kl.anonymousdrinker
Newbie
Hi, I'm researching Kava as an anti-depressant. Some of the active alkaloids are MAO-B inhibitors, which is one treatment mechanism employed by pharmaceutical antidepressants. Unfortunately there isn't much research literature available on the subject, so it isn't possible AFAIK to be specific about which "Kavalactones" are desirable for this use. So I'm wondering if anyone on this forum has personal experience which would point towards certain strains (each having a unique and potentially beneficial alkaloid distribution) being particularly useful for the treatment of depression. I am guessing this would be manifested in a way some have described as "uplifting" or "euphoric." Thanks for any input!
As an aside, and I haven't seen this discussed in my reading of this forum, MAO inhibition is the reason you see some reports of people getting headaches after drinking caffeine and kava at the same time. When using MAOi's, one should avoid consuming Tyramine. This is found in wine, cheese, fermented foods, and caffeine. The combination can be dangerous - I'm guessing Kava is a weak MAOi so it is less of a big deal than other herbs - but either way I'd advise researching the proper diet if you are a heavy Kava user.
As an aside, and I haven't seen this discussed in my reading of this forum, MAO inhibition is the reason you see some reports of people getting headaches after drinking caffeine and kava at the same time. When using MAOi's, one should avoid consuming Tyramine. This is found in wine, cheese, fermented foods, and caffeine. The combination can be dangerous - I'm guessing Kava is a weak MAOi so it is less of a big deal than other herbs - but either way I'd advise researching the proper diet if you are a heavy Kava user.