Kava is a social and ceremonial herb revered for its relaxing properties across South Pacific cultures, from Vanuatu and Fiji to Hawaii. Derived from the root of the shrub Piper methysticum, kava contains 18 active compounds known as kavalactones, which have been traditionally used for centuries to promote calm and relaxation. One of its most compelling effects is that kavalactones enhance the binding of GABA agonists at orthosteric GABAa receptor channels. This means that the brain’s relaxation neurons are amplified, benefiting from both endogenous GABA already present in the body and exogenous GABAa activation from Muscimol.