Podcast: From multivitamins to kava…one professor’s journey in psychotropic plant research

Against this backdrop, we speak with a psychotropic plant medicine researcher, Professor Jerome Sarris, on his decade-long journey in psychotropic plant medicine research in the third episode of our Nutra Champion podcast.

An Australian native, Professor Sarris is currently the deputy director at NICM Health Research Institute.

A firm believer of the integrative health approach, he also specialises in the research of using psychotropic plant medicine, such as kava – a plant traditionally used in Pacific Islands – in addressing mood and anxiety disorders.

 “It (kava research) has been an area of personal passion of mine, because I had a great-grand mother who was a Gilbertese…and also my mother was born in Vanuatu.​

“Personally, I have got a good affinity and being an Australian, having lots of South Pacific islander friends, it’s a beautiful culture and I do love and respect their use of kava.”​

His pursue for higher education in the UK has also further fuelled his interest in psychotropic plant medicine research.

Prior to specialising in kava research, his area of research ranged from multivitamins, green tea, and omega-3 etc. 

Listen to find out more about his career.