The best kava kava experience happens when you enjoy kava responsibly and stay well-hydrated while using the herb. You may have heard people talk about a kava hangover or experienced it yourself. To avoid it, it helps to understand a few things about how kava works.
This means learning about kava dosage, selecting high-quality kava strains, understanding how your body reacts to the botanical, and staying hydrated. This way, you can avoid any potential adverse effects of kava beyond its calming and enjoyable side.
Kava-related hangovers do happen for some people, though it’s not the norm. Most of the time, this occurs due to the use of poor-quality kava sources, overindulgence, or combining kava use with the wrong substances. Or, simply forgetting to drink plenty of water.
In this Real Botanicals article, we will explore everything you need to know about a kava hangover: what it is, what causes it, how long it lasts, and, most importantly, how to avoid it for a smoother, more balanced experience.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or if you experience prolonged symptoms.
Does Kava Cause a Hangover?
Hangover is associated with the physical and mental aftereffects of using substances such as alcohol. You can suffer from a hangover due to dehydration, toxicity, and other causes. “Kava hangover” is a mild sedation rather than a “true hangover” linked to more psychoactive substances.
Essentially, a kava hangover is the experience of negative or sedative effects that linger after your kava wears off. Although its causes are numerous, preventing it is relatively easy. The adverse effects of kava are typically short-lived and easily manageable, often wearing off within a few hours after hydration, rest, or exercise.
And no, a kava hangover isn’t like the overwhelming, terribly sick hangover you can get from overindulging in alcohol. In fact, the effects may be only slightly noticeable, but they improve quickly when you rest and rehydrate.
Kava is often combined with kratom to maximize the therapeutic and recreational potential of each substance. Learn more about the potential for a kratom hangover so you will be wholly ready for your first Kratom and Kava Shot experience.
What Are the Common Kava After Effects?
Kava is a natural alternative to many conventional supplements due to its effectiveness and fewer undesirable reactions. Unlike alcohol and some other psychoactive substances, most people respond well to kava without feeling too overwhelmed or experiencing too many adverse effects. It’s generally well-tolerated by the body when used moderately.
After-effects can occur with poor-quality kava, though. In fact, this is a significant indicator that you’ve taken some low-quality or non-noble kava. Other factors that may increase the likelihood of a kava hangover, or lingering grogginess, may be overconsumption or heavy dosages, dehydration, or poly-substance use.
While the adverse effects generally tend to be mild, you may experience:
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Grogginess
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Mental fog
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Dry mouth
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Dehydration
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Fatigue
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Low mood
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Digestive issues
What Causes a Kava Hangover?
Kava is generally well-tolerated and considered safe when used responsibly. However, some consumers experience kava-induced hangover or aftereffects, even when they use it properly, indicating a higher sensitivity to the kavalactones. This is why it helps to use any type of substance with a measure of self-awareness and mindfulness.
Let’s take a look at the key kava hangover factors. Remember these when enjoying your favorite kava beverages at the kava bar near you or at home.
1. Taking Too High a Dose
Indulging too much in drinking kava is the most prevalent cause of a hangover. Kava is dose-dependent, so high doses or drinking too quickly can overload your system with excessive kavalactones. This could lead to prolonged effects that result in hangover-like symptoms the next day.
2. Dehydration
Kava is thought to be a mild diuretic, which means you should drink more water while using kava and afterward. Plus, your liver can use the extra hydration support while processing any type of botanical substance like kava or kratom. What you’re feeling the day after kava may not be a kava hangover at all, but your body’s response to dehydration, including dry mouth, fatigue, mental sluggishness, etc. A good rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water before enjoying kava, and one between your kava drinks.
3. Using Potent Kava Strains
The type of kava you use makes a big difference. First, use noble kava only. The other type, Tudei kava versions, nicknamed “two day”, can have lingering adverse effects that last days. This is not always information provided by the kava vendor, so look for lab testing results or COAs that may provide more information.
Reputable kava vendors, such as Real Botanicals, only select the most noble and clean kava strains for sourcing. However, if you’re working with a new kava vendor, it's helpful to verify the source.
Kava strains exist in 3 categories:
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Heavy
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Heady
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Balanced
All of these are based on the kava’s chemical composition of kavalactones. Heavy strains may contain higher Levels of Dihydromethysticin, Methysticin, and Dihydrokavain kavalactones, which can be more sedating or lingering. Heady strains will have more Kavain and Desmethoxyyangonin. Balanced strains have a balance of both.
Stick to noble only, heady or balanced kava strains which have more desirable kavalactone profiles, taper off more pleasantly, and don’t tend to linger heavily. Look for lab testing results or COAs that may provide more information on the kava’s sourcing, type, and content.
4. Poor Quality or Unfiltered Kava
It’s no surprise that bad kava can make you feel bad. There may be additives, fillers, contaminants, or pathogens that could make you sick. This is why you should be careful where you get your kava and always buy lab-tested kava! Some manufacturers use unethical methods to create their kava drinks. Improper preparation, such as using leaves or stems instead of roots or unfiltered kava, can cause a hangover and other adverse effects. Consider top-quality, root-made noble kava from legitimate vendors to avoid a hangover.
5. Taking Kava Too Late at Night
Most people use kava to unwind and relax in the evening after work. But, some users report that taking kava too late or too close to bedtime seems to disrupt their sleep quality. This would be a fascinating field of study for kava researchers to get a better understanding of how it affects REM sleep.
In the meantime, if kava bothers your sleep, taper off your kava use several hours before bed and follow it with some refreshing water.
