Your first thought might be… insomnia on a relaxing tropical island? It’s not surprising that some people, at times, have difficulty sleeping. In fact, a recent report from the Sleep Health Foundation Australia (“Rise and try to shine: the social and economic costs of sleep disorders”) estimates that 1 in 10 Australians have a sleep disorder that can substantially affect their well-being, safety, and productivity. However, the association of a sleep disorder such as insomnia with people living on a tropical island is probably a little more surprising. Nonetheless, kava has been used for centuries as a traditional remedy to help aid in the treatment of insomnia. Ni-Vanuatu people reportedly consume kava drinks both to help induce sleep and to help ensure a more rested sleep.

What is insomnia?

Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is one type of sleep disorder in which people suffer from some combination of either being unable to fall asleep or stay asleep. Insomnia may occur for a short time, for example, during periods of stress and anxiety, or insomnia may be chronic (aptly called chronic insomnia), lasting months on end.  

The symptoms of insomnia are not the same for everyone, and people experience insomnia differently. Some people have trouble falling asleep, while others don’t feel refreshed upon waking. Other symptoms of insomnia include often waking throughout the night or simply waking up earlier than desired without having the ability to fall back asleep.

As a result of the poor sleep associated with insomnia, the days can become more challenging as people may experience daytime effects, such as feeling too tired or sleepy to undertake normal activities or experience trouble concentrating on a task at hand. Others may feel irritable or moody, suffer from headaches, or lose interest in doing things. Unfortunately, these experiences may be further compounded with the anxiety that comes from the concern and worries about not obtaining a night of good sleep.

There have been numerous studies that have looked at a variety of causes relating to sleep disorders more generally, and insomnia more specifically. Typically, when there is no underlying cause associated with insomnia, it is referred to as Primary Insomnia. When there is an identified underlying cause associated with a general health condition, depression, anxiety, or some other sleep disorder, it is referred to as Secondary Insomnia. Insomnia may be worsened or compounded via the intake of various types of chemical compounds such as caffeine or from various other substances, for example, contained in some types of prescription medication.

 Other factors may also play a contributing role in sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Stress, for example, whether caused by grief, work-related issues, financial issues, or even personal relationship problems, can play a role. Additionally, people who work relatively unusual or long hours, such as shift workers, may find their poor sleep habits do not allow them to sleep as well as those who work regular hours throughout the day.

Given many of the previously mentioned contributing factors of insomnia are common to people from all walks of life, from any country, it is probably now a little less surprising to learn that even people living in a tropical paradise are susceptible to suffering from not only insomnia but other sleep-related issues –in Vanuatu, kava has a long tradition of being used to promote relaxation and sleep.

How is insomnia or other more general sleep disorders diagnosed and treated?

As a first step, it is always best to consult with a trusted health professional such as your local GP, who can undertake a thorough examination and help tailor a personal treatment plan.

In most cases, a sleep professional will ask about your sleep habits, medications, how much alcohol and caffeine you consume and other symptoms you may have. They will also likely try and determine if there are any underlying health conditions contributing to your insomnia. In any case, one of the first steps in helping to manage insomnia is to learn healthy sleep habits and change any lifestyle factors that are contributing to the problem.

Over the last 40+ years since the American Sleep Disorders Association (ASDA) published the first classification system dedicated to sleep disorders in 1979, scientific knowledge and understanding of sleep health have significantly evolved. Notwithstanding those changes, there are some remedies that have endured and continue to be advocated for. 

Many of those remedies for insomnia fall under the collective term of good “sleep hygiene”, which includes things such as: going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, ensuring one’s sleeping environment is conducive to sleep (including having a comfortable bed), getting regular exercise (but not in the evening), and doing something relaxing before bed. More contemporary remedies include avoiding electronic screens such as hand-held devices just before bed and avoiding “staring at the time” while trying to sleep. Other lifestyle remedies include cutting out caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol – or at least trying to reduce their intake. 

Kava – a Traditional Remedy for Insomnia                                                                                                                  

Of course, people have been experiencing sleep problems all over the world long before the ASDA was even formed. In Vanuatu, the quintessential traditional remedy to help aid in the treatment of insomnia is kava – most often consumed as a kava drink.

