Kava Kava Information: What You Need To Know

Kava Kava has been around for many years and has been used by people around the world as a muscle relaxer, a social drink, and a treatment for anxiety and depression. Traditional kava is served as a tea by the pacific islanders but can also be found in pill form. Kava pills are often marketed as a healthy herbal supplement to treat problems like depression, but concerns over health risks and side effects have caused a significant decrease in the availability of these pills. It's important to consider both the benefits and the side effects of any supplement.

Benefits

Kava has been used for centuries for both social and medicinal purposes. The main active ingredients in kava root are called kavalactones. This chemical compound has been extensively studied in laboratory studies. It has been found to reduce convulsions, promote sleep, and relax muscles in animals. There is also indication of pain-relieving properties (umm.edu). When drinking kava tea, one of the first things we notice is a numbing of the mouth; because of this numbing effect, some cultures have used kava for a mild anesthetic. Most notable, however, ar the psychological effects. Kava is very relaxing and has similarities to the effects of alcohol but without the loss of cognitive function. Studies have found that kava has a very similar result to valium in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Additionally, kava may offer the same benefits as prescription drugs while lacking some of the negative side effects. "A 2004 study found that 300 mg of kava may improve mood and cognitive performance. That is significant because some prescription drugs used to treat anxiety, such as benzodiazepines (like Valium and alprazolam or Xanax), tend to decrease cognitive function" (umm.edu).

Side Effects

Reported side effects can range from mild to severe. The most notable side effect when drinking the tea is the instant mouth numbing. Some may also feel light headed and relaxed, but not drowsy. Drinking a lot of the tea in a short period of time can lead to a temporary reddening of the skin like a rash, but this subsides within a few hours. On the more serious side, studies have indicated possible liver damage associated with kava use. Fears of liver toxicity caused the removal of kava pills from shelves in the US and the all out banning of kava sales in Germany. One important note is that the findings that indicate liver toxicity were primarily pills and not the traditional preparation. Further study has found that the toxic elements are found in the leaves and stems of the plant and not in the root. Traditional preparation involves...READ MORE