Mindfulness, Qigong, Zen, Metta and Mantra meditations are just a few types of meditation practice to help you find peace and calm.

Meditation has been shown to use breathing to relax the mind and body. It is also used to focus on positive thoughts that can replace negative ones. Doing so gives you a more positive outlook on life and helps you handle life’s obstacles.

To practice meditation, you must first have a reason for meditating. Do you want to relax? Or do you want energy? Do you want enhanced concentration and focus? There is a meditation practice for just about any need you may have.

It is important to pick the right technique for your need. If not, you may become energetic when trying to get rest and vice versa.

There is one way to improve your meditation practice. That is with the use of kava.

Why Use Kava With Your Meditation Practice?

Kava has been around for centuries and has been used by natives of the South Pacific, as well as people around the world, to produce a relaxed, calm mood. Research shows it boosts dopamine in the brain. These are the feel-good chemicals that make your brain feel rewarded.

Kava allows you to feel good, but does not alter your mind or mental clarity. In fact, many claim kava makes you more aware and more enlightened.

Welcoming positive thoughts that both kava and meditation can bring to your mind, enhances your overall well-being. Positive thinking has been linked to improved health, both emotionally and physically.

Kava also relaxes the muscles in your body, enabling you to stretch longer when practicing yoga. In massage, it allows tension to escape for deep tissue relief.

Below are different kinds of meditation practice that when combined with kava, give you a greater experience before, during and after your session.

Guided Meditations

Guided meditations do exactly what their name implies; they guide you through steps to your goal. Some people use this technique for relaxation. Others use it for recognizing pain in the body or change your way of thinking from negative to positive.

You can choose from body scans, affirmation, self-hypnosis, or even guided imagery to help you attain the state of relaxation and concentration you need.

Mantra Meditation

Repeating syllables or words to keep you from being distracted is why mantra meditation works so well. By focusing on the sounds you are repeating, your mind is prevented from wandering.

Once you choose the sound or words you want to repeat, all you must do is find a comfortable place to sit and then begin your mantra. There are specific religions associated with using mantra meditation the most. However, you can adapt this technique to fit your preference.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness is very popular meditation practice today, with good reason. It trains your brain to not get attached to negative situations or events. And it can be practiced any place, any time.

For example, if you have a family member who likes to speak negatively towards you, mindfulness can teach you to maintain a healthy, positive attitude despite their negative behaviors.

Mindfulness helps you feel good will towards others, even those who do not feel the same about you. This can lead to a level of love and kindness, for yourself and for others. It can also help you have a grateful and joyful outlook on life.

Some claim Vipassana and Mindfulness are related, maybe even the same. Both help you focus on your breathing to obtain a great insight into your life and the world around you.

Yogic Meditation

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, over 20 million adults practice yoga each year, just in the United States. And over 1 million children practice this technique. It has become a widely accepted form of alternative healing.

There are many types of yoga, some of which are general therapy and others are used to address specific problems in the mind, body or spirit.

Some of the types include gazing, chakra, tantra, third-eye and self-inquiry. Through movements and breathing exercises, you can address emotional and physical needs. There is also a deep spiritual connection for those who practice yoga.

Zen Meditation

Sometimes done with the instruction of a Zen Master, this technique is all about observing the thoughts going through your mind and the sensations going through your body. You are simply observing them, though, not reacting to them.

Zen meditation can help you become aware of the needs of your physical, emotional and spiritual states.

Most Zen meditations are done while sitting in a comfortable position, on a comfortable cushion or mat. However, there is also a walking version of Zen meditation you can do where you alternate your steps with your breaths.

How to Add Kava to Your Meditation

Kava can be taken in different forms before your meditation practice. One of the best ways is to drink it as a tea. Purchase only the best noble kava powder. You can mix the powder with water and strain the liquid into a cup.

Drink the liquid within a half hour before your meditation. This allows more than enough time for the kava to begin relaxing your mind and welcoming positive thoughts.

You will notice your muscles relaxing, allowing you to sit or move in positions that increase oxygen flow to all areas of your body.

You will experience positive feelings toward yourself and others. Stress and tension will leave the body and you will be able to practice your meditation practice with a greater focus.