The kava root drink has had a long history of use in folk medicine within Vanuatu. Long before the arrival of European explorers, the Ni-Vanuatu people had discovered that chewing either fresh or dried kava roots would release a substance, now identified as the bioactive compounds called kavalactones, that could be diluted with water to create a kava drink with great beneficial effect. In fact, Kava has important cultural and historical significance throughout the regions of Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia for its relaxant and medicinal effects as a pain reliever, muscle relaxant, and as remedy for anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia.

It’s interesting to note that human and plant physiology inform the way in which kava has been traditionally consumed as a drink. All throughout the pacific, almost entirely, people down cups of kava all at once. It is not often savoured or sipped, likely owing to its bitter and earthy flavour and mud-like texture. But as many Pacific Islanders will attest, Kava is not consumed for its taste but rather for its effect.

Are You Ready to Reap the Benefits of the Kava Root Drink?

Kava has a long history of consumption within the South Pacific Islands and is considered a healthy and enjoyable beverage. As more and more people, both in Australia and abroad, try kava for the first time, they too are discovering for themselves why this “elixir of the pacific” is held with such reverence.

Here at Kava Vanuatu, our history goes back to 1995, when a group of like-minded individuals from various kava growing regions and islands formulated a plan to establish an organisation that would enable our kava growers to improve their standard of living and social welfare via the sale of their kava – knowing the quality of our kava directly affects the quality of our standard of living.

All Kava Vanuatu farmers are registered, and the cultivation and collection of kava plant material follows Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). All the kava used in our products is export-approved Noble cultivars verified by the department of Biosecurity Vanuatu, and our kava is independently lab tested in Australia. Kava Vanuatu’s export facilities strictly conform to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), and our processing and packaging facility is HACCP certified.

As leading manufacturers of 100% pure organic noble kava root powder, our dedicated team work tirelessly to ensure our customers receive consistently superior products. So, if you would like to learn more about kava powder uses, contact Kava Vanuatu today at contact@kavavanuatu.com.au.

What are the effects of a kava drink? 

In Vanuatu, people regularly consume a kava drink so that they may feel a sense of relaxation and tranquillity. Regular kava drinkers often prefer drinking from a Noble kava variety. These and other reported biological effects are attributed to pharmacologically active compounds, named kavalactones or kavapyrones, which are contained in the kava plant.

These compounds may present some psychopharmacological effects on people which may act as a muscle relaxant, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant and/or local anaesthetic. However, even though kavalactones can exhibit psychoactive properties in those who drink kava, it is generally not considered to create any type of hallucinogenic effect.

It should be cautioned that Kava drinks may affect a person’s ability to drive or operate machinery effectively, depending upon the amount of kava consumed – the relative weight of an individual is a large contributing factor, as is an individual’s digestive system and various other genetically related metabolic factors.

Why have people traditionally consumed kava?

In Vanuatu, Fiji, Hawaii, and other islands throughout Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, kava root drinks are not just prepared to make people feel good – although many are prepared for that reason! Kava drinks are also prepared for several social, cultural, spiritual, and therapeutic reasons. Irrespective of whether a kava drink is prepared using a freshly harvested kava root or from dried kava powder, every consumer of kava knows that the quality of their kava drinking experience is inextricably linked to the quality of the kava they consume – something we at Kava Vanuatu understand to be of absolute paramount importance!

In a social context, one of the most popular uses of drinking kava is to reduce one’s inhibitions and to make a person feel more sociable. A kava drink is sometimes compared to drinking alcohol in that respect, except that a kava drink doesn’t affect a person’s cognitive abilities, such as decision making, in the way alcohol does.

From a spiritual perspective, fresh kava roots or dried kava powder is used to prepare kava drinks for use in various religious rites sometimes to achieve a form of enlightenment, reportedly because the consumption of a kava drink engenders physical relaxation combined with heightening mental clarity.

There are many cultural reasons for the consumption of a kava drink. There is a deep cultural belief that drinking kava makes it very hard for those people who have consumed fresh kava root or dried kava root powder to feel negative emotions such as anger. In some respects, it may be compared to a North American Indian “peace pipe”, as it is consumed during important meetings between various people.

