Kava is becoming increasingly well-known in North America and around the world. This earthy beverage has been used in religious and cultural ceremonies for centuries in the Pacific islands. In fact, kava’s effects have been linked to a variety of health benefits, like reducing anxiety and helping with sleep.
Feeling relaxed, focused, and social
The best-known effect of kava is its feeling of relaxation and calm. It works on special chemical messengers in your brain that promote down-regulation of brain activity, leading to these effects. It has similar effects as alcohol but doesn’t have the negative side effects of a hangover.
Recent research has found it to be a promising way to treat anxiety and help with sleep. This is exciting news as some of the studies have shown that kava may be more effective than anti-anxiety medications.
Numb, fuzzy tongue
When you drink kava for the first time, you’ll probably get a fuzzy, tingling feeling in your mouth and on your tongue. You might even feel a little numb in your mouth. While this can feel very strange and a bit alarming, it is completely normal! Kava’s effects come from the different kavalactones in the kava root. Kavalactones are kava’s active ingredients and have different effects on your nervous system. This ranges from the calming and relaxing kava it is known for to an anesthetic or numbing effect that you feel in your mouth.
In fact, some cultures have used kava as a topical numbing agent for injuries and teething babies.
How long does it take for kava’s effects to kick in
The time it takes for the kava’s effects to kick in varies per person. The key factors are things like the strength of the kava, how much you drink, and if you are new to kava or more experienced. Generally, you’ll start to feel a calm and relaxing effect in 15-20 minutes. The feeling continues to build until about 2 hours, when you’ll experience the peak effect of mild euphoria, increased talkativeness, muscle relaxation, and sedation, depending on the type you are using. Typically, you feel kava in your mind first to respond due to the kavalactones’ impact on the brain, and then your body responds.
How long do kava’s effects last?
Similar to the time of effect, the length of the effect is also individual. If you drink high-quality kava, the effects can last anywhere from 1-6 hours. The effects of kava are like a bell curve. They start off slowly, build up to the peak, and then slowly wear off. This also demonstrates the brain effect, which is how GABA is increased gradually in your brain over time, as the kavalactones are processed through your body and your brain rebalances to normal levels.
