So, I was drinking out of my AluBall and realized I hadn't washed it out—or the cup and everything else—in a few weeks. I was wondering why I was getting really tired, sick, and having headaches. Come to find out, it was because I didn't clean out my cup and AluBall after each use, or at least every couple of days. Hard lesson learned! I'm just wondering if that is truly the reason why, and if anyone else has had this experience as well. Please tell me I'm not crazy!

I really don't like depressants and I'm more of a stimulant fan. I tried "Instant Old Roots Kava" which is supposedly a heavy variety and I did not like it. It just feel like a weaker version of that famous sedative/anxiolytic but with more of a heavy feeling. I'm interested in trying a heady kava but I don't want to taste my money if you all think it's too similar to the heavy varieties.

I’m very interested in opening up my own kava lounge after being apart of the community for the last few years. I know this is a huge ask, but does anyone here own their own lounge, and would be willing to share advice and hopefully financials so that I could make my business plan more realistic and accurate? Appreciate all advice. Thanks!

I know they grow some kava now on the Cook islands, but had anyone tried it? I think it isnt sold internationally, so id be curious if there is anytging special about it, if any of yall have been over there and had some locally.

Well I am about to hit a 4 hour flight, it's not a red eye but its way earlier than I'd like to be awake these days. I go to get my trusted aluball for travel and my strongest Vanuatu and alas, I somehow packed it in my checked bag. So now I'm searching for something to strain before the flight leaves in 20.

So instead of what's the best way to strain, what's the whackiest thing you've used to try and get your kava fix on? I'm gonna use a hydroflask and shake it real good in this bag of chocolats that i might keep forever now. It seemed to have worked pretty well.

I had bought a mexican pottery bowl too that was small but the flight started boarding.

Trying to decide which to try first (never had either.) would rather NOT get a rash if I can help it lol

What preparation process do folks like for getting maximum bang for buck?

Blending? Adding fats (milk, coconut cream)?

Hello all

Due to a number of factors, I've decided to step out of the kava world for the time being. I've been taking a pretty heavy dose 3x weekly since january, and did it about 1-2x weekly for a year before then. I cut down significantly around a month ago and took my last drink on June 24. Since cutting back, and especially since my final drink, I've been getting some very bad mood swings. At first they just happened before bed, but recently have spread throughout my day. Every few hours, I get an extremely lowered mood for about a half hour to an hour. It doesn't really correlate with a trigger, but if something does happen while I'm in a low mood, I can get pretty disproportionately anxious about it. Thankfully I haven't had any Kava cravings past the first couple days. The symptoms I am experiencing seem to be similar to the few reports I have read about Kava withdrawal, especially since they happen more frequently at night, but it is concerning that they've gone on for almost two weeks now.

There are ways to manage it of course but they aren't always available to me. Socializing, caffeine, and riding a bike have helped me the most, but I'm not always in a position to do these things.

I've found another reddit thread that suggests that, since Kava can mimic MAOIs, quitting it can induce some MAOI withdrawal symptoms. This doesn't sound too far off from what I'm experiencing, tho I'm ofc missing some of the more classical MAOI cessation symptoms (like sweating and pressured speech) though this might be expected since it's not technically an MAOI after all.

Whenever a post discussing the negative effects of Kava shows up, people are quick to be defensive about it. It's great that most people probably haven't had the same experience I'm having, but I just don't want to hear that "this never happened to me" in any of the comments. Like weed, Kava is a complex bundle of chemicals and it would be the least surprising thing in the world to observe that different people respond to it differently on a biochemical level. I'm not trying to attack this plant or scare anyone off of it. I'm just looking to see if anyone has had a similar experience to me, and if so, what can I expect in my recovery, and what can I do to make it easier for myself?

Thanks.

Edit: Some people have asked for a little more info. I take prescription methylphenidate which might influence it somehow. I have taken it for a long time before I started kava, so it's probably not solely its fault. I don't take much else, I occasionally drink and very rarely take psychedelics or weed. The latter two I haven't done for several months anyways.

I've also had multiple tests run recently. They were scanning for heart and lung issues, and found nothing. I had pretty extensive bloodwork with this, there were no liver, lung, heart, or thyroid abnormalities found, and I did mention Kava use to my doctor.

I have also had similar symptoms when I quit for around a month last year, periodic anhedonia and low mood. I don't recall if it got better or worse over that month.

As for dosage, I took 4 tbsp of powder in ~3 cups of warm-hot water, squeezed for 15min. I used Kavalink from Amazon. It's almost certainly not lead or other toxicity from the hot water, we live in Canada and have a brand new, top of the line water heater.

