction time
- significantly reduces menopausal symptoms (anxiety and depression)
How I Like My Kava
I like to drink a cup of Kava—or awa in Hawaiian—when I am having a bout with insomnia. The bitter taste is something I got used to and even like.
I know it’s working when my tongue feels slightly numb. I sleep hard all night long. Sometimes, heavy rainfall wakes me, and I wake refreshed and ready for the day—no “hangover.” Kava may have side effects (especially when consumed in copious amounts), but I’ve never experienced them in my limited use.
The missionaries of the 1800s, believing awa was “devil’s juice,” eradicated the herb’s use in Hawaii. However, it has made a comeback, and Kava can be ordered online from numerous Hawaii farms. You can also visit a Kawa bar on Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island.
Here at Hawaii Aloha Travel, we are travel agents, NOT medical professionals. All info in our blog is for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
