THIS IS NOT AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY KONA KAVA FARM.  WE DO NOT ENDORSE, AGREE/DISAGREE, OR PROVIDE ANY VERIFICATION OF ANY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN IT. THIS IS A INDIVIDUAL'S OPINION AND WE ARE SIMPLY RE-PRINTING IT HERE.

In 1997, the Kava Committee of the American Herbal Products Association (ARPA) commissioned a study on kava. The resulting report concluded that "Without medical supervision and advice, duration of kava use should be limited to a period of three months." The report does not suggest any rationale for this recommendation, which I find completely baseless for kava dosages.

I personally know many dozens of individuals who have consumed great quantities of kava daily for decades without harm. The Kava Committee report further urged kava manufacturers to voluntarily recommend a maximum daily dosage of 300 milligrams of kavalactones on their product labels. Yet there is no research of any kind to support such a diminutive and restrictive dosage recommendation.

A single shell of kava as served in Vanuatu can contain anywhere from 150 to 500 milligrams of kavalactones, depending on the variety used, the method of preparation, the ratio of kava root to water, and the volume of kava per shell. Kava drinkers there consume anywhere from 500 to 2,500 milligrams of kavalactones per day for years at a time without any apparent ill effects. This casts the Kava Committee recommendation in a highly questionable light.

Unfortunately, many kava products on the market today are absolute rubbish. You get what you pay for with kava, and I want to caution you against going for cheapo, ineffective products. Only an extract of kava will relieve stress and produce a tranquil effect. Tablets and capsules of "kava herb," "whole kava root," or other ground-up preparations of the plant are a waste of time and money.

Research into kava dosages and preparation methods suggests that the body cannot easily absorb kavalactones from plain kava root that has not gone through some kind of extraction process. When it comes to commercial kava products, other than buying the dried root and preparing it yourself, you should stick to kava extracts and not products that contain only plain root.

Look for kava extracts in tablets, capsules, or fluids that clearly state the concentration of kavalactones per dose. A single dose of kava extract in tablet or capsule form should deliver a minimum of 70 milligrams of kavalactones. Kava extracts in soft gelatin capsules will also contain oil or lecithin, both of which enhance the absorption and overall effects of the kava. A fluid extract should deliver 100 milligrams of kavalactones or more per milliliter. Avoid products that do not deliver at least these kava dosages, as you will most likely get no effect.

Look for a kava extract that is standardized, meaning the extract has been tested to ensure it contains a certain percentage of kavalactones by weight. For example, a 70% kavalactone extract should contain 70mg of kavalactones for every 100 mg of material. For most users, 70 to 210 mg of kavalactones is an effective dose, although new users may find they can start with smaller kava dosages and still obtain an effect. Conversely, kava is one of those herbs that sometimes exhibits reverse tolerance, meaning it may have to be taken a few times for some people to get a benefit from it.

Different forms of kava may also take longer to work: kava oral sprays and tinctures are usually absorbed most quickly, followed by powdered extracts and kava brews prepared the traditional way. Kava capsules and gelcaps tend to work more slowly because they must be broken down in the digestive tract. However, eating a small snack after taking kava is thought to speed up this process.

Excerpted from "Psyche Delicacies" (2001) by Chris Kilham.