Kava Kava (30% Kavalactones)

History and Uses:
Kava Kava is a member of the pepper family and grows as a bush in the South Pacific. Explorer Captain James Cook, who gave this plant the name of "intoxicating pepper," was the first Westerner to discover Kava Kava. Kava has been used for over three thousand years for its medicinal effects as a sedative, muscle relaxant, diuretic and as a remedy for nervousness and insomnia. The rhizome (root stock) is used medicinally. This botanical marvel has been used in parts of the Pacific at traditional social gatherings as a relaxant, and in cultural and religious ceremonies to achieve a "higher level of consciousness."

The roots can be made into a mildly narcotic beverage that is comparable to popular cocktails in our culture. Kava is used ceremoniously in the South Pacific to celebrate beginnings and endings, such as marriages, births and deaths. It is often used to honor a guest, to enhance communication and even to help settle disputes and seal business agreements. In Germany, Kava Kava is used as a nonprescription drug to reduce anxiety. Kava was first mentioned in scientific records in 1886, and it is gaining popularity in the United States for its relaxing effects. More recently, Kava Kava has also gained popularity with the natives of Hawaii, Australia and New Guinea, where it is used medicinally, as well as recreationally. Kava is also considered effective as a pain reliever and has been used instead of aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Recent clinical studies have shown that the herb Kava is a non-addictive anti-anxiety medicine, and may be as effective as prescription anxiety agents containing benzodiazepines such as Valium®. While benzodiazepines tend to promote lethargy and mental impairment, Kava has been shown to improve concentration, memory and reaction time for people suffering from anxiety.

In a 1996 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, two groups of 29 patients with anxiety syndromes were treated with 100 mgs. of Kava extract standardized to 70% kavalactones, three times a day for four weeks. The symptoms of anxiety were significantly reduced in patients taking Kava, as compared to those who were given a placebo, and no adverse reactions were observed in the Kava group. In a 1997 multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study, a total of 101 outpatients were given one capsule of a Kava extract containing 70 mgs. of kavalactones or placebo, three times daily. In this twenty-five-week study, all the patients suffered from moderate to severe anxiety, including agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia and social phobia. The results showed that the short- and long-term effectiveness of Kava was superior to that of placebo. After twenty-four weeks, over half of the Kava group were rated as "very improved," whereby anxiety, fear, tension and insomnia decreased steadily with treatment. Kava was well tolerated, and adverse reactions were mild and rare. The researchers concluded that Kava was a treatment alternative to both benzodiazepines and synthetic antidepressants for anxiety disorders, but please note important warnings below.