Kava is a plant traditionally used as an intoxicating beverage by the indigenous people of the South Pacific. Kava can also be used to help with anxiety, stress, insomnia, and other disorders. However, high doses of kava may cause liver damage and the plant should not be taken in combination with alcohol or other psychotropic medications. Read on to learn more about the potential health benefits and side effects of kava.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kava (Piper methysticum<\/em>) extract is traditionally prepared from a combination of kava root and water and is commonly used as a psychotropic beverage in the South Pacific.<\/p>\n Forms of kava products include [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Kava tea, kava root extract, and capsules generally produce mild effects, while tinctures and powders are stronger. Kava paste produces the strongest effects, since the product is highly concentrated.<\/p>\n Importantly, several cases of liver damage and even death from taking kava <\/strong>(possibly due to the presence of the root and stem peelings in the kava product, instead of only the peeled root) have been reported. For this reason and its potential for abuse, kava is banned in Europe, the UK, and Canada<\/strong> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Kavalpyrones and chalcones are the two main active compound classes of kava extract [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Kavain and methysticin block sodium ion channels, leading to a decrease in cell excitability. By blocking sodium channels, kavain also reduces excitatory neurotransmitter release. Kavain and methysticin decrease stimulatory pathways, possibly leading to a calming effect<\/strong> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Yangonin, kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, and kava pyrones increase GABA<\/a> in the brain (hippocampus, amygdala, and medulla oblongata). When <\/strong>GABA-A<\/strong><\/a> receptors are activated, neurons are inhibited, which may have sedative and anti-anxiety effects<\/strong> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Multiple kavalactones (desmethoxyyangonin, methysticin, yangonin, dihydromethysticin, dihydrokavain, and kavain) inhibit monoamine oxidase B. Kavalactones prevent the enzyme<\/strong> MAOB<\/strong><\/a> from removing neurotransmitters <\/strong>norepinephrine<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>serotonin<\/strong><\/a>, and <\/strong>dopamine<\/strong><\/a> from the brain<\/strong> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Kavain, desmethoxyyangonin, and methysticin increase <\/strong>noradrenaline<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>serotonin<\/strong><\/a>, and dopamine<\/strong>. Low levels of noradrenaline, serotonin<\/a>, and dopamine are associated with depression<\/a>, anxiety, ADHD, and other disorders [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n
\n
<\/a>Mechanisms of Action<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Snapshot<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Proponents<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
<\/a>Skeptics<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n
<\/a>Health Benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Likely Effective for:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n