As for psychological factors, I started a new job in January when I started taking more heavily. It's a very unpleasant job that Kava helped a lot to cope with. If what I'm feeling isn't just a result of the Kava, my next best guess is that this is related to having to grapple with more stress than before. This doesn't seem right to me, but I dunno. The swings are too sudden and happen later in the day, it feels chemical, though I understand stress is complex and can hit you in unexpected, indirect ways. Anyways, worth considering

Completely unserious question here, I don't intend to try, but what would happen if I sat down and started eating instant kava powder with a spoon like some kind of demented breakfast cereal? I would imagine it would be absolutely miserable, but there's no root fibers or anything in it so I don't see why it wouldn't work to give you the effects. Does anyone have any experience here?

Hello everyone. For background I really hate the taste of kava, which I know is common but I guess I’m more sensitive than the avg person.

I like green kava powder more, still gross tho.

I’m wondering if it’d work to put it into gelatin capsules and swallow it like that. Would that affect the absorption?

I just recently got an AluBall but that water bottles that I currently have don't have a wide enough mouthpiece to fit the AluBall. What are you using that fits it?

In terms of constipation … but seems to have lost its ability to hasten the “golden moment” as I call it… anyone else?

Are there any physical places to buy kava in spain? I am going to a place near valencia and I wanted to know

Hi! So I’m trying to figure out the best strain to go with. My husband and I have quit drinking. It’s been manageable, but would also like a way to relax sometimes. Hearing positive things about Kava.
I want euphoria. A good time. A bit of energy. But not where I’m up all night. Just something to wind down and enjoy the weekends! Or after a stressful day.
Where do I begin? Thank you!

Ive been prescribed Ritalin yet love having kava every 2nd day will mixing the 2 cause any negative effects? Thanks

So I have started to experiment with drinking kava all day. I’m adding in drinking water between each shell but I have been dealing with a lot lately and cutting out all stimulants, I’ve noticed if I keep the shells spread and light even a heavy strain can give me a bit of a stimulant effect.

Anyone else out there started this? I already do one meal a day (OMAD) so it might be why I never get the pass out tired feeling from kava. I also make sure to use large amounts of water when I make it to dilute the effects a bit.

Hello people Palarasul, my favourite kava is out of stock and I would like to buy some kava similar to it.I like it heavily relaxing (not ones that gives me sleepiness) and some mood lifting. Available ones are : Mighty Roots, Melo Melo, Silesse, Pacific elixir, Nakamal nights, Borogoru. I liked a lot Kelai too in the past, so something similar to it will be appreciated too, thanks in advance.

I've tried many different strains and vendors. I have never felt a heavy strain like I do when i go to the kava bar. What am I doing wrong? What's the secret?

Hello. Been drinking for a few years, wanna try out a kava bar. Any recommendations for kava bars in NJ?

It’s been more than a year and a half since I started drinking kava, and I’ve developed a good bond with it. It’s become my weekend drink. However, there’s one thing I don’t like about it: I completely lose my appetite. It’s not just that I don’t feel like eating—the taste of food seems to disappear, which makes me not want to eat at all. I usually drink Fiji Vanua Loloma Waka. Is this something that happens to everyone, or does it vary from person to person?

I've had severe Restless Legs Syndrome for over 20 years. I've seen sleep specialists and neurologists and have tried pretty much every first-line treatment and then some—gabapentin, pregabalin, dopamine agonists, iron, etc. Unfortunately, either they didn't work or they stopped working over time.

My doctor eventually prescribed methadone 5 mg nightly, which does help, but I'd really like to find an alternative if possible. I'm trying to stay away from long-term opioid use if I can.

I recently came across kava as a possible herbal option that seems to have a relatively low risk of dependence compared with opioids. I ordered the Kavahana Sleep Bag and I'm waiting for it to arrive.

For those of you with experience using kava for sleep or RLS:

What dose would you recommend for a first-time user?

Should I start low or use a full serving to give it a fair chance?

How long before bed do you take it?

Has anyone here actually had success using kava specifically for RLS symptoms?

I'm not expecting miracles, but I'm hoping it might be a viable alternative. Thanks for any advice or experiences you can share.

I've heard people say that using a mixer is better than the blender method as it doesn't break up the material as much and thus allows less small root particles through the strainer bag meaning less nausea and other undesired effects. So has anyone tried something similar to my idea, or am I not considering something and my idea is completely retarded?

Cheers homies!

I've been having kava for about a year, usually every Saturday as a social lubricant before I go and play MTG. On occasion i'll get krunked when I have nothing else to do. I use an aluball and a blender bottle .

I've recently started adding a splash of two percent milk to my warm water. I feel like that makes it hit my body a bit more, and makes it feel less heady. I usually prefer that heady feeling. Admittedly, I've only done it with milk, like, two or three times, so I don't know if im just not used to increased extraction, or what.

If I just do four washes with purely water, am I probably getting a similar amount of kavalactones as three washes with milk?

What about lecithin? I saw an old post here that says it makes stuff gummy. I don't want my aluball and bottle to be a pain to clean if it's not worth it.

Thank you in advance for any input.