In the 21st century, anxiety has become a commonplace world. In fact, in a paper by Borwin & Sophie, MD, up to 33.7% of the world’s population are affected by an anxiety disorder during their lifetime!!
Anxiety & its high prevalence as demonstrated above is the stark reality of today’s world. It comes in varied shapes & forms too.
One of the types is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD. In an estimate by the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, GADimpacts 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the US population.
Women are at higher risk than men.
So, what is GAD really & given how serious its presence is, what can we do about it?
In this article, we will answer these questions & more so, explore why the Harvard project recommends Kava for generalized anxiety disorder.
It Is More Than Just Stress & Its Different Than Panic
If we go by the book, GAD is defined as:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things. People with GAD may anticipate disaster and may be overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. Individuals with GAD find it difficult to control their worry.
This definition is right & does give us an insight into what GAD is but how does it feel like exactly?
Though the condition uses the word worry, it isn’t exactly simple worrying. It isn’t like the tension we feel before a job interview or game or meeting a new date. It is debilitating in nature.
People who suffer from GAD have persistent anxiety most of the days. Its impact is such that people find it difficult to go out & interact with people.
Unlike a panic attack, which causes a strong physiological form such as fast heartbeat or sweating, or hyperventilating, GAD’s physical response is similar but very much on the surface.
In GAD, all people do is worry worry & worry. Thoughts of a certain kind, which are anxiety-inducing take over the whole brain.
The thoughts are so much that eating with people, going out for a walk, talking to someone on phone becomes a big deal.
For instance, Wil Wheaton, king of the internet, suffers from GAD. In an interview, he described it as:
I lived my life in a room that was so loud, all I could do every day was just deal with how loud it was.
Once he was diagnosed with GAD & got into the treatment, he said:
…it wasn’t constantly worrying about things, and it wasn’t giving up on stuff & feeling like it’s just not worth it…
So the GREAT news is, it is manageable & treatable
& solutions such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, medications exist & are very successful.
But there’s another solution on the list. KAVA, a natural method to melt away your anxiety.
Kava & The Harvard Connection
Kava, a ceremonial herb used as a medicine for thousands of years in the Pacific islands. Its calming properties have created a buzz around the world.
The calming properties of kava have proven to be effective in managing anxiety. The relationship between kava & anxiety has been under scientific study for years now. We must say, the results have been extremely positive.
A systematic review conducted in 2009 showed that herbal medicines in the treatment of depression & anxiety support the use of kava for generalized anxiety.
This was in 2009! So, what’s been cooking up since then in the scientific community? Glad you asked.
In 2016, Kava was recommended in a psychopharmacology algorithm project by Harvard’s South Shore Psychiatry Residency Program.
A psychopharmacology algorithm is a resource effective for any clinician that prescribes medications/treatments. For instance, take a look at this from Harvard’s algorithm:
The figure shows various drug therapies suggested for GAD. Amongst these are alternative medications which include pregabalin, benzodiazepines, and KAVA.
This is a huge win for herbal medicines & also for the people who cannot afford other drug therapies or are afraid of modern medicine’s side effects!
Work of science continues with kava. Many people have already started embracing its health benefits.
NOTE: Despite a proven record & an established positive impact of kava on GAD, it’s significant to consult a psychiatrist. GAD is a serious mental illness & should be diagnosed by a professional.
Okay, so now that you know why Harvard recommends kava for generalized anxiety disorder, let us move to our next section where we talk about how to consume it for everyday use!
How Do I Take Kava For My Anxiety?
At this stage, you must be wondering about how to procure this magical herb?
Well, you can fly to Tonga, Fiji, or Hawaii. Or if it’s not feasible to travel so far, how about we take care of it?
Ozia ships all across the US as well internationally to the European Union and other countries – if you want to relax with Kava, we have just the right solutions for you!
You can take Kava in many forms but the most effective way is drinking it. How?
Simply put the dried, grounded kava root powder in water & strain it with a muslin cloth. Put the drink in a coconut shell & bula!
Ozia’s 24 Wave Noble Kava Powder is a Fijian blend & will help you ease that anxiety. Buy today & see the difference!
In case you’re not a big fan of drinking away your anxiety then how about some candies?
Yes, candies!
Our team has ON-THE-GO stress candy for you. Put in your pocket, purse, or bag for instant stress-free access & accessibility. No pills, no water, no mixing. These candies are also great to enhance your kava sessions.
So what’s it’s gonna be, candy or the powder? Either way, we are happy that you’re going to take a journey where, like Wil Wheaton, loud thoughts leave you be
References:
Abejuela, H. R., & Osser, D. N. (2016). The Psychopharmacology Algorithm Project at the Harvard South Shore Program. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 24(4), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1097/hrp.0000000000000098
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2021, April 21). Facts & Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Adaa. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
Bandelow, B., & Michaelis, S. (2015). Epidemiology of anxiety disorders in the 21st century. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(3), 327–335. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4610617/
Sarris, J., & Kavanagh, D. J. (2009). Kava and St. John’s Wort: Current Evidence for Use in Mood and Anxiety Disorders. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(8), 827–836. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0066
Wil Wheaton on Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Chronic Depression, and Recovery. (2015, June 15). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6ACzT6PCDw