6. Using Kava on an Empty Stomach
Taking kava on an empty stomach can lead to faster, more potent effects, which is great for experienced users but may be overwhelming for new kava users. This may contribute to grogginess or mild ‘hangover’ effects, especially if dosing isn’t moderated. Try a fluid-rich snack with your kava drink:
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Banana (soothing and potassium-rich)
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Melon (hydrating, gentle)
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Coconut water (electrolytes and hydration)
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Papaya (gentle and aids digestion)
7. Mixing Kava Use With Other Substances
Also, you should avoid mixing kava with other substances like alcohol. Two or more psychoactive supplements can amplify each other's effects, increasing the risk of hangover and other health issues.
How Long Does a Kava Hangover Last?
Kava hangover typically lasts for approximately 5-12 hours before wearing off. This duration varies from person to person. Factors of duration include:
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Dosage used
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Method of ingestion
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Type of strain
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Tolerance levels
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Body weight
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Liver health
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Hydration
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General health
Tips to Avoid a Kava Hangover
You can use kava beverage with intention and moderation to enjoy its calming properties while minimizing hangover and other aftereffects. Let’s take a look at practical tips to avoid a kava hangover:
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Start low and slow: Begin with a small dose and sip it slowly, allowing your body time to respond before deciding on more. Notice how your mood, relaxation, or physical sensations shift as it kicks in.
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Stay hydrated: Drink a glass or two of water before your kava session to prep your body. While drinking, alternate with water or an electrolyte-rich beverage to stay hydrated. Extra fluids help your body process kavalactones and maintain balance, so be sure to hydrate afterward.
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Avoid alcohol or sedatives: Avoid mixing kava with alcohol or other sedatives, as the combination can be unpredictable and potentially harmful. It may increase the risk of next-day hangover, strain your liver, and slow your recovery.
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Choose high-quality, noble kava from trusted brands: Noble kava has been used for thousands of years and is known for its clean, calming effects, smooth comedown, and little to no next-day drowsiness. Trusted brands label their products as "noble" and provide third-party lab results to confirm purity and safety.
Want to make your kava drink at home? Here is a step-by-step guide to the best kava drink recipe.
How to Recover from a Kava Hangover
If you’ve got a little indulgent with kava and want to bounce back quickly, try these tips:
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Exercise and sunlight: Engaging in light exercise, such as a walk, jog, or stretch, can boost circulation and energy, helping to clear lingering brain fog and sluggishness. Sunlight also supports recovery by regulating your circadian rhythm and promoting the production of vitamin D, which helps manage mood and energy levels.
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Hydration and mineral replenishment: Since kava may act as a diuretic, drinking water or electrolyte-rich drinks like coconut water, lemon water with sea salt, or bone broth can help restore magnesium, potassium, and sodium.
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Relaxation and sleep: If kava effects bother you the day after, getting plenty of rest can make you feel better more quickly. Even a brief 30-minute nap can leave you feeling more refreshed and rejuvenated.
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Try herbal remedies: Many kava lovers keep these botanical supports on hand to help when they accidentally overindulge in kava drinks.
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L-Theanine – May mental fog and welcome a focused yet relaxed state of mind.
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Ashwagandha – May restore energy, boost resilience to stress, and overall vitality during your recovery.
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Kanna – May support mood and mental alertness.
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Rhodiola rosea – May reduce fatigue and boost mental stamina after a kava-induced hangover.
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Cannabidiol (CBD) – CBD may ease fogginess, enhance mental clarity, boost mood, and promote better sleep.
Learn more: How long does kava stay in your system?
Real Botanicals: Formulated for Clean Results and Recovery
Real Botanicals sources only expertly processed noble kava from the South Pacific. Using our ChromaPure extraction technology, we can harness the best kavalactones for your smooth experience. Each serving of our best Kratom Kava shots is pre-measured for precise dosing, ensuring a predictable and safe experience.
Real Botanical’s Kava Kratom shot blends are designed for clarity and balance, not heaviness or overwhelming effects. We focus on delivering a clean, authentic experience that promotes calmness, sociability, and heightened well-being. Each batch is tested in an independent lab for quality. Our kava reviews attest to gentle body-mind calmness with a smoother next-day feel.
FAQs About Kava Hangovers
Why do I feel tired the day after kava?
High serving sizes, potent strains, low-grade products, dehydration, and other factors can cause you to feel tired the day after using kava. This may be more common for those new to kava. Avoid next-day fatigue by using top-grade noble kava, dosing mindfully, and staying hydrated.
Can I get dehydrated from drinking kava?
Kava may contribute to dehydration, but you can counteract this by drinking more fluids before, during, and after kava use. An electrolyte-rich drink, such as coconut water, can also help maintain balance.
Is this normal or am I taking too much kava?
Kava use can have different impacts on different people. If you persistently feel overwhelmed by kava use, ease up on the amount you take and drink more fluids before, during, and after kava use. (And purchase a better kava!)
Does kava cause brain fog?
Some people complain of brain fog when using kava, but again, this can be tied to overuse. Mixing the botanical with other sedatives like alcohol may complicate this.
Final Thoughts: Avoid Kava Hangovers the Morning After
Proper kava use should provide a pleasant experience and have you waking the next day feeling refreshed and reinvigorated, not with lingering kava hangover effects. Dosage, your body’s response, and hydration are all key factors to remember when using kava.
Real Botanicals offers only high-quality kratom and kava products designed for clarity and general relaxation. Our kava is third-party tested and finely filtered to provide a more consistent and balanced effect.