Traditionally grown and used in ceremonies among the indigenous peoples of the South Pacific, kava use has grown in popularity in the West, because of the effects it has in naturally reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.
Also known as ‘nature’s Xanax’, those who drink kava regularly find that it helps us to completely relax, and sometimes even produces feelings of euphoria — without any addictive medications involved.
So after you’ve made your first batch, you might be wondering how long does it take for kava to kick in? Usually, you’ll feel a numb mouth within a couple of minutes, and the calm peace will start to flow in about 15-30 minutes.
In this article, I’ll go over the timing of when kava starts to work, and what to expect.
How Long Does It Take For Kava To Kick In?
Assuming you’ve chosen a good kava, and made it properly, you’ll feel the effects pretty quickly. Shortly after drinking a shell (or cup) of kava, you will start to feel a numb tongue and mouth. Sometimes it even happens while you’re drinking the kava!
This is the first sign your kava is working as intended.
Once that starts to occur, you’re on your way. About 15-30 minutes after the mouth-numbing, you’ll start to feel the relaxation sensations flowing through your body, calming the muscles and easing the mind.
Kava is absorbed in your system really fast, so you will start to feel its effect almost immediately, or at least within the first half hour. The significant calming sensations will last for an hour to two hours, depending on how much you’re drinking, and the process you used to make the kava.
After a couple of hours, the most intense sensations subside. But since kava stays in the body for up to 24 hours after its consumed, the effects can continue for longer. This is why it helps so many insomniacs to sleep, and why it is advised that you don’t drive or use heavy machinery when you’ve taken it.
About 15-30 minutes after the mouth-numbing, you’ll start to feel the relaxation sensations flowing through your body, calming the muscles and easing the mind.
Kava 101
The beverage generally known as kava is made from the roots of a plant from the pepper family, Piper Methysticum, which is native to the South Pacific Islands. Traditionally, the roots were chewed and spat out by the children to produce the drink, then later drunken by the elders.
Yep.
These days it’s more likely that you will find kava root powder available, and you simply mix this with water and kneed the mixture, or shake it to release the kavalactones.
It is then filtered and consumed.
Kava works as a depressant, which means that it slows down the nerve signals that travel between your body and your brain. This is why many people drink it, because it forces them to relax, and thus can immediately eliminate feelings of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. As mentioned above, it’s known as “nature’s Xanax” and but is non-addictive and less harmful.
It also works well for those who suffer from insomnia.
No wonder this magical herbal beverage has become so popular over the past couple of years, considering the times we’re living in.
And along with these feelings of deep relaxation, many people also find that kava helps them to focus, as well as improve their visual and cognitive function. This is why some people also drink kava to support them in their creative processes for increasing inspiration, while many introverts like using kava because it helps them to become more talkative and engaging.
You may have heard the stories that kava is dangerous, but this isn’t the case. It has been reported that some people may experience nausea, extremely dry skin, loss of appetite, and liver damage from drinking kava.
However, in all of these cases, the wrong parts of the plant were consumed and were consumed in alcohol extracts. This is why it’s best to stick to the traditional style powders and tea extraction.
How Much Kava Should You Take?
The recommended dosage is generally 10-15g (2.5-2.5 tsp) of instant powder to be mixed with warm water, or about 35g (7 tsp) of traditional kava, which you’ll need to strain because it will have bits of root left over that don’t mix with water.
Most people drink about half a cup in a couple of chugs instead of sipping, because of the unpleasant taste.
Your Body Plays A Factor In This
Of course, everyone is different, so this is just a general assumption on how kava will affect you. In general, it will depend on how much kava you actually drink whether you have just a light relaxing experience, like having a beer, or a full-on euphoric buzz something like eating a marijuana edible (without the scrambled head).
It also depends on the quality of the kava, how fast you drink it, how empty your stomach is when you drink it, and whether or not you’re alone or with friends. All of these, and more, can impact the way the kava comes on.
Therefore, some trial and error are needed to find your optimum dosage (while staying within the confines of the recommended dosage, of course!).
Also, to get the maximum effects possible, you should drink kava on an empty stomach, which means no food at least three hours beforehand.
The Type Of Kava You Consume
Kava, being a herbal root, isn’t the easiest to drink. It tastes like muddy dishwater. Most people hate the taste, regardless of how much they enjoy the effects. It’s the price you pay.
Kava, being a herbal root, isn’t the easiest to drink. It tastes like muddy dishwater. Most people hate the taste, regardless of how much they enjoy the effects. It’s the price you pay.
However, there are some things you can do to help make the experience of imbibing this bitter drink much better. Click here to read our article, How To Make Kava Taste Better, for some tips.
Also, you want to make sure that the kava powder you choose is made from 100% noble kava root, in order to get the effect that you’re after. That’s because many inferior products also powder down the vines and leave to make it cheaper, but your experience won’t be the same.
Therefore, the best advice we can give you is to avoid brands where the price may seem too good to be true. See Best Kava on Amazon for some solid recommendations.
