Kava
Kava is a plant of the pepper family. It comes from Polynesia and other lands in the Pacific Islands.
| Kava | |
|---|---|
| File:Starr 070515-7054 Piper methysticum.jpg | |
| Piper methysticum leaves | |
| Scientific classification e | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Piperaceae |
| Genus: | Piper |
| Species: | P. methysticum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Piper methysticum | |
The roots of the plant are used to make a drink with sedative and anesthetic properties. Kava is used in many cultures in the Pacific Ocean, besides its native Polynesia. These include Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia.
Kava can relieve pain and make people calm. It is usually taken as a drug to relax without losing mental clarity in thinking and remembering. Evidence collected in studies show Kava is likely more effective than a placebo at helping calm some mild anxiety.[1]
Kava Media
- Piper excelsum excelsum G.Forst. (AM AK347570-2).jpg
Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) plant may have been named by early Polynesian voyagers to New Zealand due to its similarities to kava.
- Kavalactone General Structure.PNG
The general structure of the kavalactones, without the R1-R2 -O-CH2-O- bridge and with all possible C=C double bonds shown.
- Kava.JPG
A sign showing a "Kava licence area" at Yirrkala, in the Northern Territory of Australia.
- Yaqona-bundle-Fiji-2010.jpg
A traditional Fijian yaqona bundle of roots
References
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).
Other websites
File:Commons-logo.svg Media related to Kava at Wikimedia Commons
16x16px Data related to Kava at Wikispecies
