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Traditional Uses
Kava has been traditionally used on Pacific Islands for centuries as a relaxant and intoxicant if taken if consumed in large quantities.
Current uses
Supplements containing kava are promoted for relaxation (e.g., to relieve stress, anxiety, and tension), sleeplessness, menopausal symptoms and other uses.
The most common effects of the herb are relaxation, mild euphoria, and feelings of peace and contentment. Higher doses cause sleepiness and muscle relaxation Other actions such as anticonvulsant properties, neuroprotection and analgesia have been reported.
Kava is best taken in the evening as drowsiness will come on after a few hours.
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News Comment
Kava helps South Floridian's attain nirvana
Beacon Newspaper (subscription), FL - 16 Jul 2008
Kava is a tea that has been brewed using the roots of the aptly named kava plant. The plant has been used in various forms as a drink for thousands of years ...
Marine organisms could hold the secret to reducing cancer
PhysOrg.com, VA - 24 Jun 2008
Kava - kava tea, which is drunk as a relaxant in the Pacific island nations, contains elements which are thought to inhibit the formation of certain types of ...
Feature: Kava , Not Java
Salt Lake City Weekly, UT - 19 Sep 2007
This is a place where men of Pacific Islander descent gather to drink kava —an ancient and mildly psychoactive beverage that is central to celebrating social ...
Kava is alternative to sugar: Nawalowalo
Fiji Times, Fiji - Apr 2006
KAVA is the alternative to Fiji's struggling sugar industry, says the chairman of the Fiji Kava Council...
Sinus Buster Announces New Line Of Medicinal Hot Pepper Nasal ...
Emediawire (press release), WA - Apr 2006
...the Stop Smoking formula also uses Kava Kava extract to help ease the anxiety associated with nicotine withdrawal. ...
Precautions and side effects (refer also to statements below)
Warnings and/or bans were issued by various governments in 2002, including the U.S., in a domino-style reaction to a report of liver damage from Europe.
The debate, however, continues, and it would be prudent for people with liver problems to avoid Kava.
Research
Kava-kava, is a psychoactive beverage which induces relaxation, improves social interaction and promotes sleep. To obtain more information on the mechanisms by which kava-kava exerts its psychotropic properties, researchers at the Department of Psychiatry in Berlin investigated the effect of kava-kava extract and pure synthetic kava pyrones on the blood to record its physiologically effects.
The study compared the Kava-Kava extract to amitriptyline, imipramine and brofaromine, three well-known anti-depressants.
The Kava-kava extract was found to inhibit blood platelets with the enriched extract having a significant effect and may well offer an important alternative in psychotropic medicines.
