I have used some kava tea ages ago, but it was some cheap stuff from a local hippie coop. That stuff was probably not the best quality or representation of kava.
In the past I have use valerian root, which has a very calming effect, any experience with that?
Yes. I tried valerian decades ago. It didn't agree with my system which is super hyperallergenic due to Lyme Disease.
Valerian I never liked. It is like a natural benzo, mostly in an unpleasant sense.
I always felt rough and groggy afterwards however much I slept.
Very little conscious recreactional and worthwhile mood boosting qualities.
Kava, is on another level to valerian, which is just a cheap thrill almlst purely sleeping tablet, with post grogginess.
Actually, to me and my vast psychoactive substance (including 3500 Ecstasy pills 1996 to 2005 (and the rest lol, like mostbother drugs at some stage and quantity), (and more recemtly, 180 tabs of pharma grade LSD at exactly 100 micrograms each, i.e. 18 mg LSD in 13 months since October 2019)...anyway sorry my point (strong shell of kava has just hit me hard moments ago lol )....valerian is remeniscent of Nutmeg for me.
Which is overall "blah" or in the US perhaps "Meh" lol. Just not pleasurable and uplifting enough, vs the rougher edge.
Kava can be wonderfully pleasurable, and remarkably relieving, on a consistent daily basis for years, of general physical aches and mental stress, anxiety and depression.
Kava goes very very well, IME, with just a little cannabis vapor. I only need a vapcap load or two, in combination with my kava, to be more than good.
I still use homemade cannabis edibles, which are essential for digestive troubles.
Vapor is supplementary. But kava, apart from possibly being a straight alternative to cannabis, complements it very well, and can very easily help somebody lower their cannabis consumption, get more out of the effects, and even taper down with ease and comfort too.
But any oold cheapy kava is not suggested. It's exactly like some cheapy, crappy weed. Just notna fair representation of cannabis and what is out there.
Proper prep also is important. It's easy when you know how and there's a variety of easy methods to flex between. 4 basic ones I know of myself, 3 of which I personally use.
Like I said above, if you want a basic, easy description of the best simple kava prep methods and cultivars/vendors who serve your area, please just hit me up whenever.
One other thing about kava. It has so many different cultivars from different vendors from different farms. There is more difference IME to how well a particular kava cultivar may work for us or suit us, than with different straihs of cannabis, which are much more generic in effect.
It can take a while trying different kavas to find what works best for you, what you enjoy most, and when too, as I mix and match all the time just as people do with their weed strains.
I have maybe 12 to 15 different kavas here to always unsurely lol, pick from.
Heady, heavy, balanced. But all top quality. There is some shit out there.
Very analagous to cannabis strains.
Tonight is 13 grams Tongan Family Reserve, 13 grams Fijian Koro Islands so far, 1st wash only bit boy it's kicked my arse already lol.