Top Kava Kava Uses for Medicinal Benefits & Recreational Purposes

Kava Kava is a beverage made from dried roots that come from the Piper methysticum shrub. Kava supplements can also be purchased, as well as liquid extracts, bulk powders, teas and kava paste.

People in the South Pacific and Europe have been using this drink for centuries for social and ceremonial purposes. Kava has also been used traditionally for producing an experience similar to drinking alcohol.

A number of medicinal uses for Kava have also been researched. It demonstrates benefits for anxiety, sleep, benzodiazepine withdrawal and certain menopause symptoms. However, Kava has not been approved by the FDA for medicinal use in the United States.

Despite the widespread use of Kava Kava, it has been banned in many countries due to the potential risk of side effects. The FDA has issued a warning stating that it may be unsafe to use Kava extracts as liver damage has been reported in some instances.

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

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Kava Kava Uses

Throughout history, kava kava has been used in ceremonies and other social rituals, especially in the South Pacific. It seemed to be popular for these purposes because of its relaxing qualities and its similarity to the effects of alcohol.

Aside from ceremonies and social purposes, the Natural Medicines Database reports on a long list of medicinal uses.

Most commonly, people use it to help them relax, which people find helpful for anxiety and insomnia. Its relaxing properties played a large role in its popularity for ceremonies.

This herb is also used for ADHD, epilepsy, depression, headaches, respiratory tract infections and a variety of other health concerns.

Epidemiological studies suggest that increased consumption of kava products is linked to lower cancer incidence. However, more research is needed to demonstrate anti-cancer mechanisms and to validate findings from population studies.

Efficacy of Kava Supplement Uses

Research has supported kava root uses for some purposes while others are not backed up as well. It is considered possibly effective for anxiety, which is one of its main uses.

Research has shown that kava extract with 70 percent of its active component, kavalactones, works better for anxiety than a placebo. It also seems to have a similar effect to low-dose benzodiazepines.

However, not all research shows these same benefits, and some goes against these conclusions. In some studies, this supplement has not demonstrated significant efficacy for anxiousness and stress.

According to the Natural Medicines Database, there is insufficient evidence available to rate its use for conditions such as insomnia, stress, cancer and withdrawal from benzodiazepines.

A review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials looked at kava and other herbs for insomnia. It did not find a significant difference between taking kava or a placebo. However, the researchers said that the study showed a need to research this topic further. [1]

Another study tested the use of kava extract for generalized anxiety disorder. This was a double-blind, randomized study with placebo controls.

In this six-week study, the researchers found that the level of anxiety was significantly lowered in the participants taking kava compared to those taking the placebo. Also, the kava was well tolerated in the study with only headaches reported as a side effect. [2]

How to Use Kava Root

The kava plant is taken in different ways for ceremonial and medicinal uses. For ceremonies and social purposes, it is usually taken as a beverage.

For medicinal purposes, people take it as an extract, as an herbal tea, as a powder from the roots or in a tablet form. All of these methods are taken orally.

Kava extract has been well tolerated when taken at 300 mg three times a day. However, it may not be safe for everyone and medical supervision is necessary to protect users for the risk of serious side effects.

There can be significant variations in the safety ratings of different formulations of kava supplements. According to researchers in Australia, it is important to only use the peeled roots of five-year old kava plants.

These researchers argue that the purported dangers of kava extracts have only been linked to use of sub-standard products that contains unwanted parts of the plant or other contaminants.

However, more research is needed to establish the safety of peeled kava root extracts. There is insufficient data available on these products at present.

Risk of Kava Kava Side Effects

While kava has been commonly used for hundreds of years, there is serious concern over whether it is safe, especially for liver health.

At various times, kava has been restricted or banned in different parts of the world, including the United States, Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom. This is because of numerous cases tying kava use to serious liver problems, including liver failure, hepatitis and liver damage. [3]

Some researchers argue that studies claiming kava is harmful were not of high quality. They argue that no mechanisms have been attributed to kava which could definitively cause serious liver problems in healthy adults. More research is needed to further understand possible side effects of this supplement. [4]

Because of the lack of understanding, it is best for people to take caution with kava. In particular, pregnant women, lactating women and children should avoid this supplement.

Also, people who are taking certain medications or supplements that affect liver function should talk to their doctor or pharmacist before using Kava. Anyone with a history of liver disease or other health problems must check with a doctor before using this supplement.

The medicinal and recreational use of Kava continues to grow. However, because this supplement is rated as “Possibly Unsafe” by the Natural Medicines Database, it is important to be cautious when using kava kava roots.

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