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Piper methysticum - Kava

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Kava

Kava is a crop of the western Pacific. Kava is consumed throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures of Polynesia, including Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia for its sedating effects.

Uses

nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, liver disorders, abdominal pain, dark urine, anxiety ,stress, Sore throats

Parts Used

Roots, Rhizome.

Chemical Composition

Trimethyl-1-naphthol, 5-methyl-1-phenylhexen-3-yn-5-ol, octadecadienoic acid-methyl ester, Dimethylflavanone, Pinostrobin chalcone and 7-dimethoxyflavanone-5 hydroxy[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada
Hindi
Malayalam
Tamil
Telugu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit
English Ava, Ava Pepper


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Shrub

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple alternate The leaves are heart-shaped, 10-30 cm x 8-23 cm; stipules large, persistent

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 3-9 cm long Yellow 2 The female spike bears flowers with a single basal ovule in an unilocular ovary topped by a stigma.

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
General 7–10 mm Fruit seldom produced; a berry containing one seed single {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

The kava plant is propagated from cuttings taken from the lower stems or from the younger stems once separated from the rootstock when the root is harvested.[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Damp areas, near streams, Borders of forests and fields.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links