Kava awakens the mind, increases concentration and gives you an overall good feeling. By taking these benefits of kava and adding them to the practice of meditation, you will be able to develop your ability to become self-aware.

You will be able to focus on what your mind is thinking and what your body is feeling. From there, you can take steps to fix those thoughts and feelings. Over time, your level of joy will increase, helping you enjoy the life you have been given.

Kava plus meditation can help you attain inner love and outward love. It can also help you to better receive love from others. This type of peace is something everyone deserves.

As the popularity of kava root supplements is growing, so are the myths. Some of the benefits of kava include being able to focus and concentrate while also feeling calm. It also reduces tension in the body, and promotes relaxation. 

Each new product placed on the market seems to be followed by a large amount of controversy. Some say it works, some say it doesn’t work. The main reason this happens is because typically there are no long-term evidence surrounding mostly man-made supplements.

With kava root supplements, however, it has been used for around 3,000 years with very few objections. And the best part, it is nature-made, with only the most beneficial parts being extracted for use by the public.

Myths about kava root supplements are what discourage many people from trying it. Below are some of the most common myths, dispelled.

Myth 1: Kava is Banned from Export

In the early 2000s, a bad batch of kava was released and created one of the largest misunderstandings regarding kava.

A batch was made from a strand of bad kava. This “bad batch” was linked to liver damage at the time. A total of 26 cases were reported. However, only three of those cases held any merit. That number is extremely low compared to the hundreds of thousands of deaths each year related to prescription medications.

But, because of this, Germany put a ban on the marketing of products with kava in them, not on kava itself. The nature of the ban was misreported and negativity spread around the world. While kava root products were not banned in all countries, the bad press about it significantly reduced the demand for kava.

Because the ban was eventually linked to the manufacturers error in how they made kava, Germany has since lifted their ban of marketing kava containing products. Kava was never banned in the United States.

Now that the ban of kava has been properly explained to the world, kava is becoming an important herbal relaxant once again.

Myth 2: Kava Causes Liver Damage

Very few people were found to have a link between their kava drinking habits and liver problems.

There have been many reports since this time showing evidence kava root supplements do not cause liver damage.

The way a farmer or manufacturer extracts the kava from the kava kava plant may determine if the drink is damaging to the liver.

The number one way to extract kava from the root of the plant is to pound the root until it is in pieces. Then mix the root pieces with water. After it has soaked for a while, strain the water through a cloth into a bowl.

The water that is strained into the bowl is then drank and shared among kava users.

If this process is altered by a manufacturer, they may be altering the effects and kava’s potency. Not to put all the blame on manufacturers, it is still always up to the consumer to ensure they are receiving and ingesting the highest quality of kava.

It is well known that kava should be extracted from the roots, not stems or leaves. It is also known the higher amount of kavalactones, the better.

Looking for these two characteristics can go a long way when consuming kava.

Myth 3: Kava is Just Like Alcohol

Scientists have studied the way alcohol makes a person think, feel and act for many years. They have learned that alcohol is a depressant. While it may make a person feel good at first, that feeling does not last.

Alcohol depresses parts of the brain including the parts that control speaking, movements, judgments and thinking. It can also alter vision and your ability to remember specific time periods.

Alcohol dehydrates you which can lead to severe hangover like effects the day after drinking. Abuse of alcohol is directly linked to liver damage. It is also linked to many deaths due to driving while intoxicated.

Addiction is prominent around the world and leads to deaths due to the damage it does to the human body.

Kava, on the other hand, has not been linked with certainty to any deaths. Plus, it does not have the mind-altering effects of alcohol.

Myth 4: Kava is Mind-Altering

Kava root has been used for centuries and in many distinct cultures. The reports show kava drinkers maintain mental clarity, while they also remain calm and with an overall good mood.

In some, it has even enhanced awareness. This may be the reason it is used before ceremonies and rituals in the South Pacific. It allows everyone attending an event to feel relaxed and have a good will towards others, but does not produce poor judgment or irrational thinking.

Modern day use of kava comes in a variety of forms. You can drink it as a tea, take it in supplement form, and even use oils made from kava root. The key to guaranteeing your kava experience is authentic is to buy from a supplier that only works with noble kava.

