Noble Kava vs Ignoble Kava
Noble kava has been extensively researched and has been proven safe for human consumption time and again. There have been a multitude of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles published about the potential benefits of kava and its main psychoactive constituents, the 6 major kavalactones (Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post about this!). Rumours of possible liver harm being associated with kava have not only been debunked, numerous papers have shown that yangonin, which is found in all noble varieties of kava, may actually have liver protective effects. Noble kava is easy drinking, mild on the digestive system, and agreeable with almost everyone. Its effects are widely reported as being uplifting, pleasant, smooth, mellow, and satisfying, and the overall subjective experience is entirely enjoyable for the vast majority.
Root & Pestle noble kava powders use only the lateral and basal stems or rhizomes, and never include any part of the rest of the plant, such as stems, nodes, leaves, or peelings. All noble kavas are high in kavain and low in flavokavains and all of them have a chemotype beginning with 42 or 24. Kavain is always more abundant than dihydromethysticin in noble kavas (the K to DHM (or 4:5) ratio is high). (For more information about chemotyping, please check out our blog on the subject).
The term, “Ignoble”, can be applied to any of a wide variety of kavas which have not had their safety for human consumption proven, including so-called wichmanii, tudei (two day), medicinal, or wild kavas. noble kavas are refreshing and normal amounts can be used regularly by almost anyone without undue risk of serious adverse effects. Most ignoble kavas have a 5 as one of the first 2 numbers in the chemotype, and the K to DHM ratio tends to be around 1 or lower.
The Vanuatu Kava Act restricts the export of kava for consumption to noble varieties only, and although all kava exported from Vanuatu has to meet strict biosecurity and food-safety requirements, the finished kava powder product can vary dramatically in quality depending on exactly which plants are used and on how they are processed. We have an upcoming blog entry about this, but you can be confident that Root and Pestle not only make high-quality kava that goes down easily and works great, but we also ensure that every batch of our kava powder consistently exceeds every requirement for safety too.
Root & Pestle use only 100% noble kava in all of our kava powders, both traditional, and instant. We are noble kava specialists; We only buy noble kava, and we only sell noble kava powders. There is no chance of any amount of cross-contamination with Root and Pestle. No one is more comprehensive with their checks or exclusive in their selection of fresh green kava approved for processing; You will get nothing but the highest quality Vanuatu noble kava powder, regardless of which finished product you purchase from R&P.
1Kuchta et al. German Kava Ban Lifted by Court: The Alleged Hepatotoxicity of Kava (Piper methysticum) as a Case of Ill-Defined Herbal Drug Identity, Lacking Quality Control, and Misguided Regulatory Politics. Planta Med. 2015 Dec;81(18):1647-53. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1558295. Click here
2Kong et al. Yangonin modulates lipid homeostasis, ameliorates cholestasis and cellular senescence in alcoholic liver disease via activating nuclear receptor FXR. Phytomedicine. 17 June 2021, 153629 Click here and here PMID: 34304130
3Dong et al. Yangonin protects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through farnesoid X receptor. Phytomedicine. 2019 Feb;53:134-142. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.006. Epub 2018 Sep 5. PMID: 30668392 Click here
4 Dong et al. Yangonin inhibits ethanol-induced hepatocyte senescence via miR-194/FXR axis. European Journal of Pharmacology. January 2021 Volume 890, 5, 173653 Click here and here
