Tired of being…well, tired?
Join the club.
Many try sipping herbal teas at night to soothe their bedtime troubles, like chamomile or Ashwagandha. However, more and more people are finding those teas don’t work and still toss and turn at night. If you’re in the same boat, it may be time to try the South Pacific’s best herbal sleep aid: kava.
Ahead, Kalm with Kava spills the, well, tea on why kava is one of the best herbal sleep aids for promoting relaxation and enhancing sleep quality.
Herbal Solutions: Using Tea for Sleep
Could catching extra zzz’s at night be as simple as drinking a cup of tea before hitting the hay? For centuries, many types of herbal tea have been sipped around the world as a natural sleep aid, thanks to their ability to fight insomnia, stress, and anxiety. But while many types of herbal tea promise to offer a faster route to dreamland, our comparison of the composition, benefits, and potential side effects of herbal teas vs kava positions kava as a superior herbal sleep aid choice for those looking to improve their sleep naturally.
Herbal Tea VS Kava: What’s the Difference?
Origins and Composition
Kava: a plant-based sleep aid
Kava, or Piper Methysticum, is a shrub that originates in the Pacific Islands. Boasting over 100 different varieties, each kava plant has its own unique relaxation properties, like promoting a good night’s sleep. When the roots and stump of the kava plant are consumed, the plant’s active ingredients—kavalactones —leaves kava drinkers feeling naturally happy, calm, relaxed, and ready for sleep.
Kavalactones gently interact with the body’s limbic system to naturally help promote physical and mental relaxation. These components are especially beneficial in preparing the mind and body for sleep at night.
Herbal Tea
Herbal teas—also called tisanes— have a long history, dating back to ancient China and Egypt, where they were consumed for both enjoyment and medicinal purposes, including relaxation and sleep.
But did you know they are not technically teas?
Herbal teas do not come from the Camellia sinensis (tea) plant like white, green, and black tea do. Instead, they made by steeping a blend of various edible leaves, fruits, bark, roots, or flowers in hot water. Common herbal tea ingredients include herbs and spices like chamomile, peppermint, ginger, and lavender. Each of these unique herbs has its own flavor profile and bioactive compounds that potentially provide health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the strength and effectiveness of these compounds may vary depending on the purity, potency, dose, preparation method, etc.
The Body’s Response to Herbal Sleep Aids
Kava’s Secret Ingredient: Kavalactones
Kava’s uncanny ability to naturally relax your mind and muscles in preparation for sleep is all thanks to its super-power active ingredient – kavalactones.
Kavalactones are thought to promote sleep by reducing stress and anxiety, making it easier to relax physically and mentally. Research suggests that kavalactones activate an enzyme known as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, an enzyme that helps regulate the body’s response to stress. By tempering this response, people may be better able to relax and sleep.
Kavalactones also appear to activate receptors in the brain called GABA receptors that regulate nerve signals in the brain. Kavalactones function similarly to benzodiazepine drugs like Xanax by slowing down messages traveling between the body and brain. This helps induce a feeling of relaxation and drowsiness but without the harsh side effects or dependency risks. This makes kava especially appealing to those seeking natural vs otc sleep aids.
Herbal Teas
They say there’s nothing a cup of tea can’t fix, but that doesn’t mean herbal teas are miracle workers.
Herbal teas harbor a variety of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids – each producing diverse physiological effects. From anti-inflammatory agents in ginger, antioxidants in rooibos, and calming properties in chamomile, each compound plays a unique role in shaping the tea’s overall health benefits.
Because herbal teas can be created by steeping almost any combination of dried herbs, flowers, fruits, and/or spices in hot water the effects they produce are unpredictable, inconsistent, and wide-ranging. That kind of unreliability makes it difficult to build confidence when using as a sleep aid.
While the benefits of drinking herbal tea are widely publicized, the risks are less so:
- Interactions with Medications: Some herbal teas can interact adversely with medications, exacerbating health issues. For instance, herbal teas may amplify the effects of blood thinners and anti-coagulants like aspirin, potentially causing liver or kidney damage.