Noble kava is the strand of kava that is exported legally around the world. It is the strand that is specially picked and extracted by farmers who only want quality kava to be distributed.

Trustworthy suppliers are eager to answer your questions and help you implement kava into your lifestyle so that you can receive the full benefits. When seeking a kava supplier, look for one who is certified by well-known agencies such as the American Kava Association.

Seek suppliers who are transparent in sharing their company information and where they get noble kava. Find suppliers who ensure their kava is tested for quality.

These types of businesses are doing what it takes to overcome obstacles such as myths and falsehoods. Finding a trusted supplier of kava root and opening a direct line of communication with them will help you dispel, or validate, any other myths you may hear about the kava products.

Kava is not a drink that was created just to make people feel good, even though that does happen. There are many uses of kava. For thousands of years, kava has been a tradition in the cultures of the South Pacific Islands.

Fiji, Polynesia, Hawaii, Vanuatu, Samoa and Melanesia are some of the Islands that are immersed in kava history. Over the years, the Pacific Islanders have adapted the purposes of drinking it as they have learned more about kava's benefits.

The traditional uses of kava include medicinal, religious and cultural reasons. Drinking kava for social reasons was also quite popular, but not in all cultures. Some of the Island cultures, however, did use kava for all the purposes listed.

The purposes of kava today are similar in that the more learned, the more useful it can be. Kava purposes are just as important as its ingredients and preparation methods.

Discovering the intent behind the use of kava can help you understand how it can benefit you today.

Spiritual Uses of Kava

Kava is used in religious rites to seek enlightenment. Kava offers easy relaxation physically while heightening mental clarity.

In Vanuatu, men drink kava, not women. They believe that the Gods favor those who keep rules such as the divisions among men and women.

Also in Vanuatu, Chiefs and leaders are the first to take a drink of kava due to their status in their culture.

In Hawaii, all religious and spiritual ceremonies involve drinking kava, either before or after the event. The rituals are held to seek favor from the Gods. They would seek favor in any endeavor, from farming to marriages.

In Fiji today, many religious ceremonies include kava drinking. Afterwards, the ceremony is complimented by a more traditional service. And in more remote areas of the Pacific Islands, there is a small following who pray to John Frum, whom islanders claim will return one day with items they need.

Every year on February 15, Islanders celebrate John Frum Day with a kava drinking ceremony.

Therapeutic Uses

Over thousands of years, kava is a positive therapeutic way to ease into relaxation and reduce tension. It has a relaxing effect on people who drink it. Kava also helps to elevate mood and an overall peaceful feeling for those who drink it.

Because it reduces everyday tension and promotes relaxtion, Kava may help some have a more restful sleep. It also causes some people to feel less of everyday stress. This is beneficial because stress is linked to several health problems.

Kava can relax muscles, ease tensions and make it easier to focus on what you need.

Kava has also shown to compliment alternative therapies such as yoga and meditation. It does so because when your muscles are relaxed and your mind is clear, you can reach a higher level of therapeutic benefits.

Social Uses of Kava

One of the most popular uses of kava is to reduce inhibitions and make a person feel sociable. Some compare it to alcohol but not because of the way it makes you feel. Alcohol literally alters the brain, interferes with good decision-making skills, and can lead to dehydration and hangovers.

Alcohol can make people feel more comfortable in social settings. Therefore, some link it to kava.

However, alcohol can make you slur your words and stagger when you walk.

Kava, on the other hand, can make you feel more sociable, but it does not interfere with brain or body functions.

People who struggle with anti-social behaviors can benefit from the use of kava. One Tongan professor states most cultures today are rushed and unable to truly connect with others. Many are feeling overwhelmed, sad and stressed.

Kava can give you that brief time to calm the mind and body, reflect on what is happening in your life, and interact with others in a happy state of mind.

Cultural Reasons

The culture surrounding kava is deep. Many cultures treat kava like a peace pipe. Meaning, people drink it before important meetings among important people. Cultural beliefs suggest kava makes it hard for anyone to be angry or feel negative emotions.

The cultural standards vary among every place where people use kava. Only the leaders can drink kava on some islands, while both men and women are able to drink it in other places.

