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[Contamination
Responsible for Liver Problems | Possible Liver
Complications]
[Benefits
of Kava kava | Frequently asked questions | Safety
Profile]
[Using Kava Kava | Daily Equivalents
| How Kava kava works]
[History & Botany | Clinical
Studies | References]
See also:
Anxiety & Stress Relief
 Kava
Kava is commonly sold as an over-the-counter drug for conditions of anxiety,
stress, and restlessness in Europe. Although kava kava is often compared
to standard sedatives, Kava's unique action on the nervous system is not
so easily categorized. Kava kava's effects usually begin with a relaxed,
sociable state of mind and heightening of the senses. At higher dosages,
Kava kava enhanced relaxation typically gives way to a deep, refreshing
sleep. Traditional kava kava users, described by anthropologists as the
happiest and friendliest people in the world, have also used kava kava for
resolving arguments peacefully - another possible use for the western world!
Today kava kava is also an increasingly popular herb in the chaotic, stressed-out
western world.
Because of kava kava's
mild muscle relaxant and pain-relieving properties, some health practitioners
also recommended kava kava for a variety of other health complaints, such
as back pain, chronic tension headaches, and fibromyalgia.
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Kava
Root Contamination with Leaves and Peelings May be Responsible for
Negative Liver Effects of Kava Products
University of Hawaii
scientists may have an answer as to why Kava Kava, consumed as a beverage
by Pacific Islanders for 2000 years, has only recently been associated
with liver toxicity.
According to the
team of scientists headed by Dr. C.S. Tang at the University of Hawaii -
Manoa, an alkaloid compound found in the stem peelings and leaves,
pipermethystine, has a 'strong negative effect' on liver cells.
The beverage consumed
by islanders is made from kava kava root, rather than peelings or leaves.
It is speculated that products on the market may contain non-root
material, and this may account for the liver problems recently observed,
which led banning of kava products in many markets around the world.
According to an article in Florida Today, it wasn't until recent demand
increases (2000 and 2001), that non-root materials were traded and
presumably used as raw materials.back
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Kava
Supplements Pose Possible Liver Injury Risk -- FDA is advising consumers of the
potential risk of severe liver injury associated with dietary supplements
containing the ingredient kava. These products typically are
promoted for uses such as relaxation, sleeplessness and menopausal
symptoms. http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2002/safety02.htm#kava
The U.K. Food
Standards Agency regulations ban the sale and the importation into England
from outside the UK, of any food consisting of, or containing, kava kava.
Health Canada
is issuing a stop-sale order for all products containing the herb
kava after a safety assessment concluded there is insufficient
evidence to support their safe use. The department is also
requesting the recall of these products from all levels of the
market. back
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Benefits
of Kava kava:
- Kava kava calms
the nervous system by binding to GABA sites in the brain and by exerting
generalized effects on the brain's limbic system.
- Kava kava relaxes
skeletal and smooth muscle tissue in many parts of the body (experimental).
- Kava kava may help
relieve mild pain (except mental).
- Kava kava may help
people recovering from stroke because of its ability to protect the
brain from damage caused by oxygen deprivation (experimental).
- Kava kava may be
a useful adjunct treatment in epilepsy due to its anti-convulsant properties
(experimental).
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Frequently
Asked Questions about Kava Kava:
- What is the
purpose of this product?
Kava Kava is an herb used for relaxation.
- What is the
purpose of the other herbs?
The other herbs also aid with relaxation.
- Will this product
make me tired?
No. It simply causes relaxation without affecting memory or reaction
time
- Do I need to
take it all the time?
No. The product will work if taken episodically. You can take it just
when you feel stressed out & you need to relax.
- Can I go off
my (anti-anxiety drug) if I start taking this?
No. Nor should the two be taken together. It is not wise to mix a drug
and a supplement that are supposed to perform the same function in the
body. If you want to continue with your medication and take Kava Kava
Root, please consult with your pharmacist or healthcare professional.
- Can I take this
product with St. John's Wort?
Yes. There is no contraindication with these two supplements.
- Is the product
standardized?
The product is SpectrAll Certified. This means that each batch
is tested for quality, purity, and potency. We guarantee 30% kavalactones.
This is the active ingredient in the Kava Kava Root.
- Is this the
same as the old Kava Kava Formula?
Yes. It is identical to the old product.
- Is it vegetarian?
No. The capsules are derived from bovine (cow).
- Can I take Kava
Kava Root with a pharmaceutical drug? OR Can I take Kava Kava Root with
my disease or condition?
