Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise: The Pursuit of a Natural Alternative to Anti-Anxiety Drugs and Sleeping Pills Paperback - 1996

First line

On a balmy evening in June of 1980, I sat with a small group of friends around a dinner table in a spacious home at the summit of a hill in Brookline, a suburb of Boston.

From the rear cover

HEALTH / TRAVEL Join botanical researcher Chris Kilham in the South Seas as he searches for kava, the most effective relaxant and stress-reliever in all of nature. A soothing, safe alternative to dangerous tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and antidepressants, kava naturally eases muscular tension and insures deep, refreshing sleep. Kava-based remedies are used by Europe's largest pharmaceutical companies to treat everything from urinary tract infections to arthritis, as well as nervous disorders of all kinds, but no source of pure, high-quality kava has been available to consumers. An exploration of the magical relationship between a people, a place, and a plant, Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise takes you on a journey through the mystical legends, outlandish history, and exciting science surrounding kava. Kilham ventures deep into unexplored islands of Vanuatu to set up a kava trade with the natives. Along the way he befriends a Tahitian prince, survives deadly seas in a questionable boat, and discovers powerful varieties of kava completely unknown to the West.With a thorough analysis of kava research, and information on where to find the best kava, Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise is a must-read for those interested in adventure, plant medicines, or the cultures of Oceania. Chris Kilham has been involved in the field of holistic health as a writer, lecturer, and entrepreneur since 1970. He is the author of many books, including The Five Tibetans, Take Charge of Your Health, and The Whole Food Bible, and is the founder of Cowboy Medicine Expeditions, which specializes in researching and launching products based on plant medicines.