Among the many anecdotal therapeutic benefits reportedly associated with the traditional consumption of a kava drink, one of the major perceived therapeutic benefits is the ability of kava to help improve one’s overall sense of well-being. Over the many hundreds and hundreds of years that kava has been consumed, kava drinks are perceived as being able to reduce tension and promote relaxation in both the mind and body. Moreover, many see the consumption of kava as a means to help reduce health problems linked to stress.

How are Kava drinks prepared?

Traditionally there are many methods and tools for making a kava drink, however, the major difference in the preparation of a kava drink is from the use of either freshly harvested kava roots, or from the use of dried kava root powder.

In Vanuatu, a kava drink is almost exclusively prepared using fresh roots and rhizomes from the kava plant, where it is usually macerated in water and then strained. In other areas such as Fiji, a kava drink is generally made from dried roots and rhizomes which have first been dried and then ground before being wrapped in a cloth, infused in water, and finally strained.

At Kava Vanuatu, we stock a variety of kava powders which are available in “instant use” kava powder and ground kava powder forms. Our Instant Use Kava Root Powder sachets are a convenient and easy option for a kava drink, which can readily be prepared by adding the contents of the kava powder from the sachet into a glass of water and simply stirring without the need for any straining. Kava Vanuatu’s Ground Kava Powder can be prepared in a more traditional or considered method dependent upon your personal preference.

How is a kava drink best consumed?

Fresh is best – to avoid spoilage it is better to consume your kava drink shortly after preparation. We also recommend to avoid using boiling water to prepare your kava drink as the boiling water can create an unpleasant taste and consistency.

It is also worth highlighting that because there is a lack of clinical research exploring the interaction kava has with many modern medications or drugs, it is prudent to seek individual medical advice if you are planning to consume a kava drink while taking any medications.  

You should not consume a kava drink at the same time as any alcoholic beverages.  

What are the added benefits of a kava drink prepared using Kava Vanuatu kava root powder?

At Kava Vanuatu it all comes back to quality – consistent quality!

First, to help ensure the healthiest possible experience from drinking kava, it is likely better to consume a kava powder which has been cultivated and harvested in an environment that is completely free from the use of any synthetic chemical herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, or GMOs.

At Kava Vanuatu our plants are organically grown on small traditional farms located on the remote islands of Vanuatu, where our kava roots are free from any nasty synthetical chemicals since the environment is completely free from any air-borne, soil, or water pollutants. All of Kava Vanuatu’s kava root powder products are 100% organic.

Importantly, our Noble kava varieties are both single origin and single cultivar which means we can ensure a consistently high quality, premium product, direct from our farms to you.

As with all living plants, as soon as a kava plant is harvested the kava root will begin to degrade. The rate at which the kava root degrades is largely contingent on several environmental exposure factors. The biologically active compounds in kava, such as the kavalactones, are especially sensitive to degradation to environmental factors such as sunlight and air – and at Kava Vanuatu that is why the kava roots from our kava plants are specially processed immediately after harvest to retain freshness!

Fresh is best and at Kava Vanuatu every step of the manufacturing process is designed with this in mind – and it is why we continually invest in our people, processing methods, and infrastructure. Our kava powders always undergo strict quality control and testing to ensure the consistently superior quality of our kava root is maintained up until the point you consume one of Kava Vanuatu’s kava powder products.  

Are You Ready to Reap the Benefits of Instant Kava Powder?

Kava has a long history of consumption within the South Pacific Islands and is considered a healthy and enjoyable beverage. As more and more people, both in Australia and abroad, try kava for the first time they too are discovering for themselves why this “elixir of the pacific” is held with such reverence.

Here at Kava Vanuatu, our history goes back to 1995 when a group of like-minded individuals from various kava growing regions and islands formulated a plan to establish an organisation that would enable our kava growers to improve their standard of living and social welfare via the sale of their kava – knowing the quality of our kava directly effects the quality of our standard of living.

All our farmers are registered, and the cultivation and collection of kava plant material follows Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). All of the kava used in our products is export-approved Noble cultivars verified by the department of Biosecurity Vanuatu. Kava Vanuatu’s export facilities strictly conform to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), and our processing and packaging facility is HACCP certified.

