What is Kava Kava?
Kava Kava (Piper
Methysticum), also known as Kava, Cava Cava, Cava, Cawa Cawa, Awa, Ava, Sakua,
and Yaqona is an herbal plant that can be found growing in the Polynesian
Islands. As a relative of the black pepper plant, it has similar heart shaped leaves
and flowers as the black pepper plant as well as a similar peppery taste. Many
believe that it is extremely beneficial in countering the symptoms of
depression, anxiety, and stress when it is in ingested.
History
Kava kava is native to some islands of the South Pacific, including
Vanuatu and Fiji. Vanuatu is one of the world's
foremost suppliers of kava kava. It has been used for centuries in Fiji and
Hawaii to reduce fatigue, combat anxiety and enhance sleep.
Preparation
Kava kava must undergo preparation before it can be used to treat
depression or anxiety. The plant must grow for four years before it can be harvested.
The roots are then cut from the plant, peeled, washed and ground. They are then
steeped in water, and the root pieces are removed by straining the liquid
through cheesecloth. The resulting liquid is ready to drink.
The ground root pieces can also be dried and used in supplement capsules.
Consumption
Kava Root (the only
part of the plant that is used) is largely employed in many cultures as a celebratory
drink much in the same way that alcohol is used in the West. It helps mark
momentous occasions such as weddings, public festivals, political powwows and
holidays, and it is even used in ceremonies honoring the dead. Unlike alcohol,
kava does not produce or stimulate aggression. It does not condemn the user to
a dreaded hangover, unlike alcohol.
Kava Kava can be
purchased in liquid form, powdered form, as an extract or tincture, or in
tablet or capsule form. In some places, the root itself is actually chewed
which provides a much more concentrated dosage than any other preparation of
the herb. The most popular way to consume Kava Kava is in the form of a tea.
Therapeutic Effects
Many people find
other uses for kava, including many medicinal ones. It’s interesting to note
that kava has been shown to help ease anxiety, depression as well as producing
a restful sleep. It is used by athletes, businessmen and diplomats to help
“take the edge off” and focus concentration. Widely prescribed throughout
Oceania and Europe to treat hyperactivity in children, it has also been used to
aid children who have difficulty sleeping on occasion.
People report the
following positive effects on health and well-being:
• Relaxes muscles.
• Calms nerves.
• Creates a general feeling of well-being.
• Induces a feeling of peace, relaxation and contentment.
• Enhances mental alertness and concentration.
• Can be successfully used as an herbal aphrodisiac.
• Reduces inhibitions and makes people more sociable.
It is not exactly known how
kava functions in the body yet, but it seems to influence a neurotransmitter
called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA in the brain, making it
similar to benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax, 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.
The kavalactones in kava are
able to pass through the blood-brain barrier and act as sedatives and
analgesics, as well, meaning that if you are experiencing the irregular sleep
cycles often found in individuals suffering from depression, kava can help with
that, as well!
Consumers’ Experience
When first ingested,
users will experience a numbing of their lips, tongue, and sometimes even their
stomach that is caused by the blood vessels constricting. Kava Kava has an
intoxicating effect which, which depending on the dosage taken, some might
compare to that of drinking alcohol or using marijuana. When taken in
moderation, most users experience a great sense of relaxation and well being
combined with the ability to think clearly. It can also induce a restful,
dreamless sleep. This can be extremely therapeutic to those that suffer from
depression. In some cases, if the dosage is too high, individuals will enter a
euphoric or dream like state that may be undesirable and can be avoided simply
by lowering the dosage.
Side Effects
For the most part,
other than the initial numbness of the lips, tongue, and stomach, there are no
reported side effects from Kava Kava as long as it is used in moderation. In
fact, some have replaced alcoholic beverages with it because they get the same
effect without waking up with a hangover the next morning. However, when used
excessively, there are some reported side effects and/or health problems such
as a hypertension, yellow, scaly rash, shortness of breath, eye irritation, and
changes in red and white blood cells and platelets.
Kava Kava and Liver Damage
In the early 2000's, demand for Kava rose dramatically as it began to make
its way into the mainstream. For many years, it was also being prescribed in
parts of Europe to treat anxiety as well; something that the pharmaceutical
companies were surely taking notice of. Shortly thereafter, reports of liver
damage by a handful of people in Europe began to emerge. Unfortunately, doctors
were quick to blame Kava, and soon, entire countries were banning this
historically safe and effective herbal supplement. Three of those countries
included the United States, Canada, and Germany. Others quickly followed suit
and the legal status of kava was suddenly in serious jeopardy.
