Herbal supplements are a popular way to deal with anxiety, and there is no herb more effective at fighting anxiety than kava. Kava is a root herb, and unlike many other types of herbal medicine, there is legitimate research showing the effects of kava are very real and genuinely valuable for those that are struggling with anxiety and stress.
But most people don't like swallowing large herbal supplements or pills. Most people prefer to take their natural medicines the easiest way possible – in tea. That's why Yogi's kava stress relief tea is so popular. The question is whether or not that popularity is deserved, and if it has a genuine effect on your ability to fight anxiety.
What I Already Knew About This Tea
Perhaps I'm not a fair reviewer, because I know a considerable amount about kava already and know what it does, how much you're supposed to take, how you're supposed to take it, and so on.The reality is that this type of kava tea simply does not provide enough of the herb to make a difference. Kava's main ingredient is kavalactones. Kavalactones are a lactone compound that comes straight from the root, and are believed to be the source of kava's calming, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) qualities.
This tea only has 78mg of kava root extract – not just the kavalactones. It's also a tea, which means that not all of the kavalactones within that extract are going to go into the tea. At best, it's possible that maybe 50mg of kavalactones are actually in any glass of tea, and that number is likely far higher than the reality.
The problem is that a standard dose, as recommended by kava supporters, is something closer to 150 kavalactones. At minimum you would have to take 3 glasses of tea to get the desired effects, likely much more.
Furthermore, generally kava is supposed to be taken with food, because the kavalactones are activated by fat. These teas contain no fat, and are usually taken at night before bed when eating is considered a bad idea. Overall, it's simply unlikely that this tea provides what the user is looking for.
My Experience With Yogi's Kava Tea
It should come as no surprise that I didn't experience much of a change in my stress or anxiety when using this tea. I did experience the occasional tongue numbness, which is a neat side effect of kava that I personally enjoy but many others don’t. And for kava, I found the taste to be fairly pleasant. Kava teas generally have a foul flavor that I personally cannot stand. This tea wasn't "great" but it certainly didn't taste like liquid horse.Kava Tea and Why it May Work For Some
I've found a lot of people that say they benefit from Yogi's kava tea. Personally, I think it's most likely the placebo effect, but I admit I may be wrong. Kava is a popular and genuinely effective anxiety supplement. What I really believe is that the act of drinking a warm tea at night every night is, by its very nature, calming. Often those with anxiety have a tendency to bring themselves more and more stress, staying up late, watching TV, checking their phones, etc.Drinking a nice glass of tea gives you a break from the day. You sit, you drink slowly, and you try your best to feel relaxed. That type of attention to relaxation – especially right before bed – really is calming, so those that like this tea are probably feeling those benefits.
As for whether the tea actually improves stress and anxiety, my answer is "probably not." But at the same time, there's no harm in trying, and it's possible that my knowledge about kava is what prevented me from enjoying its benefits.
About the Author: Ryan Rivera is an anxiety specialist that has tried many different kava and anxiety supplements to find relief for his symptoms.
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