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  • C

    Chris HobbsSep 3, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    If kava is addictive, it is at the same level that chocolate is addictive. Chocolate has pleasantly stimulating and mild euphoric effects, and kava has relaxing effects and mildly euphoric effects. However, the mild euphoric effects which sometimes (but not always) happen when one drinks good kava lasts about 30 minutes. After that one feels relaxed and calm. Kava also has other medicinal effects, and can benefit the urinary tract for instance, or for some lead to sounder and more refreshing sleep. Sometimes it can stimulate more vivid dreaming, which is usually pleasant.
    There is no doubt that kava can be abused, just as chocolate can. In my extensive experience with kava, it is good to take it several times a week, and not daily for extended periods. Would you eat a chocolate bar daily for months? I suppose some do :<), however this is not particularly healthy because of the mild psychogenic effects and stimulant effects. 1/4 or a bar daily would be better for most people if they wanted to use it daily.
    As for the cultural uses, yes, one thinks about trivializing ritual and natural substances that are cultural treasures to the Pacific Islanders. However, if they are willing to share the healing experience and potential health benefits of kava to a wider audience, that's good.
    Think of the many cultural treasures that have gone viral worldwide–ginseng, hot peppers, coffee, yerba mate, cannabis, and many more examples I could name. This is the nature of humans — they often like to share! It's usually corporate business that wants to get control of something so good as kava. We will watch and see what happens with cannabis. Corporate trucks deliver edibles door to door with the latest technology. Amazon delivers by drones at midnight, and then an hour later satisfies the munchies with another drone run with chocolate!

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  • P

    Phillip KimDec 8, 2014 at 6:53 pm

    This article seems very one-sided. It’s missing an important bit of background information about at least one of the people quoted. There is no mention that the Mormon church (aka the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints) forbids the use of tobacco, alcohol, and even coffee and tea. This context would help the reader consider the opinion of a LDS leader on kava.

    Another person quoted spent time at Brigham Young University, which is a Mormon school and has an almost all Mormon student body. Even if this person isn’t Mormon, Brigham Young’s Honor Code forbids the use of tobacco, alcohol, coffee, and tea by its students.

    I’ve tried Kava several times before at Root of Happiness. I’d describe the effects as bringing on a mild calming/relaxing feeling. It’s not bad. I’m not expert on the matter, but it doesn’t seem addictive.

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  • J

    Jennifer PalamoOct 27, 2014 at 3:21 pm

    Being Tongan, I can tell you that Kava is a central part of Island culture. This article seems to lean pretty far towards the Mormon LDS church’s point of view on Kava and doesn’t seem to represent how us Islanders feel about having a central part of our culture outside of Hula and surfing, recognized in mainstream popular culture. The idea that kava is used in the manner that you are describing, to loosen us women up, is insulting to island cultures everywhere. The idea that kava breaks up families is also insulting. Kava brings unity, peace, and strengthens family ties. It is also used to resolve longstanding arguments. It would be nice to interview some of us Islanders who are not affiliated or brainwashed by the mormon church and let the vast majority opinion be expressed.

    If a piece like this was written in the islands, the author would be forced off the island!

    Also, just for your information, ‘Palangi’ is not a very nice word for you white people and likely shouldn’t show up in a school newspaper as it can be used in an offensive manner the same way Hawiians use Haole to describe whites.

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Kava: someone’s relaxation destination