As leading manufacturers of 100% pure organic noble kava root powder, our dedicated team work tirelessly to ensure our customers receive consistently superior products. So, if you would like to learn more about our kava powders, contact Kava Vanuatu today at contact@kavavanuatu.com.au. 

Kava Kastom in Vanuatu…

Kastom is the Bislama word used to refer to traditional culture, including religion, economics, art and of course kava drinking. The word is derived from the Australian English pronunciation of custom. Kastom is largely passed on by word of mouth with Kastom Stories such as myths and legends, via Kastom House which are sites where objects and rituals are stored, and via Kastom Tabu which are objects of special significance and symbolism.

The name Vanuatu means “land eternal” and the people of Vanuatu, known as Ni-Vanuatu are largely of Melanesian origin. Vanuatu is recognised as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world owing to its Y-shaped archipelago consisting of 65 different inhabited islands. Everything from dances, kava drinking ceremonies, status and systems of authority, artistic styles, animal husbandry, and crop husbandry can vary from island to island. As you might guess, the idiosyncratic customs of each island is known as Island Kastom.

There are also many unique and varied species of Kava which accompany the various Island Kastoms, with much of the world’s kava supply coming from some of Vanuatu’s largest islands which include Ambrym, Gaua, Espiritu Santo, Malo, Pentecost, Malakula, Epi, Erromango, Ambae, Aneityum, Vanua Lava, Tanna, Efate and Maewo. Vanuatu is home to the greatest number of kava plant species and most diverse range of kava root drink types of any country in the world, especially compared to Hawaii or Fiji, which is why Vanuatu is widely considered to be the geographical origin of Kava. Vanuatu is also home to the greatest variety of Noble kavas or “drinking kava” varieties. Many of the islands have their own slightly unique way of preparing kava root drinks and undertaking kava drinking ceremonies. Vanuatu boasts 113 distinct languages and innumerable dialects. Out of the three official languages, Bislama is the most spoken in Vanuatu, followed by English, and lastly French. There are similarly many names used for the many species of kava plants used to prepare kava beverages.

The kava root drink is a fundamental part of Vanuatu kastom rituals and consuming the right type of kava in the right place at the right time is said to ensure an almost spiritual experience. In fact, back in earlier centuries, kava root powder was regarded to be so powerful that it was prohibited by Christian missionaries for almost 100 years on the many islands in Vanuatu in an attempt to eliminate competition with other gods.

Kava…

The kava plant (Piper methysticum Forst.) is a robust, succulent, well-branching perennial shrub belonging to the Black pepper family Piperaceae. The generic name Piper comes from the Latin for “pepper”, and the species name methysticum from the Greek meaning “intoxicant”, thus Piper methysticum when translated into English means “Intoxicating pepper”. The kava leaves are heart shaped, pointed, smooth and green on both sides and are about 15 cm in length. The plant is usually about 2 to 2.5m tall when it is harvested after 3 to 5 years of growth.

Kava farmers have been growing and harvesting kava plants for numerous ceremonial and medicinal resolutions ever since the so-called “Lapita” people first arrived in Vanuatu roughly 3,500 years ago. Importantly, despite kava being a dioecious species, only male kava plants are known, and no fruits or seeds have been reported. The kava plant is cultivated through vegetative propagation. This coupled with the cultural, topographical, and climatic diversity across the islands of Vanuatu has engendered more kava root drink varieties than any other country on earth.

Kava Varieties…

According to the SPC report (2001), there have been about 115 varieties, otherwise known as cultivars, of Piper methysticum identified. Out of the 115 cultivars, it has been recorded that there are about 80 in Vanuatu, 12 in Fiji, 11 in Hawaii, 7 in Tonga and 5 in Samoa. The Kava Act No. 7 (2002) was passed by the Vanuatu Government which categorises and identifies the various cultivars into four categories, as listed below:

1. “Noble” kava varieties – “drinking kava” varieties regularly used as a traditional social kava drinks.
2. “Medicinal” kava varieties – have beneficial properties amongst traditional herbalists who prepare kava root drinks.
3. “Tu Dei” kava varieties – not permitted as an export commodity.
4. “Wichmannii” varieties – not permitted as an export commodity.

