Muscleyarm’s WebNog

Kava (or Kava Kava) root is one of my favorite herbs.  It’s really good for relieving anxiety and menstrual cramps, and it’s a natural tranquilizer.  I used to take it in pill form years ago, until I heard that it can cause liver damage (like whiskey doesn’t?  WTF Krissy?).  But upon further research (I mean, perusing a Wiki page) I read that manufacturers tend to include the leaves of the plant in the pills, which is not used by villagers in the south Pacific who traditionally, have been using the root in tea for 3,000 years without any problems.
I just bought an ounce of Kava root for $2.80 at Present Moment Herbs and Books.  I steeped 1 TB of the roots in 16 oz. of boiling water for 15 minutes, then strained it through a cheese cloth.  The taste is bitter, like Astragalus, so I added a tiny bit of sugar.  The effects are calming and it numbs the mouth a little.  I think next time I’m going to grind the roots up to a powder.
So, I’m back on the herbs, because I don’t have health insurance and I don’t trust Merck.  Plus, drinking beer to alleviate anxiety in social situations doesn’t seem to be the healthiest route I’ve ever taken.  So, I’m going to prioritize, clean out my system, and start doing something with my life…until I hit a bump, and in that case, it’s back to smoking, drinking and fornicating.
Ain’t adult life beautiful?

UPDATE:  You don’t have to use boiling water, in fact one TB of powdered kava root to one cup of cold water is a good dose.  Steep and mix for several minutes and then strain the tea through cheese cloth, squeezing the left over mush to get all of the medicinal qualities out.  Then you are supposed to drink it fast.