The label states that everybody should consult with a healthcare professional
before taking any supplements. We even advise people who are healthy
to do that. I understand that you are concerned about your health. However,
as we are not healthcare professionals, we are forbidden by law to advise
you regarding how a supplement or Kava Kava Root might interact with
a pharmaceutical drug OR affect the disease state.
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Kava
kava's Safety Profile
The key to safe kava
kava use is to cultivate a traditional respect for kava kava's power.
Kava kava's safety is well established in its cultural context of the
South Pacific, where kava kava is used in small quantities with no obvious
adverse effects. Modern clinical studies have also confirmed the safety
of moderate amounts of kava kava used over short periods of time. However,
it is not uncommon for heavy kava kava users to develop a dry, scaly (reversible)
rash known as "kava dermopathy" - a side effect first reported by members
of Captain James Cook's Pacific expeditions in 1768. An intake of 400
mg kavalactones or more daily over a period longer than three months is
considered heavy use. Extended kava kava use has also been linked to dizziness,
mild gastrointestinal disturbance, and a temporary yellow discoloration
of skin, hair, and nails. 8
Kava kava should not
be used on conjunction with other central nervous system depressants such
as alcohol and antidepressants, or by anyone with endogenous depression,
according to Germany's Commission E Report. Kava kava may be contraindicated
in Parkinson's Disease due to possible interference with dopamine. Kava
kava is contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. And as with any
relaxing substance, kava kava should not be used if you are driving or
operating heavy machinery. 8
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Using
Kava kava
Use of kava kava is based on levels of kavalactones, with a recommended
daily amount between 60 and 210 mg of kava kava, divided into two to three
doses. In comparison, traditionally prepared kava kava drinks contain
around 250 mg kavalactones. As a sleep aid, the daily quantity of kava
kava may be taken in a single dose 30 to 60 minutes before bed. Use of
kava kava for longer than three months is not recommended without the
guidance of a physician. Clinical kava kava preparations in Europe are
typically standardized to contain 30% to 70% kavalactones.
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Daily
Equivalents of Kava kava
- 1500 to 3000 mg
dried kava kava root
- 3 to 6 standardized
herbal kava kava capsules (net contents 500 mg each) 9
- 3 to 6 ml of an
alcohol-based kava kava extract (1:2 ratio) 9
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How
Kava kava works
Modern research has identified six kavalactones - including kavain, dihydrokavain
(DHK), and methysiticin - as the pharmacologically active compounds responsible
for kava kava's anti-anxiety, analgesic, muscle-relaxant, and anticonvulsant
effects. Kava kava created changes in brain activity (measured by EEG)
typical of anti-anxiety drugs, but without their sedative effects. 4
In comparison studies with benzodiazepine drugs such as Valium, Kava Kava
demonstrated comparable anti-anxiety effects without the typical decrease
in cognitive performance. In one study, the kava kava group actually showed
improvement in reaction time and performance on a word recognition test.
Unlike standard sedatives, kava kava does not interact with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric
acid) or benzodiazepine binding sites in the brain, so there is less risk
of physical addiction or dose tolerance. 5,6
Kava kava appears to have a broad effect on the brains limbic system,
where we produce and process emotions. 4
In modern herbal medicine,
kava kava's potential as a pain-reliever hasn't caught up with its extensive
traditional use. Preliminary kava kava research is promising, with in
vivo studies placing kava kava somewhere between aspirin and morphine
in pain-relieving ability. Kava kava's powerful antispasmodic effects
have also been compared to papaverine, an opium alkaloid. In vitro studies
show that kava kava has a direct relaxing effect on both skeletal and
smooth muscle tissue. Because Kava kava's pain-relieving pathway differs
from that of opiate drugs, there is less risk of physical addiction to
kava kava. 7 A major focus of
current clinical research is the role kavalactones might play in managing
epilepsy.
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Kava
kava's History and botany
A member of the pepper (Piperacae) family, kava kava is
thought to have originated in New Guinea-Indonesia, spreading to other
islands through trade and exploration. Named from the Greek word for "intoxicating,"
kava kava has been used socially and ceremonially in the Pacific for centuries.
From mid-1800's to the early 1900's, kava kava was exported to the US
and Europe and used mainly for urinary tract infections. Only recently
have westerners begun to use kava kava for anxiety and stress. Today,
the main source for kava kava is still the South Pacific, fueling concern
that increasing world demand for kava kava may soon exceed kava kava supply.
Kava kava roots take from three to five years to reach maturity after
planting. The solution may lie in Hawaii, where kava kava has long been
considered sacred. Struggling family farmers, assisted by a Hawaiian rural
economic assistance program, are now striving to cultivate the most potent
varieties of kava kava in a sustainable fashion.
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