- Allergies: Certain teas might trigger allergic reactions, particularly in individuals with sensitivities to related plants. For example, those allergic to ragweed may react to chamomile, as they are botanically related.
- Quality Control Issues: The market is also rife with misleading claims and labeling inaccuracies. It’s not uncommon for herbal tea products to contain unlisted ingredients or incorrect dosages, which can mislead consumers about their efficacy and safety.
Is Kava for Sleep Safe?
If you’re considering using kava for sleep, ensuring the quality and safety of your kava beverage is paramount. According to the World Health Organization’s Codex Alimentarius, kava boasts a 1500-year history of relatively safe use, confirming that kava, when consumed as a traditional beverage, is safe for human consumption.
Kava, made from the Piper Methysticum plant, is an all-natural drink that does not typically interact negatively with other substances, unlike some herbal teas. This characteristic makes it a safer choice for those looking to enhance their nighttime routine without unexpected side effects. Plus, unlike katrom, alcohol, or nicotine, kava is nonaddictive and doesn’t cause a hangover!
At Kalm with Kava, we take additional steps to ensure the safety and reliability of our products:
- Noble Kava Only: We exclusively offer Noble kava, recognized for its safety and minimal levels of flavokavains, which are compounds that can cause adverse effects in other types of kava. Noble kava is well-tolerated, making it ideal for regular consumption without the concerns associated with Tudei kava, such as nausea or vomiting.
- Trusted Sourcing: Our kava is meticulously sourced from reputable farmers in the South Pacific, ensuring that only the highest quality kava reaches your cup. Each batch is quality-tested to meet stringent safety standards.
- Consumption Tips: For optimal results, consume kava on an empty or near-empty stomach to enhance the efficacy of kavalactones. Start with a moderate amount to gauge how your body responds, and always monitor your intake. If you notice symptoms like dizziness or nausea, it’s advisable to adjust your dosage accordingly.
Kava for Sleep: Choose Borongoru
When it comes to choosing kava as a natural sleep aid, not all varieties are created equal. Kavas like Borongoru have kavalactones that better promote relaxation, making it easier to drift off to dreamland.
Borongoru is a strain of the kava plant known for its strong sedative effects, making it ideal for before-bedtime consumption. Sourced directly from Vanuatu island, this variety is the heaviest kava in our shop—meaning it promotes “heavy” or “sedative” relaxation effects. These are the perfect effects for achieving good night’s sleep. We offer two forms of Borongoru kava: Micronized Borongoru and Medium Grind Borongoru. Both offer the same relaxation effects but require different preparations.
Getting Ready for Bed with Kava
To set yourself up for a solid night of sleep, establish a solid solid bedtime routine alongside your cup of kava. Whether you’re trying kava for the first time or figuring out how to incorporate kava into your bedtime routine, here are our top tips to get you started:
- Drink Kava Before Bedtime: Start sipping Borongoru kava 1-2 hours before bedtime to give the kavalactones plenty of time to calm your mind, relax your body, and induce drowsiness.
- Drink Kava on an Empty Stomach: An empty stomach helps kavalactones absorb efficiently into your system. If any nausea pops up, follow your Borongoru kava drink with a light snack called a kava chaser. Because kava can taste bitter and earthy, pick kava chasers that are light and sweet, like fruit, nuts, popcorn, or yogurt.
- Effect Time Varies: Allow 15-20 minutes to notice kava’s effects. You should begin to feel tensions ease throughout your body and all your stress and worries from the day dissolving away.
Kava for Sleep: Why People Love it
Sleep Time is in the Tea-Tails
Don’t join the one third of Americans who don’t get enough sleep. You deserve to sleep peacefully through the night and wake up feeling revitalized. Shop our Borongoru kava products and conquer sleepless nights with the best natural sleep aid on the market. Bid your restless nights adieu!
