BULA BULA! Kava or Piper Methysticum

“Bula” is a Fijian word with many uses. It’s a greeting, but can mean “life” or “to live,” too. Fijians use it in place of “cheers” before drinking their ceremonial kava. This sentiment fits the plant beautifully, of course, as it’s an ally that can be leaned on for social anxiety.  Kava can help you be more present in life, ease social interactions, trust, open up, and connect. We often build up an event (big or small) in our head— calling out of plans last minute or having so many racing thoughts throughout the event that you are unable to enjoy, connect, or be yourself.

But when you get home from the party, you often wish that you had danced.

Kava is a potent anxiolytic and antidepressant. Let’s break down the term“anxiolytic”; it helps diffuse anxiety. This term is often used in relation to something that causes a cell to rupture or burst. I just love that visualization of the racing thoughts, jitters, self doubt, anger, resentment, pride, grief-- whatever just bursting. 

A 2009 double blind placebo controlled human trial found the following: “The aqueous kava preparation produced significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity and raised no safety concerns at the dose and duration studied. Kava appears equally effective in cases where anxiety is accompanied by depression.” (PMID: 19430766)

When we are less anxious, we are more present— able to make the connections, see the colors, appreciate the beauty, and feel the things that make life grand. Impacting that, will impact depression, of course.

Make Kava, Not War

Kava can ease the spirit and ground you, allowing one to be more present in the conversation, more able to have discussions without as much defensiveness. As we take our armor down, we are able to see the beauty, connection, and humanity of whomever the conflict is with.

For real though, kava has, in fact, stopped wars. Traditionally, kava would be used in last attempts to resolve issues between tribes native to the South Pacific. Feuding leaders would come together, drink ceremonial kava and discuss their issues— often leading to amicable agreements. It could have also been been part of peace offerings to end fighting.

Who’s spiking the mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving?

I Can’t Feel My Tongue When I’m With You

It is also antispasmodic, wonderful for pain. Although it does not impair motor function, it can make you sleepy as well as numb your tongue. This is cool, fun, and great for painful sore throats. 

A 2016 study claimed that kavain displays remarkably similar pharmacological profile to general anesthetics such as propofol. They concluded it works on gaba receptors, but not in the typical way benzodiazepines do. This means it’s not as addictive and does not having a sergytist effect, making them safer to take with these medications than expected. (​​PMID: 27332705)

I suspect they being in the same family as black pepper; it also shares some chemistry and similar alkaloids that contribute to the warming, tingle-inducing sensations that when potent, are a part of the numbing reaction. Kava has Methysticin, which is similar to Piperine.

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