Kava is a dietary supplement that might benefit you if you suffer from mild to moderate anxiety. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, kava can elevate your mood and well-being and put you in a relaxed state. It is traditionally prepared as a tea at ceremonies, but many commercial kava vendors are offering it as a paste. Discuss kava with your doctor before attempting it use it to treat anxiety or any other condition.
History
Piper methysticum, or kava, as it is commonly known, is an herb that has been used by people on the Pacific Islands for hundreds of years, according to the UMMC. It supposedly has effects similar to an alcoholic beverage. The University of Hawaii reports that the kava shrub also is found in Hawaii, Tonga, Pohnpei and Fiji. The Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research at the University of Chicago reports that kava was virtually unknown to the rest of the world until missionaries introduced it to Australia in the 1980s.
Benefits
Kava paste can help treat symptoms associated with anxiety and, according to the UMMC, might be as effective as some prescription medications, with effects being noticeable within a week. The February 2000 "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology" published the results of a controlled study evaluating the effect of kava on anxiety at the University of Exeter in England, which concluded that kava was "worthy of consideration" for the treatment of anxiety. Kava was significantly more effective than a placebo.
Function
Kava paste contains kavalactones, which are responsible for the psychoactive and pharmaceutical effects of the herb, according to the University of Chicago. The effect of kavalactones on your central nervous system are dose-dependent. According to the UMMC, kava treatment demonstrated similar effects to Valium, a prescription anti-anxiety benzodiazepine, on brain wave activity. This suggests that kava might function in the same manner as prescription anti-anxiety medications. It is not yet understood just how kava induces its sedative effects, but it is thought to involve the production or stimulation of GABA receptors. GABA is a chemical messenger that is thought to help control fear and anxiety.
Warning
Although kava has been used for hundreds of years, the UMMC states that there is a "serious concern" that kava can cause liver damage and there have been numerous reports of liver failure from kava in Europe. It is not certain whether kava was the culprit of liver dysfunction in these reports or if it was a combination of kava and other herbs or drugs. Do not take kava with other anti-anxiety agents, like Xanax, Valium and Halcion. Do not combine kava with alcohol, as this can increase your risk of intoxication and liver damage.
Dosage
Discuss kava with your physician to determine the appropriate dose for your anxiety. According to the New York University Medical Center, the typical dosage of kava to treat anxiety is 300 mg daily of a product standardized to contain 70 percent kavalactones. Check the concentration of your kava paste before you use it.