But, the health industry fought back with a vengeance. Leading that fight
was the International Kava Executive Council. Even though they were outgunned
by governments, pharmaceutical companies and the media, the herbal industry was
able to provide more than enough evidence that the ban was unquestionably
unjustified. Furthermore, the IKEC showed that the conclusions that were reached
should never have been reached in the first place, as it became clear that Kava
was nothing more than a convenient scapegoat for the reported liver damage. As
the evidence was being submitted, ongoing research was also being conducted by
a number of independent laboratories and universities behind the scenes, partly
because a worldwide ban on kava kava could be devastating for several economies
throughout Oceania.
Fortunately, within a small span of time, several key pieces of evidence
emerged. Perhaps the most notable one came from from the University of Hawaii,
as reported by the Honolulu Advertiser in early 2003. It turns out that there's
a poison in the leaves and peelings (bark) of Kava called pipermethystine. And,
not surprisingly, this poison could potentially lead to liver damage.
It turns out that once the demand for Kava skyrocketed, there wasn't
enough Kava root to fill the demand. Suppliers then knowingly or unknowingly
bought the leaves and peelings of Kava plants (the parts that are always thrown
away as waste material) from unscrupulous growers. Up until that event, the
only parts of the Kava plant that were traditionally used throughout its 3,000
year history were the roots; never the peelings or the leaves. On a related
note: further research revealed that the handful of people who suffered liver
damage also consumed alcohol on a regular basis, restoring Kava's place in the
herbal medicine chest as a safe, effective, and pleasant herbal supplement.
Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. Countries started to
lift their bans on Kava in 2003-onward, but kava was now synonymous with
"but it causes liver damage." Nothing could be further from the
truth, but the media had accomplished its task, and restoring Kava's reputation
has been an uphill battle ever since.
So, where do we stand with the "kava legal status" question?
Happily for many, the United States lifted its ban completely, Canada lifted
its ban on Kava if it's imported by individuals for personal consumption, and
even Germany, where much of the original controversy arose, lifted its ban on
Kava in 2007. Except for a handful of countries such as Norway, Australia, and
Sweden, Kava is indeed legal throughout the world once again! The Canadian
Health Ministry even gave permission to export Kava to Canada, provided it was
only to private individuals.
Dosage
The most significant
anti-anxiety studies show that an effective daily dose of kava is 70-210
milligrams of kavalactones. The amount of kava to take depends on your purpose
for using it and your individual sensitivity to the effects of kavalactones.
Death or severe
illness from exclusive use of kava has not been reported in any medical
literature.
No standard dose
exists for kava. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a
typical dose may be between 150-300 mg, taken between one to three times daily.
However, the dosage recommendations on the labels of kava supplements will vary
according to the brand. Do not take kava kava for more than three months
without the close supervision of your physician.
Recent Research
In the recent, 2009,
study, researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have found a
traditional extract of Kava, a medicinal plant from the South Pacific, to be
safe and effective in reducing anxiety. Lead researcher Jerome Sarris, a PhD
candidate from UQ’s School of Medicine, said the placebo-controlled study found
Kava to be an effective and safe treatment option for people with chronic
anxiety and varying levels of depression.
“We’ve been able to
show that Kava offers a natural alternative for the treatment of anxiety, and
unlike some pharmaceutical options, has less risk of dependency and less
potential of side effects,” Mr. Sarris said.
Each week
participants were given a clinical assessment as well as a self-rating
questionnaire to measure their anxiety and depression levels. The researchers
found anxiety levels decreased dramatically for participants taking five
tablets of Kava per day as opposed to the placebo group which took dummy pills.
“We also found that
Kava had a positive impact on reducing depression levels, something which had
not been tested before,” Mr. Sarris said. In 2002 Kava was banned in Europe, UK
and Canada due to concerns over liver toxicity.
While the three-week
trial raised no major health concerns regarding the Kava extract used, the
researchers said larger studies were required to confirm the drug’s safety.
“When extracted in
the appropriate way, Kava may pose less or no potential liver problems. I hope
the results will encourage governments to reconsider the ban,” Mr. Sarris said.
Summary
While Kava Kava has
been shown to help alleviate some of the debilitating symptoms of depression,
it should never replace any prescription medication or traditional therapy
without first consulting with a physician. It is important to remember that
what works for one person might not necessarily work for another and what might
be safe for one person might be dangerous to another. Kava Kava is an extremely
potent herb for depression that can have some undesirable effects if it is
misused. Work with your physician to determine if it is right for you…
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