Kava Kava Time.

Hey all! So, I have done my research on Kava Kava root...and I can tell you right now that it absolutely works! I have been dreadfully sick with the common cold the past week. Although it's not necessarily something I would wish upon myself, at least I was able to try a few natural remedies. On day three of my cold I woke up with a horribly sore throat, and I immediately thought about trying Kava Kava. I went to the local drugstore (I live out in the country where the closest herbal store is an hour away) and purchased myself a container of Kava Kava "Liquid Capsules." It is recommended to take 1 capsule 3 times daily between meals. Personally, I only took one capsule a day with my meal at lunch. It took about only 3 hours for me to feel any change...but eventually my sore throat wasn't sore anymore! In two days the pain was completely gone, although I am still left with a hoarse voice that sounds quite scary in my opinion! The only negative effect I experienced was that it made me very drowsy due to the muscle relaxing components, and since I took the capsule at school in between classes, keeping my eyes open and driving home were a challenge. I would advise to only take Kava-Kava if you plan on being home or in the same place for a good amount of time.

A brief synopsis from WebMD of what Kava-Kava is:

"Kava is used to calm anxiety, stress, and restlessness, and treat sleep problems (insomnia). It is also used for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, psychosis, depression, migraines and other headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), common cold and other respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, muscle pain, and cancer prevention."

"Some people use kava for urinary tract infections (UTIs), pain and swelling of the uterus, venereal disease, menstrual discomfort, and to arouse sexual desire."
"Kava is applied to the skin for skin diseases including leprosy, to promote wound healing, and as a painkiller. It is also used as a mouthwash for canker sores and toothaches."
"Kava was named by the explorer Captain Cook, who chose a name that meant 'intoxicating pepper.' While Captain Cook may have named kava, he didn’t discover it. Kava has been used for thousands of years by Pacific Islanders. Today in the South Pacific, kava is a popular social drink, similar to alcohol in Western societies. It also still has a role in rituals and ceremonies."

How does it work?

"Kava affects the brain and other parts of the central nervous system. The kava-lactones in kava are believed to be responsible for its effects."

Although this treatment worked for me, please do your own research in to Kava Kava before trying it for yourself. Just a slight warning:

The US FDA advises that a potential risk of rare, but severe, liver injury may be associated with Kava-Kava. Do not use this treatment if you have, or have had liver problems. Please do not take Kava-Kava if you take any other medications without first consulting a doctor. Also, this treatment is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.

If you do try or have ever tried Kava-Kava, please comment on your experiences - I would love to hear them!