A botanist travelling with the famous English explorer Captain James Cook was the first to describe the use of kava kava in the late 1700s. The words kava kava denote the plant, roots and a beverage made from the roots. The scientific name for kava kava is Piper methysticum, which means "intoxicating pepper."
Traditional Use
Natives from the Polynesian Islands used a beverage made from the roots of the kava kava plant for ceremonial purposes. To make the traditional beverage, virgins macerated the harvested roots and then spit it out. The beverage is prepared by mixing the chewed root with cold water and is intended for same day consumption.
Active Ingredients
The most well known active ingredients in kava kava are kava pyrones and kava lactones. The primary kava pyrones include kawain, dihydrokawain, methysticin and dihydromethysticin and exhibit local anesthetic properties. You may experience a tingling sensation and numbness in your tongue.
FDA Advisory
In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration released a consumer advisory regarding the use of kava kava and the risk of severe liver injury including but not limited to hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver failure. The FDA says these cases are rare, but people with pre-existing liver conditions should contact a health care professional before ingesting kava kava. Despite this advisory, kava kava products are sold in the United States.
Cautions
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine lists several cautions you should know about before taking kava kava. First of all, a condition called dystonia, involuntary muscle movement, has been associated with kava kava. Additionally, it advises you should not operate heavy machinery. If you use kava kava over a long period of time, you may experience scaly, yellowed skin. This skin condition is reversible.
Drug Interactions
Kava kava is known to interact with certain prescription medications. The National Institutes of Health recommends against consuming kava kava while taking MAO-inhibitors, dopamine, blood thinners diuretics, ACE-inhibitors, SSRI anti-depressants, opiods, Parkinson's medications and hormonal drugs.
Herbal Interactions
NIH warns that kava kava also may interact with herbal supplements. It cautions against taking kava kava while using valerian, evening primrose oil, horsetail and licorice.
Dosage
Despite the FDA advisory and extensive precautions, NIH provides a recommended dosage for kava kava based on doctor recommendations. Begin with a low dose, which you can gradually increase to find the effect you are looking for. It says, "Typical doses range from 50 to 280 milligrams of kava lactones per day at bedtime."
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