High-quality kava kava, also known as kava, is a good-feels gift for those looking to enhance their wellness with plant-based perks. The potential relaxing and mood-elevating effects of kava can last about 3–6 hours.[1,2]
Derived from the Piper methysticum plant (native to the South Pacific Islands) and packed with calm-inducing kavalactones, both kava pills and kava tonics are healthful alcohol-alternatives made for the long term.[3]
How Long Does it Take to Feel the Effects of Kava?
Kava extract can be found in different supplement forms, including kava tea, capsules, and other kava drink mixes such as tonics.
Curious about the effects of consuming kava? Let’s dig a little deeper into the question of how long does kava last? The answer depends on several factors, such as:
- The strength of the dosage
- Whether you’ve eaten recently
- The presence of other medications in your system
Generally speaking, you can expect to feel kava’s effects within 15–30 minutes after ingesting it. This means that you can strategically time your dosage to leverage its potential benefits.
How Much Kava Should You Take?
It is important to note that kava extract comes in a variety of forms, including:
- Tonics
- Capsules
- Teas
- Tinctures
The exact potency of these products can vary widely whether you’re deciding between kava pills vs drink products, which is why it’s so important to read the labels before ingesting any kava-infused supplement.
Whatever kava product you ultimately choose, be aware that most experts agree that the ceiling for your daily dose is around 250 milligrams.[4]
Are kava capsules effective like tonics? That depends. How often you take kava and how many times a day will play a role in your intended effect: 45 to 80 milligrams three times a day can help maintain good vibes, and 180 to 250 milligrams before bedtime can help you slumber deeply.[5]
That said, there’s no one dose for everybody. (Or, every body.) Folks on the petite side should carefully monitor their kava intake and start with smaller daily amounts before increasing their dosage.
Can I Take Too Much Kava?
Though people have ingested kava on the regular for hundreds of years, it’s best used in moderation. Excessive kava intake can affect every body differently.[6]
Fortunately, you can manage the effects of high kava consumption by:
- Limiting your daily dosage
- Using it in the short-term only
- Never mixing it with alcohol
In addition, ask your doctor if the kava product you choose is compatible with your existing medications. We always say it’s smart to get the go-ahead from a professional before trying a new supplement.
The Potential Benefits of Kava
From drinking kava tea to consuming kava powder, all types of kava supplements can have mood, focus, and relaxation benefits. But these potential kava supplement benefits sound too good to be true, right? Not quite. Here’s the science behind how it happens.
Locked within each kava plant is an abundance of molecules called kavalactones, a class of compounds that activate your impulse to snooze and sleep.[7] But kava can ease you into other areas of your life, too:
- Kava can help reduce stress – Numerous studies have found that kava consumption can ease feelings of occasional anxiety and provide short-term relief for things like the dreaded Sunday Scaries.[8]
- Kava can act as a social tonic – When you’re attending an event but ditching alcohol, a kava tonic can usher in waves of cool, calm confidence—without the morning hangover.
Enjoy Feelings of Calm and Focus with Botanic Tonics
The kava kava plant-based solution is for those looking to live and rest easy. Typically, kava will last 3–6 hours following consumption, but it’s advised to take kava supplements in moderation—at least until you learn how the plant affects your body.
At Botanic Tonics, we craft feel free kava drink tonics and feel free kava capsules to enhance your everyday life with relaxation, productivity, and focus. Our uniquely fruity formula blends earthy, spicy, and sweet tones that can be consumed on the regular. And we’ll ship it straight to your door.
You’d be remiss not to pursue bliss with Botanic Tonics.
Sources:
[1] Nutrients. Kava as a Clinical Nutrient: Promises and Challenges. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7600512/
[2] Neural Regeneration Research. Neuroprotective properties of kavalactones. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4498339/
[3] Kava Guides. Kava Duration — How Long Does It Take & How Long Will it Last? https://kavaguides.com/kava-onset/#How_Long_Does_Kava_Last
[4] Neural Regeneration Research. Neuroprotective properties of kavalactones. https://journals.lww.com/nrronline/Fulltext/2015/10060/Neuroprotective_properties_of_kavalactones.8.aspx
[5] Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. The effectiveness and safety of Kava Kava for treating anxiety symptoms: A systematic review and analysis of randomized clinical trials. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388118301981
[6] Phytotherapy Research. Contaminant hepatotoxins as culprits for kava hepatotoxicity--fact or fiction? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22585547/
[7] Science Direct. Textbook of Natural Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/kava-extract
[8] Poison.org. Kava Kava. https://www.poison.org/articles/kava
About The Author
Erin Berthold, PhD
Erin Berthold is the R&D Director at Botanic Tonics. She holds her PhD in Pharmaceutics from the University of Florida. There she studied the interaction potential between mitragynine and cannabidiol, two compounds from complex natural products. She is passionate about developing creative and alternative options for individuals suffering from substance use disorders.
Erin earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2011. Prior to going back to obtain her PhD, she worked in manufacturing, quality control, engineering, and quality assurance roles across regulated industry at pharmaceutical, medical device, and dietary supplement companies.
