Kava Kava in Canada Legal Status – Is It Still Banned or Not?

Kava, which is made from the ground roots of the Piper Methysticum plant, has a number of therapeutic qualities that are said to support relaxation, feelings of well-being and restfulness.

Originally served as a ceremonial and celebratory drink, kava is now used medicinally for conditions that include insomnia, anxiety and depression. Despite some evidence of its effectiveness, kava supplements have been banned in many countries due to a high risk of side effects.

Kava kava was previously sold in Canada as a dietary supplement, liquid extract and herbal tea. However, in 2002, Kava supplements were recalled from the market by Health Canada due to fears of associated liver damage.

More recently, some kava products have been reintroduced to the Canadian marketplace, but they are still difficult to purchase locally. What is the exact legal status of Kava in Canada and where can you buy it?

Kava

Herbal Supplement

Anxiety

Mood

Sleep

How It Works:

• Reduces feeling of anxiety & stress
• Improves feeling of wellbeing
• Shown to improve sleep & insomnia

Dosage:

Between 100 - 300 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

Top Kava Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Is Kava Illegal in Canada?

Kava’s legal status in Canada is complex. In August of 2002, kava products were initially banned in Canada because of suspected health risks.

According to a publication on the Healthy Canadians website, “Products containing kava have been associated with serious liver dysfunction and, as a result Health Canada has had a stop sale order in effect since August 2002.”

Kava herb was never made illegal for personal consumption and possession, because it was never classified as a controlled substance in Canada. However, importing this herb for commercial purposes and offering it for sale as an ingredient in dietary supplements was made illegal under Health Canada’s regulations.

At the same time, Kava products in Europe, the UK, Australia and other countries were banned. The US FDA issued a warning about the safety of this product, but continued to allow it to be sold in country.

In 2004, a number of other supplements and herbs were regulated under Canada’s Natural Health Product Regulations, which is part of the country’s Food and Drugs Act. Products that may have negative health effects were required to be registered and approved for sale.

Under Canada’s Natural Health Product Regulations, herbal extracts and dietary supplements that are authorized to be sold in Canada are issued an eight-digit Natural Product Number (NPN), which must be printed on the label.

The NPN number indicates that Health Canada has assessed these products for quality, safety and efficacy. For a number of years, no Canadian kava kava products met this requirement.

More recently, a number of supplement entries with Kava Kava have appeared for registration. This means that more kava products may be available for sale locally.

Where Can You Buy Kava Kava in Canada?

Kava kava can only be sold by Canadian retailers if it is part of a specific product that has received regulatory approval and a NPN. Because only a limited number of kava preparations meet the current requirements, it is difficult to find this herbal extract in retail stores within Canada.

However, kava can be ordered from a number of international websites that allow shipping into Canada. It is considered legal to import for personal use, in quantities that amount to less than a three-month supply.

At least one kava retailer confirms that they have received notice that their product is approved for shipment into Canada.

Kava Kava Uses and Benefits

A cold brewed beverage made with ground or chewed roots of kava kava has been served throughout the South Pacific for more than 1500 years.

Modern kava preparations include ground or cut dried root, liquid extracts, kava paste and oral capsules.

The active compounds in kava kava are known as kavalactones. In human and animal studies, kavalactones were found to relieve pain and act as anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants.

It is theorized that kavalactones work in the same way that monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants do. They have also been shown to increase activity at GABA-A receptors in the brain.

People take kava kava as a natural remedy for anxiety, depression, insomnia, menstrual cramps, hot flashes, anxiety associated with menopause, ADHD and chronic fatigue syndrome.

According to the Natural Medicines Database, kava is considered Possibly Effective for anxiety. All other uses currently have insufficient reliable research evidence to make a determination of efficacy.

In traditional use, a paste made from kava kava was used topically to promote wound healing. However, there are no modern studies supporting this use.

Kava Kava Dosage Recommendations

Health Canada has not established a safe or recommended dosage range for Kava products. Before using this supplement, you should consult with a doctor to determine the appropriate dose for your needs.

The following is a compilation of reported doses used in human research trials:

To alleviate symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, daily doses ranging from 50 mg to 400 mg were used. On study involved taking 50 mg three times per day. In another, 50 mg was taken daily to treat neurotoxic anxiety. In a third, study participants took 100 mg three times each day.

To treat depression, the following dosage was taken: 100 mg in the morning, 100 mg in the afternoon and a final dose of 50 mg before bedtime. To elevate the mood, participants took a dose of 300 mg standardized kava extract.

For cognitive enhancement, a one-time dose of 180 mg kava kava was taken. In another study, participants took 300 mg to 600 mg kava.

Hot flashes were treated using a 100 mg dose of kava kava.

Insomnia was treated, in one study, with a daily dose of 200 mg kava. In another study, 120 mg kava was taken each day for a period of six weeks. In a third study, a softgel that contained 100 mg kavalactones was taken three times daily.

Kava Kava Side Effects Warning

According to Health Canada, there is a risk of impaired liver function when using kava kava supplements.

In a recall notice for one product, Health Canada states that, “Individuals who have compromised liver function related to disease, age, or drug/alcohol abuse may be at particular risk of liver toxicity associated with kava use.”

Approximately 30 cases of liver damage have been associated with high levels or extended use of kava kava. At least one manufacturer recommends that the herb not be taken for more than three months, with at least a two week break before taking it again.

There is an ongoing debate about the safety of kava for use in healthy adults. A research team from the Australian University of Queensland argues that, “When extracted in the appropriate way, Kava may pose less or no potential liver problems.”

The lead researcher, Jerome Sarris, states that liver problems associated with kava use can be attributed to poor quality products. Ethanol and acetone-based extracts that used the wrong parts of the Kava plant were previously sold in Europe. These formulations differ from the way that kava was traditionally prepared and used.

A number of side effects have been associated with kava kava, including gastrointestinal upset, sedation, headaches, impaired reflexes, tremors, hangover effects and restlessness.

Long term use may cause low white blood cell count, low platelet count, respiratory issues, hearing impairment and a flaky skin condition known as kava dermopathy.

Kava kava may interact with medications including acetaminophen, alcohol, benzodiazepines and cytochrome P450 substrates. Kava may decrease the effectiveness of the drug levodopa. It may interact with other potentially hepatoxic herbal treatments that include pennyroyal oil, red yeast, chaparral, comfrew, germander and DHEA.

Because it is possible that toxic compounds from kava kava may pass into breast milk, it is not recommended that women who are breastfeeding take kava kava. Kava should also not be taken during pregnancy.

Before purchasing Kava in Canada, look for a product that has a valid NPN number issued by Health Canada. This will ensure you are buying a high-quality product that is legal for sale in Canada.

Rate This Article

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5, rated)