Kava Root - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Kava root provides a soothing effect and aids in pain relief. The root can also be beneficial to your muscles and fight cancer. Kava's soothing properties are very helpful in reducing anxiety, restlessness, and other stress-related illnesses. This root also calms irritability- and stress-related muscle spasms, as well as other types of discomfort.

Historically, beverages with mild to moderate sedative effects have been brewed from the plant's root. Additionally, euphoria is reported to be induced by it. Some traditional societies consume kava in a similar fashion to how we do with alcoholic drinks.

What is kava root?

The herbal plant and crop known as kava or kava kava, or Piper methysticum (Latin for "pepper" and Latinized Greek for "intoxicating"), is native to the Pacific islands. Other names for kava include 'awa (Hawaii), ava (Samoa), yaqona (Fiji), sakau (Pohnpei), and malok or malogu. The word "kava" originates from Tongan and Marquesan cultures (parts of Vanuatu). 

A beverage with sedative, anaesthetic, and entheogenic qualities is made from the plant's roots. Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia, and several regions of Micronesia are among the Polynesian civilizations who regularly eat kava. Kavalactones are the name of its active components.

In Oceania, kava root has long been used both medicinally and as a celebratory drink. However, it's crucial to understand that there are a number of safety issues with kava root.

On the bright side, it has been hailed as a safe and effective natural cancer treatment that inhibits tumour growth and exhibits a wide range of chemopreventive potential. (1) On the other hand, there have been reports of liver damage and disease, as well as a few fatalities that may be connected to kava root consumption.

Health benefits of kava root:

Most frequently, kava root is used to treat insomnia and reduce anxiety, tension, and restlessness. The symptoms of ADHD, epilepsy, psychosis, depression, migraines and other headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, the common cold and other respiratory infections, tuberculosis, muscle soreness, and the prevention of cancer are also treated with it. Other applications for kava root include the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs), uterine pain and swelling, venereal illness, menstrual discomfort, and sexual desire.

The list goes on to include using kava root topically to treat skin conditions like leprosy, speed up the healing of wounds, relieve pain, and assist with eye-related health problems.

Additionally, it is employed as a mouthwash for toothaches and canker sores.

Kava tea:

The roots of the plant Piper methysticum are used to make kava tea. The Pacific Ocean islands are where this plant originally came from. It is Fiji's national beverage. In Fiji, it is customarily prepared by crushing the dried roots of the kava plant, combining it with water, filtering it, and then consuming the resulting concoction.

Benefits of kava tea:

Kava root tea provides a lot of advantages:

1. People who are prone to anxiety attacks can manage the negative consequences of the disorder with the use of kava tea.
2. It is also a fantastic way for people to relax after a long day at work, relieve tension, and have fun.
3. It is also well known for helping people fall asleep.
4. ·  Kava tea is well recognised for its anxiolytic effects, which means that it can relax a person's mind to the point where the individual will quickly feel the need to take a nap! This is the rationale behind why Kava tea is frequently utilised as an alternative treatment for persons with sleep issues in various parts of the world.