Kava roots contain an approximate average of 3-15% of kavalactones and depending on what type of kavalactones are most prevalent, you can have wildly different experiences. You can read a more in depth discussion on how these different kavalactones affect you as well as which ones to choose on our what is a kava chemotype blog post, but for this general discussion we will just state that kavalactones are the active ingredients in kava.

In the South Pacific Islands where kava is commonly drank as a daily beverage, a standard coconut cup of traditional kava is said to have anywhere from 200mg to 600mg of kavalactones.

As of today, there is no daily limit set by the World Health Organization, but therapeutic doses tend to range around 250mg of kavalactones. A standard bowl of traditional kava normally contains 250mg+ of kavalactones per serving. Sometimes a single coconut cup may have more than this amount, and usually a veteran kava drinker may have a 2-3 coconut cups in a session

Below is the suggested kava dosage you may take depending on what you are using kava for.

• Kava Dosing for Different Forms of Kava
  • Kava Dosage for Traditional Grind Kava
  • Kava Dosage for Dehydrated Instant Kava
  • Kava Dosage for Tincture and Capsules
• Factors Affecting Your Kava Dosage
  • Kava Dosage Based on the Variety of Kava
  • Kava Dosage Based on Body Weight
  • Kava Dosage Based on Metabolism
• Can I overdose On Kava
  • How Long Should I Take Kava
• Does Kava Interact with Anything
  • Who Should Avoid Using Kava
  • What Should Not Be Taken Together With Kava
• Conclusion

The suitable kava dosing can vary from which kava form you're using. And, the effects of your kava depend on its strength and varietal. Most commonly in the industry, kava is sold as a "bulk" variety. This means the product is comprised of a conglomeration of any plants the manufacturer can acquire across the whole country. These plants are ground together, then sold to brands or bars. This is usually considered "generic" kava, and is what most people in America are used to.

The typical session with medium-grind kava powder made the traditional way is around 2-4 tablespoons (14-30grams) per day.

Having said that, this varies A LOT because all kava's have different densities. For example, our Hawaiian blends are significantly less dense than our Vanuatu Reserve Bir Kar. 150g of Bir Kar medium grind powder will fill up 3/4 of its container. But we can barely fit 100g of our Wakea blend into the same exact container. Different densities means different amounts of space that it will take up.

You may change your dosage depending on the strength of your kava. The weaker the kava the more doses you might need. If you have a strong kava then, you may only need less. Below is a more detailed explanation of the amount of kava needed to get the desired experience.

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS PER CUP OF KAVA AND ASSUMING VERY SUCCESSFUL EXTRACTION.

We recommend to make at least 2-3 cups of kava when making traditionally

It is recommended to add 30 ml of water for each gram of traditional grind kava powder

Example: 30g of traditional grind kava powder means you will need 900ml water, or round up to 1 liter.

You can also check out our blog here on how to make kava using traditional grind powder.

Kavas effects and dosage depends on several factors. Some of these factors are the variety of kava, your body weight, and metabolism.

The variety of kava you're using can affect your dosage and potency to get your desired effects. Each different kava variety offers a unique set of qualities and can produce very different effects. Depending on their kava chemotype, some kavas are heavy, some are heady, some may expand creativity, some may even wake you up, and there are also those who have balanced effects. This is why we say, if you're using a generic kava you may be missing out.

The variety of kava is one important factor to consider in kava dosing because of the different levels of kavalactones that are present in each variety. Weaker varieties of kava usually contains 3-4% kavalactones. While stronger (usually older) kava has around 12-15% kavalactones or more. When you're using a weaker kava you'll have to increase your dosage if you want stronger effects. For stronger kavas, one dose may be enough. A lot of people worry too much about the kavalactone %, so you should save yourself the trouble and focus more on the desired experience you want. A high kavalactone percent kava with a nauseating kava chemotype can be a recipe for a very bad day.  As a general rule, since there is no regulation on kava at this time, if people are touting about being high percent, be a bit skeptical and wary. A truly high percent kava is not cheap and is quite rare as these kava's are usually drank locally and almost never leave the islands.

Yes, you can overdose with kava. Kava overdose can happen when you take excessive amounts of kava or when you take low quality kava that has been mixed with other substances.

While kava can be very useful in relieving anxiety and stress, it is important to remember that the period of use should be on a case to cases basis and under the supervision of a certified healthcare professional. Generally, the duration of taking kava will depend on the reason for using kava, your health status, and prescribed dosage. The use of kava for more than three months is usually not recommended by health professionals unless prescribed to avoid the risk of long term side effects.

Long term and heavy use of kava can lead to the possibility that you may develop some side effects. One of the most common side effects of long term, heavy kava consumption is rough and dry skin. Your skin can get dried out, scaly and slightly yellowish. This is a condition known as kava dermopathy, and usually subsides back to normal after the person stops drinking kava.

There is also the possibility of liver damage for heavy use of kava that has been circling around for years, but the evidence to support this hypothesis has been widely debated.

There are some long term kava users that have been using kava for years now without stopping and did not encounter any issues at all. One kava enthusiast revealed online that he has been taking kava every day for 25 years and has never had any problems.

We usually recommend to cycle in and out kava routines throughout the year, since we believe everything in life should be done in moderation. But as long as you're using high quality noble kava, to each their own.

Again, kava does not work equally for everyone. What works for some may not work for you.

As we always say, kava is not for everyone. There are group of people who are prohibited to use kava or should only use it with the guidance of medical experts.

• Pregnant women- during pregnancy the actives from kava can transfer to the child while in the mother's womb. Is it safe? we don't know. Better to avoid.
• Breastfeeding mothers- kava can stay in the milk. We don't know if it's safe for children but we don't recommend it.

• Children- children should not permitted to take kava unless it is prescribed by their physician. The study of kava in children is unclear, thus, just like alcohol, kava are not considered a good idea for children. We don't anyone to try out kava until they’re 18 yrs old and above.

• People with Parkinson’s disease- kava may cause their tremors to increase, muscle spasms and may decrease the effectiveness of its medications - study referenced here
• People with liver problems- since kava is metabolized in the liver, people with existing liver problems should not be using kava for the reason that it may cause further damage to the liver. Although cases are rare and seem to lack evidence, it's best to avoid.
• People taking prescribed medications- people who have prescriptions or maintenance should consult their physicians first before taking kava. Some prescribed medicines and even some supplements may interact with kava.

In summary, there is no exact kava dosage for everyone. Your dosage may vary depending on certain factors such as the reason for using kava, the variety of kava, and the form. Your weight, metabolism and health status can also affect your dosage.

These factors are the most common things that can impact your kava dosage. The suggested therapeutic dose varies from 140-250mg of kavalactones daily but many people do go over it. There's no daily consumption limit set by the WHO and you may increase or decrease your dosage depending on how strong you want your kava to be. But we always remind our customers to take kava moderately.

Although the chances of getting overdosed with kava is very little, it is still possible. Overdose can lead to extreme nausea. Taking excessive amounts of kava or taking kava while on prescription medication may cause side effects. Kava is not a drink for everyone. There are group of people who are not supposed to take kava unless approved by a health professional.  

Kava is a amazing plant, that can give wonders to your mind and body. But, it is important to take kava in moderation and with precautions. In the same way we don't recommend people to drink copious amounts of beer every day, we say the same with kava.

But we still love the root. Bula!