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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnB on May 18, 2000, at 3:20:58
I've taken Kava a few times and it seemed to improve sociability as well as well as a mild relaxation.
Anyone else get these effects or have experiences they can share? Also someone on a previous post said it blocks seratonin. True?
Posted by FP on May 18, 2000, at 15:07:55
In reply to Kava for sociability, posted by JohnB on May 18, 2000, at 3:20:58
> I've taken Kava a few times and it seemed to improve sociability as well as well as a mild relaxation.
Sure. In the South Seas the sociability aspect of it is one of the main parts of the Kava drinking
> Anyone else get these effects or have experiences they can share? Also someone on a previous post said it blocks seratonin. True?
I think I may have started the Kava/Serotonin depletion thing. I was relaying information given me by my pDoc - YMMV.
So Kava - enjoy its quality in moderation - esp. if already on SSRIs. (Have you ever felt REALLY tired the day after a Kava party, BTW?). And yes, used once in awhile, it has been fun for me - Mrs FP (Who now registered herself as "Mother to an angel") loves it too.
Hope this helps.
FP
Posted by Tim on May 20, 2000, at 9:57:13
In reply to Re: Kava for sociability, posted by FP on May 18, 2000, at 15:07:55
Can you combine Kava with SSRI's, specifically Paxil?
Tim
Posted by FP on May 21, 2000, at 2:00:09
In reply to Re: Kava for sociability, posted by Tim on May 20, 2000, at 9:57:13
> Can you combine Kava with SSRI's, specifically Paxil?
No. You'll stare at the sun until your eyes melt, just like two of my friends did. Really.
But seriously, I can't tell you to ignore an Official Warning on a box of herbal supplements!
On the other hand, you COULD try www.lycaeum.org for more articles, bibliography, etc. (Including a description of what Kava addicts look and act like) Or asking your pDoc. I can say my personal experiences mixing the two have been OK, except for the one time I "OD'D"; I just can't give another person a straight "yes" or "no" on how it might affect THEM.
But if I were going to socialize with a bunch of folks and wanted to relax, and didn't want to drink alcohol, I, personally, would take some Kava. All the while screaming "YMMV!"
Yeah, this is a wussy answer. Maybe I'm just gun shy - it was only a couple of years ago I thought opium was better than any prescription anti-depressant. Anyhow, please post your experiences, if you have any.
FP
Posted by grannybabble on May 22, 2000, at 14:25:52
In reply to Kava for sociability, posted by JohnB on May 18, 2000, at 3:20:58
> I've taken Kava a few times and it seemed to improve sociability as well as well as a mild relaxation.
>
> Anyone else get these effects or have experiences they can shareA person known to me made kava muffins to pass out at work. It seemed to decrease stress and increase cooperation and team spirit. Used about 2 capsules kava per muffin. Not making muffins anymore, he was promoted out of the unfriendly workplace. This has not been published in any peer reviewed journals and of course is not my personal reccomendation. granny
Posted by S.D. on May 23, 2000, at 21:29:28
In reply to Kava for sociability, posted by JohnB on May 18, 2000, at 3:20:58
> I've taken Kava a few times and it seemed to improve sociability as well as well as a mild relaxation.
>
> Anyone else get these effects or have experiences they can share? Also someone on a previous post said it blocks seratonin. True?I've tried to find out as much about it as I can (see my post dr-bob.org/babble/ for some pointers to info.) and didn't find any mention of effects on serotonin ( increasing, decreasing, reuptake inhibitor or otherwise ).
I don't know about sociability per se, but I have generalized social phobia (AKA social anxiety disorder) and I've found it probably has decreased my anxiety, which may have let me broach some subjects with some people where I might have chickened out otherwise. It's kind of hard to quantify because I don't have a lot of social contact. So far it hasn't helped me to make *new* social contacts but in my case I think that is made more difficult by an actual lack of social skills.
A related symptom that it might have lessened, though not as much as when I took clonazepam a year ago, is 'self-censorship'. What I mean is I tend to be very inhibited about speaking and I hesitate, letting the opportunity escape, instead of just saying stuff without thinking much about it first.peace and health,
S.D.
This is the end of the thread.
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