By Irinna Schwenke
'Take a chill pill,' a popular saying from the early 90s, seemed like a visionary dream.
Could a pill really 'chill' people out, reduce stress, and create a more peaceful world?
The combination of herbal science and good marketing skills has made this 'chill pill' a reality.
What started out as a cultural relaxation ritual has turned into the newest craze among herbal fanatics.
For years, kava, an herbal tea made from the root of the pepper plant, has been used as a beverage for recreational and religious use in Polynesian cultures. Now it is a popular herbal medicine said to help reduce anxiety and stress, according to kavafarm.com.
Polynesians drink kava for ceremonial purposes, for resolving disagreements, during important meetings and for social purposes, said Samu Sefo, 21, from Laie, Hawaii.
'Kava is a natural relaxer and promotes camaraderie among friends and family,' Sefo said. 'When we drink kava everyone opens up, sings, and dances together.'
Kava, if taken in moderation, has an assortment of beneficial effects. Along with reducing stress and anxiety, it traditionally treats chills, sleeping problems, tuberculosis, asthma, menstrual problems, headaches and other various ailments, according to kavafarm.com.
Kava is sold in pill and liquid form and can be purchased in almost any grocery and nutrition store.
But what most people don''t know is that kava, taken above the daily-recommended dosage, has the same effect as alcohol.
In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration issued a report warning that kava can be an intoxicating non-alcoholic product, which may have effects similar to or greater than alcohol. It also warns that high doses can cause leg numbness, muscular weakness and other motor impairments.
In 1996, Paul Hiatt began arresting Utahns for driving under the influence of kava. Some had consumed as many as 15 glasses, he said.
'They can become impaired similar to somebody who drank too much beer and they can go to bed, get up in the morning and not have a hangover,' Hiatt said.
But since breathalyzer tests don''t pick up the herb, it was difficult for Hiatt to make any convictions. That is when he decided to take a sample of kava to the Utah State Health Lab.
'The health lab when they did a blood or urine sample, would be able to recognize the specimen. This is how we got our first D.U.I. conviction,' Hiatt said.
Since kava has been identified as an herb that can impair driving ability, the Utah Highway Patrol and West Valley Police have made numerous kava-related arrests, said Sergeant J.R. Nelson of the Salt Lake Police Department.
Driving under the influence convictions are not confined to driving under the influence of alcohol, Nelson said.
'A person can be arrested for driving under the influence of anything that impairs their driving ability,' said Sergeant J.R. Nelson of the Salt Lake Police Department. 'It''s no different than if a person took over-the-counter drugs and then drove irresponsibly.'
Nelson said convictions are rare, but they occur.
'We have found that kava abuse is frequent among Polynesian men who drink it for recreational purposes,' he said.
In Provo, a group of guys from the islands of Hawaii, Tonga and Samoa do just this - they 'mix' on a regular basis for social purposes.
'We drink about four bags a day and maybe 30 bags on the weekends,' said Danny Pito, 26, from Laie, Hawaii. 'We don''t think it''s bad and for us, it''s all about the love. We just like to kick back and let all our worries go out the door.'
Frequent drinkers of kava said the effects vary among individuals, but that kava is not as bad as authorities make it sound.
'You can buy it at the stores, so you know that it''s safe,' Pito said. 'You can get a buzz from drinking kava, but its different than the buzz you get from drinking alcohol.
'The effects of the two things are completely different,' Pito said. 'I drink it for social purposes and it''s natural so it''s better than drinking alcohol.'
But Lynsey Corotan, a junior from Long Beach California, majoring in psychology, said the misuse of natural remedies is not as harmless as people like Pito might think.
'Like anything, using things in moderation is what makes it safe. Yes, kava is natural. But so is cocaine,' Corotan said. 'That doesn''t make it safe.'