Island breezes, beautiful Polynesian women, palm trees and --- kava? Yes, this interesting plant is inextricably intertwined with island culture, particularly in Hawaii, New Guinea and Tahiti. Kava, a member of the black pepper family, has been noted to have an effect on the brain, and research is under way to determine which of the neurotransmitters are affected by this plant.
About Kava
Kava, sometimes known as kava kava or intoxicating pepper, is the heart-shaped leaf of a plant called Piper methysticum. Native to the Pacific, both leaf and root have a long use in traditional medicine and for ceremonial use. The tea, made from pulverized kava root, is relaxing and has a soporific effect but does not cause a hangover. The plant has a large number of compounds, 18 of which are known as kavalactones; there are 121 known cultivars, many with different constituents. According to Drugs.com, there is a considerable amount of research that has found kava has an effect on the brain. In some cases, it appears to affect neurotransmitters, and in others, it affects the receptor sites for the neurotransmitters.
About Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters --- the first, acetylcholine, was discovered by Otto Loewi in 1921 --- are chemicals in the brain that communicate information across a gap between neurons, called a synapse. The chemical is released by one neuron and must then cross the gap to be accepted at a specialized site called a receptor. Once the neurotransmitter does its work, it must be inactivated by an enzyme or what is called a reuptake mechanism; in reuptake, the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by the original neuron that released it. Drugs and herbal medications such as kava can affect any of these steps.
Research on Kava
Kava has been found to affect a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, according to an article in the international journal "Planta Medica," which reported that kava facilitated the transmission of GABA. In a 1990 "European Journal of Pharmacology" article, researchers reported that kava was able to inhibit uptake of another neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. In an article in the October 1998 issue of the journal "Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology Biology and Psychiatry," researchers found that one of the kavalactones, D,L-kawain, has been shown to affect dopamine, resulting in an increase in this neurotransmitter. According to Drugs.com, there are conflicting reports about kava's effects on serotonin. Based on the current research, it is difficult to say exactly how kava affects neurotransmitters --- of which the human body has many --- but at a minimum, it affects GABA, norepinephrine and dopamine.
Considerations and Warnings
Kava is not an innocuous beverage; Drugs.com notes there have been reports of liver damage, dizziness and mental confusion. If you feel kava would benefit your health, it would be wise to discuss your particular situation with a health care professional.
Member Comments