If you have spent any time searching for natural remedies that might relieve your stress and anxiety, you may have come across "kava." Kava has been used for centuries as a ceremonial drink in the South Pacific. If you are curious about taking kava root, you should consult your doctor to determine if this dietary supplement can benefit you.
Kava Root
As the University of Hawaii explains, kava root comes the plant Piper methysticum. The plant, which is indigenous to Hawaii, Tonga, Pohnpei and Fiji, will vary slightly from island to island. The kava roots from these plants are either cleaned and chewed whole or ground into a pulp or powder to make a tea beverage. The tea may be considered something of an equivalent to wine in France as it is consumed at social and religious events. Kava root is also sometimes made into a paste and sold commercially.
Effects of Kava Root
Whether you chew the cleaned root whole or consume them from a tea preparation, kava may reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Kava may treat anxiety as well as prescription benzodiazapines do. Kava reportedly exhibits similar effects on brain wave activity as the prescription medication diazepam. Unlike prescription anxiety medications, Howell, kava is not physically or psychologically addictive. The relief of stress and anxiety reportedly comes without a decrease in cognitive function or sedation. Kava may also be helpful for insomnia or sleep, tension headache relief, PMS relief and relief of muscle cramping. Further clinical studies are still necessary to verify these benefits, however.
Dosage
Additional research is still needed to find the "best dosage" of kava to produce benefits. As a dietary supplement, the standard dose is 150 to 300mg, one to three times daily for treating stress and anxiety. Dosing herbal remedies can be difficult because the potency can vary greatly. As pure kava dried root, 2 to 4g of kava roots can be boiled down and consumed up to three times daily. It could take up to four weeks before you notice any benefits from kava.
Safety Concerns
Please talk to your doctor about kava supplements before you use them. There has been great concern about the potential for liver damage resulting from kava use. About 25 cases of liver impairment have been reported from kava products that resulted in hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure and even death. While this may be alarming, consider that alcohol also carries these similar side effects. These side effects of kava are extreme and not the norm. You should not take kava if you have a history of liver or kidney damage or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not combine alcohol with kava root or other kava products.
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