Kava coffee is made from kava or Piper methysticum, a shrub in the Pacific Islands, which has been used for centuries for its relaxation effects. An important ceremonial drink, the root is ground into pulp and combined with water or coconut milk. The roots contain kavalactones, the chemicals considered responsible for kava's medicinal properties; they are used to relieve pain, insomnia, and anxiousness as well as other maladies. Unfortunately, kava can produce serious health side effects, of which the consumer should be aware.
Intoxication Effects
Kava, with its relaxing or sedative properties, can produce a unique side effect that is similar to drinking an alcoholic beverage, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Specifically, drinking a beverage that contains kava may leave the drinker with sensations and euphoric feelings associated with being intoxicated. Another issue concerns mechanical ability and safety; that is, you should not try to drive or try to operate machinery after having ingested kava, according to RxList.com.
Sedative Interactions
Kava works as a sedative by affecting the brain and other regions of central nervous system in such a way as to increase or magnify the effects of anesthesia and central nervous system depressants. Indeed, the University of Maryland Medical Center advises that you should not drink a beverage containing kava if you are going to have surgery because it may extend the effects of anesthesia. Additionally, you should not drink kava along with alcohol due to the combined intoxicating and sedative effects, since alcohol is a central nervous system depressant.
Liver Damage
In 2002, the FDA released a warning about the potential risk of liver damage associated with consuming kava. Specifically, the FDA's action was based on over 25 reports implicating kava with liver disease that included hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure in other countries; in fact, liver transplantation was needed in some cases. The ingredient in kava known as kavain has been found to injure the liver by changing liver cell structure, resulting in narrowed blood vessels, constricted blood vessel passages, and altered cellular lining, as stated by Sciencedaily.com. If you have a history of liver problems, do not ingest kava before consulting with your physician first.
Skin Reactions
Drinking kava may produce an allergic skin reaction in certain individuals such as contact dermatitis, states the University of Maryland Medical Center. Furthermore, ingesting kava over an extended period of time can cause the development of a dry, scaly rash of the skin. Therefore, if you are prone to skin conditions, speak with your doctor about drinking kava beforehand.
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