Kava is what the Pacific islanders call both Piper Methysticum (a shrub from the pepper family Piperaceae) and also to the beverage made from it. Piper methysticum grows in abundance in the main in western Polynesia, particularly in Samoa and Tonga, and virtually all of Melanesia, including Fiji. It is also found on Pohnpei Island, in Micronesia. People have traditionally prepared kava as a cold tea (an infusion made from straining a mixture of shredded and pounded fresh or dried root and water). A simple method of preparing kava tea involves putting two or more heaped teaspoons of kava root per person into a clean knotted stocking and squeezing it into a bowl of cold water. The tea normally produces a slight numbing of the tongue and lips at first, followed by mildly talkative and euphoric behavior, a sense of well-being, relaxation, calm and clear thinking. Sleep associated with kava is especially restful and there are no after effects the next day. Kava can be purchased at health food stores as a standardized extract and as a convenient method of relieving anxiety as it is quick acting and highly potent. You can also purchase kava in pill form. Some vendors 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 purchase the raw root, it is sensible to choose whole, top grade lateral root. Several concerns have been voiced recently about the safety of Kava 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 through prescription. In the US the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stated its reservations over kava's use. Controversy abounds, fuelled by the economic interest of kava exporting nations and disagreements between the medical profession and proponents of natural medicine. As of the time of writing the 'jury is out' and only time will bring out the truth. It should be noted however that the Tongans have employed kava for hundreds of years and that it holds a place of great importance within Tongan society. One side-effect associated with the heavy use of kava is that of kava dermopathy - a scaly eruption of the skin. This disappears if use is discontinued and is quite harmless. In the past, Hawaiians used to drink large quantities of kava to produce just this effect as a method of cleansing the skin and giving themselves a clearer, smoother complexion. | 