A major piece of culture is the artifact people use in the drinking rituals. The kava bowl and coconut shells are very important parts of the kava drinking experience.

Accessibility to Quality

In this modern society, kava drinking is still popular. And in places where it is recently being introduced, it is becoming more than a trend. It is becoming a routine for those seeking temporary periods of relaxation. Also for those who wish to find better ways to socialize.

Kava bars are an excellent place for people to get the full experience and uses of kava. They also offer a social setting that is much more inviting than the typical bar, where music is loud and it is hard to get to know someone.

Kava bar owners take the lighting, sound levels, seating, food and drink into consideration. They create an environment conducive with the effects of kava, not contradictory of kava.

Today, Noble Kava is the only legally exported kava. There is another kind of kava, tudei kava, that is exported illegally. It can give adverse reactions to those who drink it.

Reputable sellers of kava will never try to sell tudei kava. Whether you are purchasing kava online, in a store or in a kava bar, they will only offer noble kava varieties. These varieties usually come in the forms of teas, powders or supplements.

Noble kava is made from the highest quality kava roots. Noble kava has been put through years of testing by farmers or harvesters. They have sorted out the roots that give you negative reactions, including nausea or vomiting, and cultivated the best, which they call noble.

No matter what your purpose is for drinking kava, make sure you get the best quality. Don’t take a chance on having undesirable reactions when you can avoid them. You deserve the best when serving your medicinal, spiritual, social or cultural uses of kava.

When kava was first being harvested, farmers needed to distinguish between the different varieties. They recognized early on that these different varieties offered different physiological effects. Some strands, such as noble strains, offered a relaxing affect with no side effects.

Other strands, known as ignoble kava, offered a relaxing or mellow feeling but also made a person feel sick. Yet still others offered only negative effects.

People of the South Pacific Islands did not know about kavalactones thousands of years ago. They didn’t realize that these kavalactones were the reason the kava roots produced different effects to the mind and body.

To differentiate between them, farmers gave the best kava the name of Noble Kava. They called the roots that gave negative effects, ignoble kava.

There are many names for both noble and ignoble kava. Noble kava is also known as awa, yaqona or sakau. Names for ignoble kava include tudei or isa.

The rules and regulations are very strict these days about which kava should be sold and which shouldn’t. Tudei is currently prohibited from being sold. But just like any other export that can make a lot of money, people find a way to get it on the market.

Knowing what you are looking for when it comes to purchasing kava is a safe way to avoid an accidental negative reaction. Noble kava provides feelings of ease and relaxation while ignoble kava has negative effects on the user. 

What Makes Kava Good or Bad

Kavalactones are the major players in kava. They are different chemotypes and there are six concentrations in each strand of kava. The kavalactones have individual names and concentration levels based on how they make a person feel physically.

They are labeled 1 through 6 and go in order of desmethoxyyangonin (1), dihydrokavain (2), yangonin (3), kavain (4), dihydromethysticin (5) and methysticin (6). When buying kava, it is these concentrations you want to look for to determine if you are getting noble or ignoble kava.

The best kava has dihydrokavain and kavain as the first two concentration levels. Their chemotypes start with 2 or 4.

This lets you know the kava you are drinking will give the desirable effects, those that are pleasant and offer benefits to the one drinking it.

Users feel unpleasant or adverse effects when drinking ignoble kava.

Ignoble Kava

It is said that ignoble kava can last much longer than noble kava, which is not a good thing. Ignoble strains typically have less desirable chemotypes or kavalactone concentrations. Because of this, users have reactions such as nausea and a long-lasting hangover.

Some describe the effects from ignoble kava as causing mental and physical lethargy. It also made them suffer memory and recall problems, sleepiness, and a lack of energy for an extended period.

Ignoble Kavas are banned for export due to their negative effects. Some farmers ignore the warnings and export it anyway. They do this because ignoble kava grows and matures quicker than noble kava, allowing them to make quick money.

Some farmers find it easier to harvest and sell the product in quantity not quality. So, they harvest ignoble kava. Therefore, it is so important for you to understand which type of kava you are buying and drinking.

