Kava, Piper Methysticum, is the most effective relaxing and stress-relieving plant in all of nature. This book is the tale of plant researcher Chris Kilham's investigations into this plant and his far-ranging explorations deep in the South Pacific in search of a source of kava. Kilham takes the reader on an adventurous journey through the mystical native legends, outlandish history, and exciting science surrounding this potent plant. A story replete with pulpit-pounding missionaries, kava-drinking natives, sorcerers, a mysterious Tahitian prince, and the author's own humorous outlook amidst difficult and perilous circumstances, Kava is a must-read for those who love tales of travel and adventure and those interested in plant medicine.

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 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. A must-read for those interested in adventure, plant medicines, or the cultures of Oceania.

"Truly exotic locales can be visited in Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise, Chris Kilhams' odyssey of a medical research mission on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu." -- Publishers Weekly

“No matter where of how far you wander, the light is only a split second, a half breath away. It is never too late to recognize the clear light.” – Tibetan Book of the Dead (Quote on the opening page of Kava: Medicine Hunting in Paradise.)