Posted by Ame Sans Vie on June 26, 2003, at 8:46:23
After reading about the libid solubility of the six main psychoactive kavalactones in kava kava, I decided to experiement with powdering the root and leaving two tablespoons of it to extract into 8oz of whole milk, which I left in the refrigerator for 12 hours. I then filtered out the powder using a plain old coffee filter and was left with just the kavalactone-infused milk. I took a sip, and finding it to have a hint of that ever-present somewhat unpleasant taste of kava, I decided to add some honey, which produced the *best tasting drink I've ever had in my life*, period. Today I'm going to try this preparation substituting blended in bananas and strawberries for the honey to make a type of kava milkshake.
I drank the concoction after a one-day hiatus from my clonazepam. The effects were wonderful, quite benzodiazepine-like, and completely rid me of my social anxiety and agoraphobia for about four hours, yet it was in no way incapacitating like the benzos can be for some. The powerful muscle-relaxant effects were *wonderful* for my fibromyalgia, though.
I've tried kava in the past in many different forms (standardized capsules from GNC, 30% kavalactone standardized extracts, and even that disgusting drink where you leave the kava in the drink itself--yuck!!) and it has NEVER worked for me. The drinks I've made in the past with the raw root material still present in the drink were made using the exact same kava root (obtained from Basic Foods) that I used during this infusion process. Yet this kava milk was absolutely brilliant--I would even describe the taste as *indulgent*, of all things!!! lmao
I know it shouldn't be taken on a regular basis, or at least for more than a few weeks at a time, but it makes a wonderful benzodiazepine substitute (or perhaps synergistic additive) for those times you require a little boost.
My recommendation--visit your local health food store (or if you don't have one, purchase the root online--you'll probably find higher-grade waka kava root there anyway), purhase the whole root, and powder it in a *very* powerful coffee grinder, food processor or blender to use.
Hope this helps someone--cheers! :-)
poster:Ame Sans Vie
thread:237190
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030624/msgs/237190.html