What is Kava Kava, Does it Work and is it Safe?

Kava Kava (Piper Methysticum) is a plant which grows in the western Pacific region that is actually a relative of the pepper plant.

This plant is thought to have a number of sedative and medicinal properties and has been used by native and traditional cultures for hundreds of years.

The roots of the plant are normally chewed or ground into a pulp and then added to cold water. This is a ceremonial drink as well as the social equivalent of wine or alcohol in Western cultures.

Modern science has taken the extracts of the plant, known as kavalactones and produced a biosynthetic supplement. Like the plant itself, this is thought to have relaxing and calming qualities.

Kava Kava is considered helpful in treating conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders. However, Kava Kava supplements are potentially toxic to the liver and do pose several safety concerns.

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* ❯

Kava Kava Effects:

The exact mechanism of action for Kava Kava is still uncertain. There are a number of scientists and researchers who think that this supplement works in a way similar to prescription tranquilizers.

Specifically, benzodiazepines. These are a classification of drugs similar to Valium, used for enhancing the effects of GABA in the brain. This effectively calms the brain, reducing or relieving states of over-excitability where your neurons are excessively firing.

Kava Kava is often used for helping people to relax and reduce their feelings of stress and anxiety. This is also thought to work in such a way as not to impair reaction times or even the ability to concentrate. Some researchers think it may work by acting on a number of other parts of the brain and additional organs, possibly even as a type of protective agent or substance.

Kava Kava Benefits:

This supplement may be helpful in treating some common health issues. For example, general anxiety disorder as well as social anxiety. There have been a number of different studies which support this claim. In fact, some even feel that Kava Kava may be at least as effective in this regard as some anti-anxiety medications.

It is also thought that Kava Kava has similar effects on brain wave activity changes as Valium (diazepam). Basically, it works by helping to potentiate the efforts of GABA, which is considered to be the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter within the brain. The supplement works by binding to GABA receptor sites which calms the brain by preventing over-active neurons from firing.

As your anxiety levels go down, so also will overall stress. It is also thought that this helps to improve your overall mood. Some studies indicate that this supplement helps to increase the levels of Dopamine within the brain. This is another powerful neurotransmitter that also affects things related to mood and movement. It not unusual for users of this supplement to consider the experience to be pleasurable.

Although this has not been proven conclusively, Kava Kava supplementation may improve conditions of insomnia. Some research has shown the possibility of the supplement leading to improved sleep quality and also a decrease in the time required to actually fall asleep.

There was even a 2004 study that indicated Kava Kava may help to improve cognitive performance as well as overall mood. The study used 300 mg of Kava Kava per day and compared the results to a control group treated with a placebo. This is important to note because other medications for treating anxiety like Valium and Xanax have side effects that tend to decrease cognitive function.

Kava Kava Dosage:

The generally recommended dosage of Kava Kava is between 250 and 500 mg per day. However, there are many experts who also suggest that taking less is safer. Then again, the Pacific islanders probably consume a lot more than this on a daily basis.

Different supplements react differently to different body chemistry, so understand that your ideal dose may require a bit of adjustment and experimentation.

Kava Kava Side Effects:

Kava Kava does appear to have dangerous effects on the liver that may be comparable to alcohol and other types of drug use.

There have been at least 25 reports of people have sometimes serious liver issues as a result of this supplement. This includes things like hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure.

However, it is unclear whether or not this was entirely due to the supplement itself or if it was used in combination with other prescription or non-prescription medications that may have caused some type of interaction.

Given this potential risk, it would be highly recommended to consult with a doctor or medical professional before actually using it. It would also be strongly recommended to start with a very low dose and only consider raising this after you are fully familiar with the effects and benefits.

You should also not combine this supplement with alcohol or other drugs like Kratom and you may want to limit your use of other nootropics that can affect the liver. You may ultimately decide that Kava Kava is not safe enough for you to use and consider one of the many other safer GABAergic supplements available.

Kava Kava Review:

Kava Kava is a powerful anti-anxiety supplement and mood enhancing nootropic. There are many nootropic enthusiasts who have had positive experiences with this herbal compound, reporting that it helps to alleviate stress and nervousness.

However, the significant risk profile means that you should proceed cautiously or not at all when taking Kava Kava. If you do decide not to risk the potential for negative side effects, you may want to look into Phenibut or Picamilon which offer similar results but are not as harsh on your liver.

Rate This Article

(13 votes, average: 4.31 out of 5, rated)