Say Goodbye to Anxiety With Kava Powder

Say Goodbye to Anxiety with Kava Powder

Anxiety is a common problem that affects many people in today’s fast-paced society. Stress is right alongside anxiety. Both can cause physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension, as well as emotional symptoms such as worry, fear, and irritability. If you’re one of the many people who suffer from anxiety, you may be looking for a natural and effective way to manage your symptoms. This is where kava powder comes in. Kava has been scientifically proven effective for combating anxiety. Just a few studies will be outlined below. And, one of the best scientifically-proven ways to use kava is by making kava powder into a drink.

What is Kava Powder?

Kava powder is simply ground up roots from the kava plant.  It then gets made into a traditional drink. This plant is native to the South Pacific and has been used safely for over 3000 years. Indigenous cultures have relied on this sacred plant as a way to relieve stress, promote relaxation, and improve sleep. Kava is a natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for managing anxiety and has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety without causing adverse side effects in multiple scientific studies. Look to my References section below for some of my favorite, and easy-to-find studies on Kava for saying goodbye to anxiety by using kava powder.

How Does Kava Powder Work?

The active compounds in kava are called kavalactones, and they are thought to exert their effects by interacting with several neurotransmitter systems in the brain and body. Kava powder is simply a ground version of the whole kava root. Proper low temperature grinding of kava into a powder preserves all of the key components of the plant. This includes the “fatty” lactones as well.

Regardless of the method of consumption of kava, the effects are generally the same. This is why we offer such a wide range of kava products here at KavaDotCom. Traditional drinks are great for every ailment that kava is effective in helping alleviate. Tinctures and pastes are great for a quick “kick” when taking kava. Capsules are great for longer-term “fixes” like lower back pain, restlessness, or difficulty sleeping. And drinks made from plain ‘ol kava powder are great for relaxing evenings alone or with friends, and for quickly raising overall feelings of wellness and peace of mind.

In relation to GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), kava has been shown to increase GABA levels in the brain. This helps to reduce anxiety by promoting relaxation and reducing nervous tension. This mechanism occurs via the interaction of kavalactones with GABA-A receptors in the brain. This effect directly leads to an increase in GABA-mediated inhibition of neuronal activity.

Kava has also been shown to affect the levels of other neurotransmitters in the brain. This includes the production of serotonin and dopamine. Some studies suggest that kava may increase the levels of serotonin. Serotonin is involved in regulating mood and anxiety. Dopamine may also be released into the system as well. Dopamine has a powerful and direct effect on regulating mood, motivation, and reward. This may contribute to the anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects of kava.

It’s important to note that the exact mechanisms by which kava affects the brain and body are still not fully understood though.

How to Use Kava Powder for Anxiety

In our humble opinion, the best way to use kava powder for anything is by making a traditional kava drink. Not only do you honor a centuries old tradition, but you get what is called a “full spectrum” extract of the kava root powder. What this means is that you get more of the natural plant compounds in your drink, rather than specific parts of it. Yes, Kavalactones have been shown to play a major role in helping with anxiety when it comes to kava. But, that’s not the only parts of the plant that we feel helps make kava as effective as it is.

Making a traditional kava drink is a simple process that involves mixing ground kava root with water. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a single serving of kava:

Ingredients:

* 2-3 ounces of kava root powder
* 8-12 ounces of water
* A strainer (such as cheesecloth, muslin, or a nylon strainer bag)
* A large bowl
* A blender (optional)

Instructions:

1. Measure out 2-3 ounces of kava root powder into a large bowl.
2. Pour 8-12 ounces of warm water (not hot) over the kava powder in the bowl.
3. Use your hands to knead the mixture for 5-10 minutes, until the water turns a cloudy brown color and the kava is fully extracted.
4. Optionally, you can use an electric blender and blend for 2-3 minutes to extract your powdered kava.
5. Strain the mixture through a strainer (such as cheesecloth or a muslin bag) into another bowl, making sure to squeeze as much liquid out of the kava as possible.
6. Discard the leftover kava solids.
7. The resulting liquid is your kava drink! – ENJOY!

The kava drink is traditionally consumed immediately and can be gulped (not sipped) straight or mixed with coconut milk or fruit juice to improve the taste as well as the absorption of the kavalactones.

It’s important to use the correct proportions of kava to water to ensure that you’re getting the right potency for your desired effects. A general guideline is to use 2-3 ounces of kava per 8-12 ounces of water for a single serving. However, the exact amount will depend on personal preference and the potency of the kava you’re using. It’s best to start with a lower amount and work your way up to your desired potency, as kava can have strong effects, especially for those who are new to using it.

Kava Powder vs Pharmaceutical Drugs

It’s impossible to have a discussion about kava and how effective it is for anxiety without discussing its relationship to pharmaceutical drugs. Since kava is a dietary supplement, it’s critical that I let you know that kava is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or cure any disease. I am unable to make any claims on the effectiveness of kava in relation to any disease. Luckily, stress and anxiety is not considered a disease, so we can discuss kava powder’s effectiveness for both of those conditions.

Anxiety is not considered a disease in the traditional sense. It’s not a specific, diagnosable condition. Rather, anxiety is a broad term that refers to a range of symptoms that include feelings of fear, worry, and unease. These feelings typically occur in response to real or perceived threats.

Anxiety can actually be a normal and healthy response to stress and can help to protect an individual from danger. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with daily activities, it can be diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are recognized as medical conditions by the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization. They are often treated with a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes.

However, the absence of a specific disease process or specific pathology means that anxiety is not classified as a disease in the traditional sense.

So, as we all know, when it comes to managing anxiety, there are many options available, including pharmaceutical drugs. While drugs such as benzodiazepines have proven to be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms, they may also cause adverse side effects such as drowsiness, memory impairment, and addiction.

Kava, on the other hand, has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety symptoms without causing adverse side effects.

Kava powder is ground root from a natural plant, making it very appealing for those who prefer to avoid synthetic substances.

Is Kava Right for Me?

I have seen multiple instances of friends, family, and employees find great anxiety-reducing benefits from kava. One of our employees fought their anxiety with our Kavalactone 30% Capsules. Another found the Kavalactone Tincture MAX to be extremely effective in the evening, to settle down from the day and reduce their feelings of restlessness. This allowed them to experience a level of sleep they had not been able to experience in a long, long time.

If you suffer from anxiety, kava powder may be an effective and natural alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. With its ability to increase the availability of GABA in the brain and regulate the activity of other neurotransmitters, kava can help to reduce anxiety symptoms and promote feelings of relaxation. However, it’s important to talk to your doctor before starting any new treatment, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions or are taking any medications.

Either way, we say “Give kava powder a try and see if it can help you say goodbye to anxiety!”

REFERENCES:

1. Sarris, J., Stough, C., Bousman, C. A., Pawaram, C., & Murray, G. (2011). Kava for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder: a systematic review. Phytotherapy Research, 25(12), 1751-1761.
2. Assini, J. M., & Shen, Y. (2013). Kava: a comprehensive review of efficacy, safety, and psychopharmacology. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 19(4), 204-211.
3. Bailey, J. R., Malcolm, R., Arnold, J. M., & Buenaver, L. F. (2015). Kava in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 35(3), 349-353.
4. Murali, D., & Roberts, M. S. (2007). Kava: a safety review. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 27(6), 674-679.
5. Pittler, M. H., & Ernst, E. (2003). Kava extract for treating anxiety. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2), CD003383.