Kava has been used for thousands of years by natives of the South Pacific for its medicinal effects and as a social drink similar to alcohol. It is now used throughout the world to treat a variety of ailments. However, due to serious safety concerns, kava has been removed from the market in several countries and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the potential toxic effects of kava. Consult with your doctor before using kava.
Identification and Dosing
Common names for kava include ava root, kava pepper, awa, kava kava and tonga, among others. The dried roots and underground stems or rhizomes are used to make kava beverages. As of the time of publication, there is not enough information from human studies to determine the appropriate dose range for kava, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, or NMCD.
Uses
Kava is used for anxiety, tension, agitation, muscle pain, sleep problems, psychosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression. It also is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder,or ADHD, epilepsy and headaches such as migraines. Other uses include respiratory infections, such as the common cold, urinary tract infections, tuberculosis and preventing cancer. Some use kava to alleviate symptoms of menstruation, inflammation of the uterus and venereal disease. Kava also is used as an aphrodisiac.
Effectiveness
According to the NMCD, kava is possibly effective for relieving anxiety, such as for women during menopause. It also is possibly effective for alleviating the symptoms of withdrawal from medications called benzodiazepines, which are used for anxiety and sleep disorders, reports the NMCD. There is not enough evidence from human studies to rate the effectiveness of kava for other uses.
Considerations
The NMCD reports the following considerations: Kava is considered possibly unsafe when taken orally because it can cause serious side effects, even when taken in normal doses for short periods of time; liver toxicity, liver transplants and death have been reported following one to three months of kava use; frequent liver functions tests are needed when using kava; and kava should not be used when planning to drive or operate machinery.
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