Kava is what the Pacific islanders call both Piper Methysticum (a shrub belonging to the pepper family Piperaceae) and also to the beverage that is made from it. Piper methysticum can be found growing in abundance chiefly in western Polynesia, especially in Tonga and Samoa, and most of Melanesia, including Fiji. It can also be found on Pohnpei Island, in Micronesia. People have traditionally prepared kava as a cold tea (an infusion made from straining a mixture of water and shredded and pounded dried or fresh root). One simple method of preparing kava tea involves putting two or more heaped teaspoons of kava root for each person into a clean knotted stocking and squeezing it into a bowl of cold water. The tea usually produces a slight numbing of the tongue and lips at first, followed by mildly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of calm, clear thinking, well-being and relaxation. Sleep associated with kava is especially restful and there are no after effects the following day. Kava can be bought at health food stores as an extract and as a convenient method of anxiety relief as it is fast acting and extremely potent. You can also purchase kava in pill form. Some sellers have packaged high-powered Kava mixtures in convenient mini spray bottles. These are handy to keep in a purse or knapsack and are very effective for offering a quick burst of relaxation. A quick spray or two under the tongue can do wonders for both tension and the jitters. If you plan to buy the raw root, it is advisable to choose whole, top grade lateral root. Several concerns have been expressed recently about the kava's safety following a small number of deaths from liver failure. As a result Switzerland and France have banned Kava, while Germany has made it available only by prescription. In north America the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has expressed reservations over the use of kava. Controversy abounds, fuelled by the economic interest of kava exporting nations and disagreements between the medical profession and proponents of natural medicine. At this time the 'jury is out' and only time will bring out the truth. It is noted however that the Tongans have used kava for hundreds of years and that it holds a place of great importance within Tongan society. A side-effect associated with the heavy use of kava is kava dermopathy - a scaly eruption of the skin. This is quite harmless and disappears once use is discontinued. In the past, Hawaiians used to drink large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a way of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a clearer, smoother complexion. | 