Recognizing Ignoble Kava

It is not likely that you will look at the packaging of kava and it will say, “This is bad kava.” Instead, you must do your research and know what to look for to avoid buying ignoble strains.

Tudei (two-day) Kava is a common name for ignoble kava. Unlike noble kavas, tudei kava effects last longer, up to 48 hours. Meaning, you can experience the negative feelings for two days after drinking it.

According to the American Kava Association, flavokavains are much higher in ignoble strands. High doses of flavokavains have been linked to hepatoxicity. The chemotypes of ignoble kavas begin with 25 or 52.

Hepatoxicity is when liver cells are damaged. Ignoble kava is associated with liver problems, not noble kava. 

What is Noble Kava?

Noble kava is the only type of kava eligible for export. This type of kava has the right amount of kavalactones that produce a feeling of ease and relaxation. It offers a pleasant physiological experience for those who drink it.

As the opposite of ignoble kava, it may offer spiritual experiences and a sense of wisdom. Mainly because while the body is relaxed and comfortable, the mind is still clear.

Recognizing Noble Kava

The kavalactones in noble kava range between five and fifteen percent.  This means your drink will have the right potency. You won’t have too little kava, unable to feel any effects. You also won’t have too much kava, giving you too much of an intense reaction.

Noble kava offers the desired effect of mellow relaxation of the physiological state while remaining clear headed. Look for chemotypes of dihydrokavain, kavain and desmethoxyyangonin. These three chemotypes increase dopamine levels in the brain.

When dopamine levels are increased, your brain tells your body to feel good. Your muscles relax and you have an overall sense of well-being. Tension seems to fade away. The best kava drinks offer a temporary benefit.

The temporary effects allow the drink to be taken daily. Sort of like when you go the bar for happy hour after work. You have a few drinks to feel relaxed. The difference? With noble kava, your mind is not altered.

You can still have clarity while feeling super relaxed.

Buying from reputable and certified kava providers, cafes and farms can ensure you are receiving noble kava. Search for reviews by those who have tried the products. Doing research to ensure you receive noble kava is key.

A little research equals big rewards. Don’t waste your time searching through the cheapest variety of kava. What you get may not be of the best quality. It may even be ignoble.

There are millions of people suffering from anxiety and other stress related disorders. It is normal and appropriate to visit a medical practitioner to address these issues. You need to be able to talk to a medical professional about your symptoms. 

Medical professionals too often recommend prescription medication as the first line treatment  before exploring other options. Both alternative and holistic methods of reducing tension are rarely considered before pharmaceutical options.

Prescription medications can help ease symptoms such as anxiety. They can also create more problems.

We'll explore the difference between pharmaceutical treatments, and alternative relaxation methods such as Kava Kava. This natural relaxation method is becoming more popular because of the many benefits of Kava.

Traditional Relaxants

Addiction, drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, trembling, feeling depressed, vision problems, impaired coordination, and grogginess. These are some of the side effects of benzodiazepines. 

Traditional relaxants help to calm you down in times that may provoke a normal anxiety response to stressors. They do this by relaxing your muscles and your breathing. They work. But they are also dangerous.

Tolerance to these types of medicines builds, creating a need to consume more of the pill. This type of behavior leads to addiction.

These drugs also work. However, side effects include excessive sweating, insomnia, strange dreams, weight changes, low sex drive and seizures. And there are more serious side effects to these drugs.

These are terrible symptoms. Eventually, the doctor will begin prescribing medicines to treat your side effects.

Withdrawal symptoms from medicines such as Effexor create a whole new set of issues. Some report feeling as if they are having out of body experiences. Some claim their anxiety is worse than when they started the medicine. Headaches, nausea and confusion are a few other withdrawal symptoms.

Why take a pill created in a laboratory when there are many other natural ways to relieve anxiety?

Natural Relaxants

Yoga, acupuncture, acupressure and meditation are all natural techniques that have been proven to be effective in supporting the body's response to minor anxiety. There are also herbal support options available.

Drinking kava is one of these natural herbal remedies, and it has a much longer history than any man-made medicines on the market today. Below is a list of the benefits you can experience when using kava.

Reported by Neurology Times, clinical trials have shown kava to provide significant benefits in reducing tension in the body.

