KAVA FOR HEALTH
Kava Kava or just kava is
the herb of choice to relax the body and relieve, stress, anxiety, insomnia,
tension, PMS, headache, back pain and panic attacks. Kava has been used for
three thousand years by the people of the South Pacific for ceremonial,
social and medicinal purposes. Kava is now recognized by many doctors as an
alternative to drugs like Xanax and Valium.
History and uses
Kava root has been used
by Pacific islanders for three thousand years as a relaxing and stress
relieving drink. Kava drink prepared with cold water and kava powder ,
relieves stress, relaxes the body and imparts a feeling of well being. Use
before bedtime to promotes restful sleep. Kava is also a great socializing
drink. Try Kava instead of your evening alcoholic beverage, you'll be amazed
at the results. Unlike most herbs you don't wonder if it's working. Almost
immediately one feels a slight numbing in the mouth followed by a feeling of
relaxation and stress reduction. These benefits occur without intoxication or
hang over. Introduction to a book by
Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D. THE MIRACLE ANTIANXIETY HERB RAY SAHELIAN,
M.D. Publisher: St. Martin's
Press, N.Y., N.Y. (From the paperback) INTRODUCTION
Pacific islander have
relished kava's wonderful calming qualities for centuries. Over the past
years, kava has become very popular in the alternative health field. Studies
during the last decade have repeatedly shown this herb to be effective in
reducing anxiety, and in 1990 the Federal Board of Health in Germany approve
kava for the treatment of anxiety disorders. I believe that kava is poised to
become as well-known as the herbs St. John's wort and ginkgo biloba. In order to gather the
information in this book, I reviewed decades of research on kava, interviewed
academic experts and users, and treated patients with this herb. I am glad to
be sharing my findings about this wonderful herb that both relaxes and
improves mood. The response of the
patients I recommended kava to was very positive. It's certainly not as
powerful as certain pharmaceutical drugs, such as Valium and Xanax, but it
doesn't have some of their side effects, such as sedation and mental slowing,
either. Most patients with mild to moderate cases of anxiety respond well to
the relaxing effects of this herb. Kava is bound eventually to become a solid
part of the armamentarium doctors use to combat anxiety disorders. I have used kava about
once or twice a week for the past year. I believe it's important for anyone
who writes about a particular supplement to try it himself or herself. I
enjoy the state of relaxation and well-being that kava brings on, especially
since it does not interfere with mental clarity. I find it a good way to help
me relax after a particularly stressful day. I also like taking kava
occasionally when attending a social event, since it enhances feelings of
affability. In addition to kava,
there are a number of herbs that have been touted in traditional herbal
folklore as having relaxing properties. These include chamomile, hops,
passionflower, skullcap and valerian. This book includes a critical
evaluation of and the latest research on these interesting herbs. Stress Management
We have long known that
stress is a bad thing, though we were not sure how bad. We also realize that
living without some stress is impossible for most of us. We all know that
stress causes headaches and irritability. Now comes news of a study by
researchers at Duke University that found that relaxation and managing
emotional and psychological stress can profoundly reduce the risk of coronary
artery disease. The study found that
patients who learned to manage stress reduced their risk of having another
heart attack or heart problems by 74 percent when compared with those
receiving medication alone. Reducing mental stress proved more beneficial
than getting exercise. Although it has long been
suspected that "type A" individuals and those suffering from
chronic depression were more susceptible to heart problems, this is the first
hard evidence that reducing stress reduces heart disease. But how does one reduce
stress on its own. Try to get your physician to prescribe medication for
stress reduction, it won't happen, besides who wants to be dependent on
medication for something that's with us in our everyday lives. Strenuous
daily exercise would probably help if one has the time. One possible answer
is the regular use of herbal substances known to relax and reduce stress. One such herb is Kava
Kava root grown and used by the people of the South Pacific for over 3000
years. Powdered Kava root prepared as a beverage with water will almost
immediately reduce stress, relax the body and impart a feeling of well being.
these benefits occur without intoxication or hangover. Many user have found
that Kava beverages can be substituted for their evening alcoholic beverage
and they no longer feel the need for the alcohol. The kavalactones which are
the psychoactive ingredients in Kava, have been shown to be non-addictive. |