College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)

Euphoric sedative and pain reliever. Relaxes muscles and reduces spasm. Anti-inflammatory. Urinary restorative. Astringent mucostatic. Hepatotoxic.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Sleep deep all night long with the help of Kava Kava Tincture. Wake refreshed each morning as insomnia fades into the past. The popularity of this traditional Polynesian sleep-aid is steadily growing.

Metabolic Nature of Kava Kava

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

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HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

OILY

ABOUT OILY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OILY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Aromatic

AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Downward

DOWNWARD

Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles.

SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Nerves

NERVES

Marrow tissue (Majja Dhatu) includes bone marrow and nervous tissue.

SEE ALL 'NERVES' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Kava Kava
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Numbs Anasthetic

STRONG NUMBS-ANASTHETIC

Inhibits sensation in a particular area.

SEE ALL 'NUMBS-ANASTHETIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

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Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

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Analgesic

STRONG ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Boosts Gaba

BOOSTS-GABA

GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid, reduces nerve excitability. It is the body's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Thus, it promotes relaxation, calm, and sleep.

SEE ALL 'BOOSTS-GABA' FOODS / HERBS

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Nervine

NERVINE

Balances the nervous system. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer's, and even chronic pain. Often they are aromatic in nature.

SEE ALL 'NERVINE' FOODS / HERBS

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Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Decongestant

DECONGESTANT

An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes.

SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

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Anticarcinogenic

ANTICARCINOGENIC

Herbs that inhibit or prevent the activity of a carcinogen or the development of cancer.

SEE ALL 'ANTICARCINOGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Urinary Tonic

URINARY-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the urinary system. These can be helpful for urinary incontinence or improving function after a urinary tract infection. They can also strengthen the bladder to ward off a urinary tract infection.

SEE ALL 'URINARY-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Antiandrogen

ANTIANDROGEN

Reduces androgen (testosterone), which can reduce excess growth, drive, and libido. Reduces skin oiliness. Helpful for prostate enlargement.

SEE ALL 'ANTIANDROGEN' FOODS / HERBS

Muscle Relaxant

MUSCLE-RELAXANT

Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma.

SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS

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Relieves Tension

RELIEVES-TENSION

An herb that releases tightness, constriction, and rigidity in a muscle.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-TENSION' FOODS / HERBS

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Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

SEE ALL 'ANTISPASMODIC' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Kava Kava

  • Chamomile

    Chamomile has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Nervine, Analgesic, Anxiolytic, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Anti-inflammatory, Boosts-gaba, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic

    LEARN MORE

  • Nutmeg

    Nutmeg has these Actions in Common

    Makes-you-tired, Nervine, Analgesic, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant, Sedative, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anxiolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Basil

    Basil has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Digestive, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Anxiolytic, Diuretic, Antiandrogen, Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Numbs-anasthetic, Analgesic, Decongestant, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Lavender

    Lavender has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Muscle-relaxant, Analgesic, Boosts-gaba, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Nigella (black cumin)

    Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

    Anticarcinogenic, Diuretic, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Poppy Seed

    Poppy Seed has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Muscle-relaxant, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Makes-you-tired, Relieves-tension

    LEARN MORE

  • Fennel Seeds

    Fennel Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Analgesic, Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant, Antiandrogen, Digestive, Nervine

    LEARN MORE

  • Cloves

    Cloves has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Digestive, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Numbs-anasthetic, Anxiolytic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE

  • Rosemary

    Rosemary has these Actions in Common

    Anticarcinogenic, Digestive, Nervine, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Decongestant, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Relieves-tension, Decongestant, Internal-detoxicant, Analgesic, Digestive, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Kava Kava

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Anticarcinogenic, Relieves-tension, Antispasmodic, Sedative, Anxiolytic, Urinary-tonic, Boosts-gaba, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Nervine, Anticarcinogenic, Relieves-tension, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Anti-inflammatory, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antispasmodic, Nervine, Anxiolytic, Sedative, Boosts-gaba, Decongestant, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Gokshura

    Gokshura has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Urinary-tonic, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Relieves-tension, Analgesic, Sedative

    LEARN MORE

  • Motherwort

    Motherwort has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Relieves-tension, Antiandrogen, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Analgesic, Nervine, Anti-inflammatory, Relieves-tension, Anticarcinogenic, Antispasmodic, Boosts-gaba, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Muscle-relaxant

    LEARN MORE

  • Hops

    Hops has these Actions in Common

    Digestive, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Nervine, Analgesic, Sedative, Anti-inflammatory, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • California Poppy

    California Poppy has these Actions in Common

    Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Relieves-tension, Sedative, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba

    LEARN MORE

  • Black Cohosh

    Black Cohosh has these Actions in Common

    Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nervine, Analgesic, Sedative, Anti-inflammatory, Anticarcinogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Valerian

    Valerian has these Actions in Common

    Nervine, Sedative, Analgesic, Antispasmodic, Anxiolytic, Boosts-gaba, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

1 dropper full 2x/day or as directed by your practitioner.
See guidelines for tinctures?

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Kava Kava may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Kava Kava may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Kava Kava. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’

Reviews for Kava Kava

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Sabrina Clearwater, FL
2017-03-15
“From an ayurvedic perspective, would this be a safe herb to use while nursing? Safe, defined as, not drying up milk supply, or getting into milk supply and making the child too drowsy? I imagine it could be fine, since it relaxes, and one needs to be somewhat relaxed to have a letdown."
Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ
2017-03-15
“I'm not sure whether it is safe to take while breastfeeding. Kava kava is not an Ayurvedic herb, so there isn't really an Ayurvedic perspective on it. I suggest talking to your doctor about it."
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