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Kava kava and Kratom are two traditional herbs that are used for their relaxing and sedating properties. The two herbal extracts are sometimes combined together to produce a euphoriant effect, but their combined use may be unsafe.
Kava kava is the common name for Piper methysticum, which is a plant from the pepper family that grows in the western Pacific. Kava root have been used in beverages for hundreds of years by people in this region and Europe due to its mood-lifting and anxiolytic effects.
Kratom, or Mitragyna speciosa, is a tree in the coffee family that is found in Southeast Asia. Traditionally, people in Thailand have chewed kratom leaves for cultural and medicinal purposes. The leaves of kratom trees are still used for medicinal and recreational purposes.
Kava and kratom are both associated with serious health risks, and their use has been strictly regulated around the world due to these risks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the potential effects of kava on the liver, and some countries have banned it from the market.
In 2014, the sale of kratom for human consumption, including dietary supplements, was banned in the U.S. due to the risk of serious side effects and possible addictive qualities, according to the National Institutes of Health. [1]
Anxiety
Mood
Sleep- Reduces feeling of anxiety & stress
- Improves feeling of wellbeing
- Shown to improve sleep & insomnia
Top Kava Products* ❯Common Uses of Kava and Kratom
According to the Natural Medicines Database, Kava is used orally for managing stress and anxiety, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, epilepsy, insomnia, depression and other conditions.
It is also used as a natural remedy for managing urinary tract infections, menstrual soreness, venereal disease and inflammation of the uterus. However, there is limited research evidence into the medicinal benefits of this herb for these conditions.
Kratom can be used for chronic pain relief or for recreational purposes. It is also used as a way to manage opiate withdrawal symptoms, such as muscle aches, fever, low energy and opiate cravings.
Taking kava and kratom together is sometimes done to produce a high that might include hallucinogenic effects. Some use it in order to experience increased relaxation or for more effective pain relief.
Effects of Kava and Kratom
Kava has the ability to produce feelings of relaxation due to the presence of chemicals called kavalactones, according to the National Institutes of Health. [2] These chemicals also have properties that can help boost sleep quality and relieve pain.
Kavalactones work by stimulating GABA receptors in the brain. They may also increase levels of other mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.
Some users of this herb say that it has helped them to overcome withdrawal symptoms from using benzodiazepine drugs and alcohol. However, it has not been approved by the FDA for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms or for drug detox.
Kratom also exhibits anxiolytic, analgesic and mood-boosting properties, due to the presence of several alkaloids in the leaves of this plant. The main active alkaloid in this herb is mitragynine, which produces activity that resembles the effects of opioid substances.
Kratom is frequently used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms when quitting opioid drugs. Many user reviews cite its efficacy for easing the negative effects of quitting certain illicit drugs and prescription pain medications. However, some people say that kratom can produce equally unpleasant withdrawal side effects when you stop using it.
Kava and kratom have noticeable differences in the effects they produce. Unlike kava, kratom can cause both sedative and stimulant effects, such as higher energy levels and increased alertness, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. [3]
The stimulant effects typically occur when low doses are taken, while higher doses result in sedative effects. Kava only produces sedative effects on the body.
Taking Kava and Kratom Together
Kava and kratom should not be taken together for safety reasons. The use of both of these substances on their own is linked to side effects. Combined use may worsen these side effects.
While kava supplements have been banned in many countries, they are still legal to buy in the United States. Certain forms of kava are legal in Australia and some products that include this ingredient have been approved for sale in Canada.
Kava can be found at Amazon and other online retailers, as well as in a limited number of local stores that sell dietary supplements. These products come in many forms, including capsules, tablets and liquid extract, which can be used in beverages. Kava powder is also available to add to beverages.
According to the Natural Medicines Database, Kava may be safe to take in small or moderate amounts for up to 1 month, under medical supervision. Those who have liver disease or other liver problems, women who are pregnant and women who are breastfeeding should not take kava.
Consumers should note that there is no standard dosage of kava. Those who want to use these products should only do so with their doctor’s guidance in order to find a dosage that is safe to use.
Since kratom is no longer allowed to be legally sold for human consumption in the US, it can be difficult to find online, especially from reputable retailers. It can only be sold as a bulk powder for use in aromatherapy or soap making.
As a result, the safety of these products in terms of the ingredients used in them and the amount found in them cannot be guaranteed. If you consume a product that is marked as being sold not for human consumption, you will have no legal recourse if you experience adverse effects.
Risks of Kava and Kratom
Kava and kratom both have the potential to cause severe side effects. Kava is most notably linked to serious and possibly fatal liver damage.
Over 30 cases of serious liver damage have been found in Europe in those who use kava, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. [4] It is not fully understood if the cause of this is kava use or a combination of kava and medications.
According to researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia, traditional use of kava was not associated with a risk of negative effects on the liver. These researchers claim that modern preparations of the herb sold in Europe are often in the form of ethanol and acetate-based extracts.
They claim that it is these preparation methods that result in the negative effects on the liver. According to their research, water-based extracted from the peeled roots of the plant do not pose a risk of adverse effects to the liver.
However, more research is needed to verify these statements. Many of the recent research studies on kava were halted following a delcaration from the FDA that this herb was unsafe.
Kava can also cause other side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness and nausea. Long-term use can cause partial hearing loss, hair loss and other effects. Some medications, such as anti-anxiety medications and diuretics, can cause interactions with kava.
Kratom is not considered safe to use due to the potential for serious side effects. It also has the potential to cause addiction in those who use it and withdrawal symptoms in those who stop taking it, including muscle aches, aggression and jerky limb movements.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, kratom use can also cause psychosis in those who become addicted to it. [5]
Several cases of hepatitis and liver damage have also been linked to kratom use. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to avoid combining kratom and kava supplements.
Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment
4 Comments
Kava does not cause liver damage. The Europeans were making extracts using the leaves and stems, which caused the problems.
Kava and Kratom used together is not dangerous. I’m one person, but I’ve been doing this for years and years. At worst, you’ll fall asleep. This article does nothing to explain why the interaction may be unsafe, providing no references either. It simply states it.
What really should be said for safety considerations (that this article at no point mentions) is that people should not drive while under the influence of kava. Just because it’s not alcohol doesn’t make it OK. Kava WILL impair your coordination and worsen your response time.
The FDA claim that kratom can cause psychosis is also laughable. It doesn’t.
Well here’s an article written by scrounging up every bogus claim by anti herbal feds and pharma trying to keep people from being in control of their own health. And no, kratom is not illegal in the US and is easily ordered from legitimate online suppliers.
Hi Elliot,
Thanks for your feedback. This site exists because I want people to be able to take control over their own health – but to do it in an informed, responsible way. It’s really important for me that we are presenting objective information about the risks and benefits of any particular products. Even though many people have experienced positive benefits from kratom use, there are many who have experienced harmful side effects and dangerous reactions.
Kratom is not a controlled substance currently in the United States, but it is illegal to sell for human consumption.
If you have had a positive experience with Kratom and Kava, I invite you to share your review to tell our readers what effects these herbs have had on you. The more voices at the table, the better. :)