Personal Experiences with Kava Kava

My dad, Shirl Brimhall, suffers from extreme anxiety. When he is anxious, he can’t sleep, and he is often upset to his stomach. After some recent traumatic experiences, he told me that he thought he was depressed and needed some St. John’s Wort. After talking to him, I realized that he was suffering from anxiety, not depression. We talked a little bit, and I told him that I was going to double-check with Master Herbalist David Christopher, but that I thought that Kava Kava would be a better idea than St. John’s Wort. David also said that Kava Kava is what was called for, so I bought 4 ounces, encapsulated them, and gave them to my dad along with a suggested dosage of two capsules three times a day. Two days later he called me and told me that he had been able to sleep through the night, without waking up and worrying about things. A week later he called me and told me he was out of Kava Kava. So I picked up another 4 ounces. Another week went by, and he was again out of Kava Kava. This time I bought a pound and gave it to him. I asked him why he kept running out of Kava Kava so fast, and he told me that he was giving it to one of his sisters who was also struggling with anxiety. Another one of his sisters opted to go on Xanax instead.

After about a month, my dad called and said that the Kava Kava wasn’t working anymore-his stomach was tight, and he couldn’t sleep. So I told him to double his dosage to four capsules three times a day. That did the trick. He hasn’t mentioned feeling anxious to me since. As Kava Kava has a very interesting smell, I am glad that my dad picked up an encapsulator and started encapsulating the herbs for himself. I am also very glad that we can still find Kava Kava in the United States.

I have tried giving my mother, Carol Brimhall, Kava Kava, but it doesn’t seem to have an effect on her anxiety levels. We were at a family gathering up the canyon a few months ago, and she began to get really anxious about cleaning up and getting ready to leave, even though our departure was hours away. Because her anxiety was making it difficult for others to enjoy the rest of the day, I asked my dad if he had brought his Kava Kava with him. Of course he had, so I found some and gave it to her. There was no effect, and she remained anxious the rest of the day. I am unsure if the dosage was too small, or if I was expecting results too soon. I think next time I’ll have her start Kava Kava before we leave home-maybe that will keep the anxiety at bay.