Kava Kava is known for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety used first by the Polynesians. It calms the body and the mind. When used appropriately, it acts as an antispasmodic and de-stress a person while clarity of thought and alertness is not compromised. It can also relax the uterus and reduce menstrual cramps. The calming effect of the drink can be felt immediately. It also reduces one's appetite hence can be used by those who want to shed weight but can't stop over- eating.
Kava tea is made from Kava root powder, which is dried and then ground into fine powder. Normal usage is one tablespoon of powder per cup but sometimes, even half a cup of powder is added to one cup of water to increase the potency. This powder is allowed to stay in the water for 30 minutes so that all the fibers in the powder get soaked. To emulsify the kavalactone with water, lecithin is added. The whole mixture is then blended and then strained through a cloth which can be nylon, silk or cheese cloth. The cloth with the fiber residue is then squeezed to get out the last of the extract.
Kava tea is anti-inflammatory and is used in gout, to relieve bronchial congestion, rheumatism, and prostates. This tea can be used quite effectively to relieve pain and also to treat Gonorrhea. It has a lot of health benefits but is not as popular as it should be because of its bitter taste. It is mostly taken by health conscious people and not as a drink that people enjoy having. This drink is not appealing with respect to appearance or taste. Some have described the taste as bitter and peppery. Once a person has this tea, one will be overcome with sleep within an hour. The sleep will be deep and very relaxing.
Active ingredient of Kava, Kavalactone, which has psychoactive property, gets destroyed at 140 degrees F. Tea usually gets steeped at 180 degrees and hence a lot of the active ingredient is lost. Another way to have it warm is by heating it to 120 degrees so that the content is not lost and you get your tea warm. If you are allergic to black pepper or any of the pepper family, there's a good chance you will be allergic to kava tea.
It is safer to get the root and powder it yourself so you know exactly what the powder contains. The peeling from the stem, if used in the tea, can lead to liver damage. This tea is meant to be enjoyed cold and not hot in order to preserve the main component with health benefits. Even though this gives a lot of relaxation and gets rid of depression, it is not at all addictive and that is what makes this tea special. This tea can also get rid of insomnia and unlike all other teas that prevent you from sleeping; this tea puts you to sleep.
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Kava Kava is known for its ability to reduce stress and anxiety used first by the Polynesians. It calms the body and the mind. When used appropriately, it acts as an antispasmodic and de-stress a person while clarity of thought and alertness is not compromised. It can also relax the uterus and reduce menstrual cramps. The calming effect of the drink can be felt immediately. It also reduces one's appetite hence can be used by those who want to shed weight but can't stop over- eating.
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