 Kava Kava (Piper methysticum) is a flowering shrub that belongs to the black pepper family. It is also known as kava. There are more than twenty varieties of kava plants; the root is the part of the plant that is used for medicinal purposes. Kava has been used for insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, and tension. Its active ingredients are thought to be chemicals called kavalactones. Although it isn’t certain, it may be that kavalactones work in the brain like drugs such as Xanax and Valium to relax the mind and body. Kava’s effectiveness has not been proven by medical research or directly compared to prescription drug therapy. On March 25, 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer advisory that supplements containing kava may increase the risk of liver damage. The FDA has received reports of liver-related injuries, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure associated with kava use. Although the risk appears to be low, the FDA recommends that consumers with a history of liver disease or people currently taking drug products that may affect the liver discuss using kava supplements with their doctor before taking them. Early symptoms of liver problems include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms while taking kava kava supplements. You can learn more about the FDA Public Health Advisory through the FDA Web site, here: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/addskava.html Sources:
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.
The Review of Natural Products. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.
Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. William Morrow & Co., 1999.
Pittler MH. “Efficacy Of Kava Extract For Treating Anxiety: Systematic Review And Meta-analysis”, Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 20 (2000).
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Pharmacists Letter Inc., 2000.
Food and Drug Administration Consumer Advisory. Subject: Kava Containing Dietary Supplements May Be Associated With Severe Liver Injury.
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/addskava.html Last accessed 1/22/2007
This answer prepared 4/24/2002.
This information updated 1/22/2007.
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