Kava Drinking at a Nakamal in Vanuatu…

A nakamal (a picture of one is located on the Kava Vanuatu Contact page) is a traditional Ni-Vanuatu meeting place, where people living on the islands meet to enjoy a kava drink, as well as resolve tribal disputes, dance, and trade goods. A nakamal is generally surrounded by banyan trees in a forest clearing on most islands. In the more urban areas of Vanuatu, such as the capital Port Vila, the term nakamal has come to mean Kava Bar were people go to enjoy a kava beverage, usually at the end of the day. Kava has a distinctively bitter tase, which makes it a memorable experience if it is your first time trying it!

Despite the bitter taste of the kava root drink, it is largely consumed for its sedative, muscle relaxing, and euphoric properties. If you’re in Australia or anywhere else in the world and can’t try a fresh kava drink from one of the islands of Vanuatu, Kava Vanuatu kava root powder is the next best thing!

Traditional Kava Uses in Vanuatu…

Kava is known for providing a sense of relaxation and tranquillity and has been traditionally consumed for these reasons. In addition, some of the health benefits traditional herbalists have purported the consumption of kava to have include:

• Helping to reduce urinary pain
• Providing relief from constipation
• Aiding to settle general gastro-intestinal upsets
• Helping to diminish pain related to headaches and toothaches
• Improving muscle relaxation
• Helping to provide relief from insomnia

The recognised study of Kava by the Europeans started with the first voyages of exploration and discovery undertaken in the 17th & 18th Century. The Natural History Museum in London, England has a botanical drawing of kava which dates to 1769. Since the first published research paper on Kava (Piper methysticum) there has been over 100,000 research publications. Since 1990, more specific research has been conducted into the identification and classification of the pharmacologically active compounds within the Kava plant known as “Kavalactones”.

Given anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders today, it is no surprise that there is growing demand for safe, natural remedies. Moreover, with a lack of sleep being associated with many medical issues, people are continuing to seek natural medications to help them sleep better.

Growing Kava Culture…

With kava’s long history of consumption as a healthy and enjoyable beverage within the South Pacific Islands, kava drinking is now being enjoyed around the world. For example, there are now literally hundreds of Kava bars situated across America where kava root drinks are being enjoyed by people from all cultural backgrounds. More recently, Kava is being increasingly embraced as a part of Australian culture. Australians can now enjoy the benefits of the finest Vanuatu noble kava through Kava Vanuatu’s 100% organic Instant Kava Root Powder – contained in very convenient sachets.

How To Prepare Your Instant Kava Root Drink…

We ensure that our instant kava root powder that we offer here at Kava Vanuatu is of an exceptionally high quality and proves to highlight convenience and cleanliness, which is shown through our individually wrapped portion sizes. Instant kava is very easy to prepare whether you are at home or on the go.

Simply empty your Kava Vanuatu instant use sachet into your desired glass and pour in 200 mL of room temperature water and then stir vigorously until dissolved. Generally, the more a person weighs the more kava powder a person will require to realise an equivalent effect.

Are You Ready to Reap the Benefits of Kava Powder?

So, why choose Kava Vanuatu Kava powder? In two words – uncompromising quality!

Kava Vanuatu’s history goes back to 1995, when a group of like-minded individuals from various kava growing regions and islands formulated a plan to establish an organisation that would enable our kava growers to improve their standard of living and social welfare via the sale of their kava – knowing the quality of our kava directly effects the quality of our standard of living.

Our company does not use any intermediate wholesalers and we have perfect product traceability. Every person in our organisation understands the importance of our reputation for manufacturing the highest quality kava powder – something we are very proud to stand by. We utilise highly advanced technological processing equipment and simply do not ever compromise on the quality of any input used in our manufacturing process.

As leading manufacturers of 100% pure organic noble kava root powder, our dedicated team work tirelessly to ensure our customers receive a consistently superior kava powder product. If you would like to try one of our kava powders, rest assured you will be receiving the highest quality Vanuatu kava powder available.