Kava Kava Natural Anxiety Remedies

Kava kava (Piper methysticum) is a perennial shrub native to the Pacific islands, including Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. For more than 3,000 years, Pacific islanders have incorporated kava into religious ceremonies and social gatherings. The herb is also valued as a natural remedy for anxiety.

Pharmacology

• You can understand how kava root works when you consider that it contains more than a dozen constituents collectively known as kavalactones that are classified as anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) agents. A 2003 double-blind clinical trial investigated the effects of a kava extract preparation on 129 subjects suffering from general anxiety disorder (GAD) compared to medication. The German research team, led by Reinhard Boerner, reported in the Jan. 1, 2003, issue of Phytomedicine that 75 percent of the treatment group experienced a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms. Given this response, the researchers concluded that kava is as effective as the drugs buspirone and opipramol in treating anxiety.

Preparation and Dosage

• You can chew raw kava root to reduce anxiety symptoms, but this may result in a numbing sensation of the tongue. You can also take the extract, standardized to contain 30 to 70 percent kavalactones. The recommended dosage is 45 to 70 mg liquid extract three times per day, or up to 150 to 300 mg maximum per day, according to the Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines. In Germany, where the medicinal use of kava is approved by the Commission E, the extracts WS 1490 and LI 150 are widely available. In the U.S., you can purchase kava in capsule and tablet form from health food stores and some pharmacies.

  You can make a drink by dissolving 1 tbsp. of the powdered root into 1 cup of water. For the uninitiated, be warned that kava imparts a bitter taste. Kava enthusiasts often blend the powered root with fruit juice, soy milk or coconut milk instead.

  You can make a kava decoction by simmering 2 to 4 grams of the dried root in water for 15 to 30 minutes. Drink the strained liquid hot or cold. You can add sweetener if desired.

  Whichever kava supplemental form or preparation method you choose, be aware that it may take two to four weeks for anxiety symptoms to begin to subside.

Precautions

• There may be a risk of liver damage associated with long-term use of kava. In fact, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration and the Health Agency of Canada have issued official warnings about kava supplementation and the risk for liver disease. However, it is not clear if this risk stems from the herb itself, from inappropriate use or from pre-existing medical conditions. Do not use kava as a recreational drug. If you have liver disease or a history of alcoholism, do not take kava.

  This herb also has known interactions with several medications, such as anti-psychotic and anti-seizure medications. In short, you should not take kava if you are being treated for any medical condition without the supervision of a qualified health care practitioner. Further, kava is not recommended for children, pregnant women or nursing mothers.

  The distribution of kava is restricted or regulated in other countries, such as the UK and Australia. If you are a citizen of The Netherlands, Switzerland or France, note that products containing kava or its derivatives are banned at this time.