Thread: Kava a lucidity enhancer?

I haven't even heard of Kava, would you mind telling us a bit more about it?

FDA says Kava is hard on the liver so be careful.
http://www.erowid.org/plants/kava/kava_health3.shtml

Here is a list of peoples experiences with Kava.

http://www.erowid.org/experiences/subs/exp_Kava.shtml

Originally posted by carlhungis
FDA says Kava is hard on the liver so be careful.
http://www.erowid.org/plants/kava/kava_health3.shtml

The instances in which Kava hurt the liver were when the people that were using it were either on other narcotic substances or had prepared the tea with the leaves, which are very toxic. If prepared with the root, in the proper manner, it is far less dangerous than alcohol.


For Odds, Kava is a plant that is used in various regions as a euphoriant, and in some instances, an alternative to alcohol. It has also been said to be a relaxant, and help people that have insomnia. The tea itself is nasty, but if you drink it, most feel giddy or lightheaded. Kava does not mess with your coordination and such unless it is taken in really large amounts.

I read through the experiences and it seems like it is more of a sleep aid / relaxation type herb. It doesn't seem to help too much with lucidity unless taken in obscene amounts. It sounds like it is worth looking into just for it's relaxation purposes.

Post your results if you try it out.

Oh, and it also sounds like you need to be careful about where you get it. Pharmacy and local shops sound like they have low grade Kava. Sounds like you really want Hawaiian kava.

Originally posted by carlhungis

Oh, and it also sounds like you need to be careful about where you get it. Pharmacy and local shops sound like they have low grade Kava. Sounds like you really want Hawaiian kava.

Actually, that is very true. The bottled kind is not only totally ineffective, but it can also be harmful; those types of places do things like mix the usable parts of plants with the toxic parts. Actually, I got lucid the first time I tried it, and had very vivid dreams the second time.

I was thinking about trying Kava before I got into Calea Z. The only thing that turned me away from it was the liver warning, that I've heard a few times. Might be worth snooping around to find some of the good stuff. I'm enjoying the Calea, though, so I'm in no rush.

I like Calea, too.....I have experimented with it quite a bit.

I have been using Now brand bottled kava (250mg 30% kavalactones). It definatly relaxes and frees the mind of stress. I took 4 of them right before bed and had a very vivid, sexy dream , a level of vividness I've never expierenced before. I only take the kava once a week. The local natural foods store also has liquid extract, if that's anymore potent I might try that. I am almost certain Kava's effect on dreams is entirely placebo, but it does relax and clear the mind for sleep.

Originally posted by Indago
I have been using Now brand bottled kava (250mg 30% kavalactones). It definatly relaxes and frees the mind of stress. I took 4 of them right before bed and had a very vivid, sexy dream , a level of vividness I've never expierenced before. I only take the kava once a week. The local natural foods store also has liquid extract, if that's anymore potent I might try that. I am almost certain Kava's effect on dreams is entirely placebo, but it does relax and clear the mind for sleep.

I think that perhaps it has an effect on dreams because it relaxes you so much.

I accuatly tried kava for the first time last night along with some valerian, b6, and melatonin and all im going to say is wow. I had absolutely no dream recall until I thought about it for about 15 minutes in my bed, I remember one part of a dream and it was a total of about 5 seconds before I woke up from it.

And OMG, the dream was by far the most realistic looking dream I have ever had, I accuatly attained lucidity somehow and I was thinking this is the best dream I have ever seen, I was on the ground moving around the rocks and I was looking around but then I got so excited when I thought of the word "lucid dream" becuase then my brain was filled with so much info that it woke me up. I just wish I could recall some more info of the dream but I cant, only about 5 seconds

Last night I tried 1 250mg kava and 200mg time-release B-6 about 1.5 hours before sleep. I remembered three dreams, all of which were in first person, I could see clearly, think, and talk to dream characters. The Kava&B6 combo seems to really help my clarity. I will see for sure in the near future.