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The South Pacific yields a stress remedy
Used for centuries by the people of the South Pacific as a social drug like beer, kava (or kava-kava) has become popular in other countries, including the U.S., as a treatment for stress and anxiety. A significant body of research shows that it's safe and effective for temporary use. [1]
Common Use
- Temporary treatment of anxiety and stress
Source
1 Singh, Y. and M. Blumenthal. "Kava: An Overview," HerbalGram #39 (1998), p. 34.
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Several recent studies show that kava is an effective treatment for stress and anxiety.
German researchers gave 100 people complaining of nervous anxiety, agoraphobia, or social phobia either a placebo or kava extract (300 mg/day). After eight weeks, the kava group showed measurably less anxiety and depression. The benefits continued for the six-month duration of the study. Side effects were mild and minor, reported by five of the 50 who took kava. [2]
In another German study, 58 people with anxiety disorders were given a placebo or kava (100 mg, three times a day) for a month. In the kava group, anxiety symptoms began to decline after just one week of herb treatment and continued throughout the study. The kava users reported no side effects. [3]
You should know that kava may cause some numbing of the mouth. Experts believe this is harmless.
Sources
2 Volz, H.P. and M. Kieser. "Kava Extract WS 1490 vs. Placebo in Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled 25-Week Outpatient Trial," Pharmacopsychiatry (1997) 30:1.
3 Lehmann, E., et al. "Efficacy of a Special Kava Extract in Patients with States of Anxiety, Tension and Excitedness of Non-Mental Origin: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Four Weeks Treatment," Phytomedicine (1996) 3:113.
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The active constituents in kava are kavalactones, which have a mild tranquilizing effect similar to a low dose of Valium. But unlike Valium, kava is much less likely to cause sedation, and it's not addictive. (However, the combination of alcohol and kava is powerfully sedative.) [4]
Source
4 Brown, D. "Standardized Kava Extract: Clinical Monograph," Quarterly Review of Natural Medicine Winter 1998.
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Uses
For centuries, Polynesians from New Guinea to Tahiti have enjoyed kava in traditional "kava circles." The circle begins with one or more participants either placing powdered kava root in half of a coconut shell or chewing kava root and spitting it into the shell, and then adding water to form a milky solution. Hands clap, and the drinker downs the brew in one big gulp. Then the ceremony is repeated until each participant in the circle has taken several gulps. As the kava ceremony continues, the conversation and laughter flow more easily, as it might after a few beers. [5]
Kava (Piper wichmannii and P. methysticum), is a shrub with heart-shaped leaves that grows to several feet high throughout the South Pacific. It is botanically related to black pepper. Eighteenth-century British explorer Captain James Cook and his crew were offered kava on their voyage and enjoyed its peppery taste and mild intoxicating effect. They also noticed that elderly kava drinkers who had used a great deal of the herb for many years had oddly scaly skin, the main sign of kava dermopathy (see Warnings). [6]
Around 1990, kava began attracting attention among U.S. herbalists because of European (mostly German) studies showing that at doses lower than those used in the South Pacific, the root produces little or no euphoria, but does act as a mild tranquilizer. [7]
Instructions
When using commercial preparations, follow package directions.
Look for "standardized extracts." These contain 60 mg to 75 mg of kavalactones per capsule. The dose used in most studies is 300 mg/day of a standardized extract in divided doses (equivalent to about 200 mg of kavalactones). [8]
Sources
5 Fackelmann, K. "Pacific Cocktail," Science News 6-27-92.
6 Brown, D. "Standardized Kava Extract: Clinical Monograph," Quarterly Review of Natural Medicine Winter 1998.
7 Singh, Y. and M. Blumenthal. "Kava: An Overview," HerbalGram #39 (1998), p. 34.
8 Weil, Andrew. Self-Healing newsletter, 6-98.
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Allergic reactions are possible. If you notice any unusual symptoms following kava use, stop using it.
Do not mix kava with alcohol or other sedative or psychoactive medications. Kava augments the sedative effect of other drugs. [9]
Do not use kava if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you have any condition that impairs coordination; for example, Parkinson's disease.
In large doses -- considerably larger than anti-anxiety doses -- kava causes inebriation similar to alcohol. Thinking and coordination suffer. Walking becomes difficult; stumbling and falling are likely. The eyes turn bloodshot. [10]
Use of large doses over time causes development of scaly skin (kava dermopathy). This side effect is highly unlikely to occur at recommended anti-anxiety doses. The best way to treat kava dermopathy is to stop using kava. [11]
Kava is best used as a short-term remedy, for periods of up to a few months. If you still feel that you need anti-anxiety medication after a few months, consult your physician. [12]
Sources
9 Weil, Andrew. Self-Healing newsletter, 6-98.
10 Ibid.
11 Norton, S.A. and P. Ruze. "Kava Dermopathy," Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1994) 31:89.
12 Weil, Andrew. Self-Healing newsletter, 6-98.
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- Brown, D. "Standardized Kava Extract: Clinical Monograph," Quarterly Review of Natural Medicine Winter 1998.
- Fackelmann, K. "Pacific Cocktail," Science News 6-27-92.
- Lehmann, E., et al. "Efficacy of a Special Kava Extract in Patients with States of Anxiety, Tension and Excitedness of Non-Mental Origin: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Four Weeks Treatment," Phytomedicine (1996) 3:113.
- Norton, S.A. and P. Ruze. "Kava Dermopathy," Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1994) 31:89.
- Singh, Y. and M. Blumenthal. "Kava: An Overview," HerbalGram #39 (1998).
- Volz, H.P. and M. Kieser. "Kava Extract WS 1490 vs. Placebo in Anxiety Disorders: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled 25-Week Outpatient Trial," Pharmacopsychiatry (1997) 30:1.
- Weil, Andrew. Self-Healing newsletter, 6-98.
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