Benefits of Kava

Nature-Made

Kava is created using the roots of the Piper Methysticum shrub. The roots are ground and mixed with water. Those are the only two ingredients, both of which are from nature, not a laboratory.

The active ingredients in Kava are Phyto-nutrients called kavalactones. These bind to brain cells that tell the body to relax and feel good. This is one of the biggest benefits of kava, because there are no added lab-produced ingredients.

Easy to Use

Kava typically comes in powder form. It can be made into a capsule or a tea. Many people prefer drinking kava.

The traditions behind kava drinking are fascinating. Kava is common in celebrations and rituals throughout the South Pacific.

Place the kava root powder in a tea bag for easy steeping. Or, you can mix the powder with water and strain the liquid from the cloth to make your kava.

That’s it. Just a few simple steps to relaxation.

Take Only as Needed, Not Every Day

Kava can be only taken as needed. It is not something you have to take every day.

The Federal Drug Administration recommends 290 mg is sufficient and comparable to an anti-anxiety medicine. Other reports say to avoid taking more than 200 mg a day.

To date, there are no known overdoses from kava. You still need to be smart about how much kava you take and how often.

The right amount of kava for you may be different for someone else. You may have to experiment in the beginning to find your right dosage. Start with a small dose and see how it makes you feel. You can increase the amount if necessary.

Better Side Effects

Kava does not taste the greatest but that’s not why you are drinking it in the first place. The relaxing effects are what is important with kava.

There are many benefits of Kava, with relief of tension and frustrations being at the top of the list.

When you first drink kava you will feel a slight tingle, or numbing of the tongue. Then a feeling of warmth travels to your brain, signaling your body to relax. Your muscles relax and you feel a happiness towards others.

After kava does its job and exits the body, you will not experience grogginess or hangover like symptoms.

Kava Aids Other Ailments Too

There are many other benefits of Kava. Kava does not simply promote smooth relaxation. It has also been shown to support the body's response to everyday aches and pains, and promote relaxation to help a person sleep better.

Because it attaches to the brain receptors that prevent addiction, many use kava to quit smoking. 

Stress leads to aging. When a person is stressed, they release hormone chemicals such as cortisol. This hormone prevents collagen from being produced, which what makes our skin smooth. Kava allows you to relax, reducing the amount of cortisol and increasing the amount of collagen you receive.

Cortisol is also associated with weight gain. So, it only makes sense that kava can reduce your stress levels, reducing the amount of cortisol released, and therefore; reducing weight.

With so many alternative methods of relaxing, you can be more in control of your journey to better health.

Speak with holistic treatment professionals in addition to your medical doctor. Get them to work together.

Give herbal relaxants like kava a chance to reduce your tensions and help you relax. The many benefits of Kava make it a popular natural supplement. Take care of your everyday stress with a simple cup of kava.

It’s midnight. You can’t fall asleep. You've been tossing and turning, trying to clear your mind so you can get some rest. You're feeling everyday pain but you don’t want to take any pain medication that may cause you to be groggy the next day.

The pain is keeping you from proper rest.

Before you know it your alarm clock rings and it is time to get ready for work. You haven’t even been able to sleep yet.

How will you make it through the day without having a good night’s rest?

Situations like this are very common.

The good news is there are natural supplements to help with many different ailments. Whether you have a sore throat, insomnia, nausea, body aches and pains, or a cough that won’t go away, there is a natural way to heal.

These five natural supplements help the body's response to everyday problems.

Marshmallow Root

You have this same old cough for days. It just won’t seem to go way. Each time you cough a pain shoots up to your throat. It is dry and painful and is keeping you from a good night’s sleep and from being able to concentrate on getting work done.

If this sounds like your symptoms, try marshmallow root. It has been used for over 2,000 years as natural remedies for a variety of ailments. One of the most popular is to ease a sore throat and cough.

It has been known to ease dry coughs and the pain associated with an irritated throat. It also sooths your stomach. When used internally, it acts as a lubricant.

Marshmallow root also contains flavonoids, which are known to be anti-inflammatory agents.

