By Staff Writer - January, 16th 2014

Kava is used to calm anxiety, stress, and restlessness, and treat sleep problems (insomnia). It is also used for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, psychosis, depression, migraines and other headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), common cold and other respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, muscle pain, and cancer prevention.

By Dr. Eldon Dahl

Kava Kava has an interesting history. It has been safely consumed ceremonially in the South Pacific and other parts of the world. The earliest European knowledge of Kava dates back to the late 1700s, with the journeys of Captain Cook. Today, usage of Kava beverages in tropical climates is similar to the use of alcoholic beverages in the West. However, the plant from which the beverage is made from was found to have useful properties for anxiety, hyperactivity, stress, and restlessness.

The known active ingredients in kava are phytochemicals called kavalactones. Six major kavalactones are used to identify the chemotype of variety as they represent greater than 90 percent of the total amount of kavalactones within the kava specimen. These kavalactones give kava its stress fighting, muscle relaxing, anxiety reducing effects. The are also very effective for depression and sleeplessness.

Kavalactones are responsible for kava root’s calming, anxiolytic, and …

Kava is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. Don’t use it. Serious illness, including liver damage, has occurred even with short-term use of normal doses. The use of kava for as little as one to three months has resulted in the need for livertransplants, and even death. Early symptoms of liver damage include yellowed eyesand skin (jaundice), fatigue, and dark urine. If you decide to take kava, despite warnings to the contrary, be sure to get frequent liver function tests.

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