To make this natural remedy, fill a jar ¼ of the way with marshmallow root. Fill the rest of the jar with water. Place a lid on the jar and let the mixture soak for at least four hours. When the water turns a yellowish color, take out the root and strain the water from them.

The liquid should then be thick. The most common ways to use marshmallow root are through pre-packed capsules, teas and tinctures.

Kava Root

Have you been tossing and turning, counting sheep, drinking warm milk or anything else you can think of to help you fall asleep? Maybe it is time to try kava root.

Kava has been used for centuries as a relaxant, especially when it comes to helping people sleep. Drinking kava has been a tradition in the South Pacific before ceremonies and rituals. It can help ease tension and help you feel happy and content.

Drinking kava is the most common way to use it. You can buy it in powder form, capsules and teas. Traditionally, kava root is pounded and mixed with water, then drained. The liquid that is squeezed out from the mixture is what you drink.

Almost immediately you can begin to feel it working. Before you know it, you are relaxed and able to fall asleep.

Kava has been proven to help ease pain in the body as well. People with fibromyalgia find it supporting the body to alleviate aches.

A dose of kava is recommended to be between 200 and 300 mg. It is important you start with a lower dose to experiment and find the right dose for your body.

Ginger Root

Nausea can be one of the worst feelings. It can come about from a variety of ailments including morning sickness, motion sickness, food poisoning or medication side effects.

One of the best-known ways to help ease nauseous feelings is with the use of ginger root, another herbal remedy that has been around for thousands of years, ginger is thought of to settle the stomach.

Ginger is heavily marketed around the world today and can be purchased in a variety of forms. You can buy ginger teas, capsules and even lollipops. Recommendations state taking no more than four grams of ginger a day, however.

Ginger has also been known to help with headaches and pains associated with arthritis. This may be because it has anti-inflammatory agents. Some people apply ginger directly to their skin to relieve sores, bites and bruises.

Licorice Root

Some love the taste of licorice, some hate it. This debate usually happens when talking about its flavor in candies. Licorice is not just used to provide a sweet flavoring to foods and drinks.

For many years, licorice root has been used to decrease swelling. It activities healing properties than can help treat ulcers and other ailments.

Licorice is also known to help you have more productive coughs.

Glycyrrhizin is the chemical within licorice that provides many healing benefits. It protects the liver, is an anti-inflammatory, treats high cholesterol and can even aid in good dental health.

The most common ways to take licorice root are through supplements and teas.

Burdock Root

Detox and cleanse. One of the big trends in the weight loss and health industries today is to detox your system. Many supplements, teas and juices are offered to the public as great ways to detox the body.

You don’t hear much about burdock root, however. What many people do not know is that burdock root has been used for years as a detox agent.

Burdock root has been proven to stimulate the liver to regenerate cells as well as acting like a laxative to rid the body of toxins. Many people take burdock in the form of a tea.

The burdock plant is dug up and the root is cut off. Many people then cut the root in small pieces. Shavings are preferred. They are left out to dry. Once the root pieces are dried, they can be used to make a tea.

Burdock can also be purchased in natural food stores in supplement or tea forms.

No matter what your ailment, there seems to be a natural remedy for it. Natural remedies are known to naturally help with the body's response to ailments. Natural remedies have hundreds of years of use while laboratory made medicines do not have long term evidence to prove they are safe.

Using natural remedies for everyday conflictions is where you should start to enhance healing. There are naturopaths, holistic healers and alternative counselors who can help you start your healing today.

There are many drinks on the market today. Smoothies, juices, coffees and teas are very popular around the world. This new trend is focused on better health, emotionally and physically.

There is one drink, however, that has been around for centuries. It is known to have quite a few benefits for health and even spirituality.

This drink is kava. Its history is as rich as its taste. Well, kava may not taste rich to everyone. In fact, it may taste bitter. But on the history of kava, everyone can agree on its richness. The history of kava drinks is a fascinating story, and has impacted the way we drink kava today.

Recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians, kava has reportedly out performed St. John’s Wort and valerian.

Kava, By Any Other Name

There are many names used for kava drinks within the Pacific Islands.  The most common name is kava kava. And of course, the scientific name is Piper Methysticum. But in Hawaii it is referred to as “awa” and with one letter change, it is called “ava” in Samoa.

Residents in Fiji call it saqona. Other names include milik, kew, kao, and wurzelstock.

No matter what the name, kava’s discovery and its distinct traditions remain the same.

Kava Drinks Discovered

It is not recorded exactly how Pacific Islanders discovered kava many centuries ago. What history has recorded is Captain Cook’s discovery of it on his voyage to the Pacific Islands during the 18^th Century. Apparently, this is when outsiders learned about kava.

Cook reported to people on his discovery of this “intoxicating pepper plant”, that the roots are used to mix with water and to be shared.

Kava was told to be a drink used in social gatherings such as ceremonies or rituals.

Ceremonies and Rituals

In the South Pacific, kava drinks are served before every important ceremony or ritual. It is served in joyous times, when people offer up prayers for good outcomes. It is also served in times of sadness such as when someone passes away.

Kava is known as a sacred drink in every type of ritual and it has been considered the national drink of the islands in the Pacific.

If there is a wedding, kava is served before the wedding. If it is planting season, farmers drink kava while they pray for a good crop. Fisherman drink kava in hopes of catching a lot of fish.

In some cases, kava is offered to Gods as a sacrifice. Medicine doctors drink kava to help them discover solutions to the illnesses of their patients. Even mediums use kava to seek information.  It has been reported kava can open your mind and your conscious to achieve awareness.

Ceremonial use of kava is not as popular today in some of the Islands of the Pacific. It is believed the Samoan culture is one of the few that still holds high regard for kava and its benefits.

Kava Drinking Etiquette

When attending a ceremony on an Island that is steeped in tradition, there is an etiquette to follow. It is always an excellent idea to take a gift of kava root to the leader of the village as an offering of appreciation.

Women should wear a sarong and everyone stays seated throughout the ceremony. It is customary the Village Chief or Leader take the first drink. Once he is finished, everyone else may drink. Once this is complete, song and dance begin.

How to Drink Kava

The history of kava and its relation to ceremonies and rituals also includes a specific way to take the drink. For example, in Fiji, kava root is ground and mixed with water. It is then strained through fabric, sometimes by twisting a t-shirt.

The liquid strained is put into a communal bowl.

“BULA” is chanted, reports National Geographic. This is a way of saying hello or wishing positive things to come your way. After they say “Bula”, you take a big drink out of the communal bowl of kava.

Each culture within the Pacific Islands has their own cultural etiquette when it comes to drinking kava. Parts of their pre- and post-drinking routines may vary, but they all share the actions of showing gratitude and respect for the Gods.

Kava remains a drink used by Pacific islanders. The difference, it is used on a more frequent basis rather than only before rituals or ceremonies. Today, kava drinks are available for purchase in bars and restaurants. It can also be purchased in stores and online.

Just as many people include a cup of coffee in their morning routine, or a mixed drink in the evening, kava is used regularly and often daily by many by locals living in the Islands.

Kava Today

In America, kava use is becoming more and more popular in recent times. It has very little connection to ceremonies or rituals, however. Most kava drinkers in America are using it for its relaxing benefits.

Kava is purchased from a retail site, either physical or online. It can be purchased in powder form or in tea bags. There are also kava candies and strips, as well as root, paste or capsules.

When purchasing kava in these forms, it is important to find kava that is the purest. Often, kava is mixed with other herbs to reduce the potency. With a little research, you can find pure kava from reputable retailers.

The American Kava Association sets exacting standards for those selling kava. Find retailers, bars and even kava farmers who are certified by the American Kava Association.

If making your own kava drink is not what you are looking for, there are places you can go to enjoy the drink and have it served to you.

Kava bars are proving to be popular among regular users in America. A kava bar is simply a brick and mortar site that prepares kava drinks for its customers for them to enjoy immediately.

Kava bars provide a relaxing setting for people to gather socially and enjoy a drink that can have both physical and emotional benefits.

Drinking kava can have positive effects on your mind and your physical health. Whether you choose to visit a kava bar or make your own kava drinks, you will find yourself relaxed but with mental clarity.

Drinking kava is no longer used for just ceremonial events. You can incorporate it into your daily or weekly routine to lower stress and increase awareness.