Kava

Last Updated: March 6, 2024

Kava (Piper methysticum) is a plant that has had many traditional uses throughout history, especially among South Pacific Islanders. It is best known for anxiety reduction but comes with some serious safety concerns when used in excess.

Kava is most often used for

What is kava?

Kava (Piper methysticum) is a member of the pepper family (Piperaceae). As a traditional herbal therapy, kava goes by many names. Traditionally, kava has been (and still is) consumed as an infusion of the macerated root/rhizome, which is soaked in a liquid such as water, coconut milk, or alcohol. Traditional Hawaiian uses of kava have also included plant parts beyond the root, extending to the bark, plant ash, buds, young leaves, and even the whole plant.[28]

Kava is also used recreationally, and although the plant is native to Oceania, it can now be found nearly worldwide. However, due to the potential for liver injury, kava may be restricted in some countries.[20] Whether used recreationally or traditionally, kava is known to alleviate anxiety, sleep disturbances, and provide a mildly euphoric sensation.[20][21][29] Individual responses to kava may vary, and at least one clinical trial has suggested that there may be a genetic component to this variability.[30]

What are kava’s main benefits?

One reported benefit of kava, especially in comparison to many other anxiolytics, is its ability to relieve symptoms without compromising mental clarity. For this reason, claims that kava is a hypnotic or psychedelic may be exaggerations.[20]

Kava is best known for anxiety reduction but may not affect all types of anxiety. The clinical evidence of its effectiveness for generalized anxiety disorder or anxiety that is comorbid with depression is mixed.[25][9][31][32][18][10] However, clinical evidence for kava’s effectiveness for short-term anxiety and for anxiety resulting from specific circumstances or situations is more consistently positive.[33][34][35][36][14][19][37][38]

Several clinical studies have shown that kava may be able to reduce anxiety without the deleterious effects on cognition seen with other anxiolytics. It has also been suggested that kava could improve cognitive processing, although such cognitive improvements may simply be byproducts of anxiety reduction; more research is needed to clarify this point.[30][12][16][39][40]

Kava use has also been connected with a near-immediate mood boost[12] and may treat sleep disturbances associated with anxiety.[11] However, kava is still not widely recommended or accepted as a treatment for insomnia, especially in place of therapies with stronger evidence of safety and efficacy.[41][42][43]

What are kava’s main drawbacks?

When taken consistently for longer than a month or in higher doses (1,000 mg/day or more), kava use is more likely to result in liver damage or dysfunction, liver enzyme impairment, and, in rare cases, death.[1][29][3][44][45][46] Some experts suggest that reports of liver damage with kava use may be unfairly blaming kava, when other factors were actually at play.[29][47][44] While no controlled trials using standardized formulations have reported liver injury, not all trials assess the participants for this adverse event.[14][48] Until kava’s potential for liver damage has been fully and accurately assessed, caution is advised. See our additional FAQ below,what-long-term-side-effects-are-associated-with-kava, to learn more details.

Kava’s reported side effects include headaches, sleepiness, sedation, diarrhea, and skin rashes.[49][50][51][52][20] Observational research suggests an association between kava use in pregnancy and low infant birth weight, but kava has not been established as a direct cause of the outcome.[53] Kava powder taken in very high doses (more than 100 times the dose at which liver damage has been observed) may result in a state similar to alcohol intoxication.[29][24] Long-term kava use has also been associated with negative outcomes similar to those seen in alcoholism, such as increased liver enzymes, which could suggest liver injury, and reductions in the number of lymphocytes, which could negatively impact immune response.[23][24] The latter finding is particularly interesting, because reducing anxiety and/or stress has generally been associated with improvements in immune response. Combining kava with alcohol may also magnify the effects of both substances.[26][27]

How does kava work?

The kavalactones contained in kava root are a group of bioactive compounds responsible for its effects. The most notable kavalactones include kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and desmethoxyyangonin.[20][54][55] In animal studies, kavalactones have demonstrated the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which helps explain why kava has a psycho-emotional effect.[56] When taken orally at a dosage of 120 mg of kava per kg of body weight, effects have been seen within an hour as kavalactones begin to accumulate in the brain.[57][12]

Kavalactones may impart their psycho-emotional effects via glutaminergic, GABAergic, dopaminergic, and/or serotonergic signaling. It has so far proved difficult to establish the effects of individual kavalactones for two reasons: first, the effects of any individual kavalactone may be dose-dependent in ways we don’t understand; and second, when kavalactones are combined, they may not only have interactions, but those interactions could potentially vary depending on the ratio of the kavalactones in combination. In addition, both of these factors may affect humans and animal models differently, making it even harder to tease out these complex relationships. For example, case studies have reported seeing clinical signs of dopamine receptor blockage as a result of kava consumption,[58] but animal studies have not always supported the existence of an antidopaminergic effect.[59][60][61] Similarly, while a rodent trial found that mixed kavalactones did not affect serotonin levels, isolated dihydromethysticin increased serotonin in rats, while isolated desmethoxyyagonin produced reductions in it.[59]

While kavain damaged cultured rat neurons in vitro at concentrations of 300 µM or greater (i.e., greater than or equal to 300 micromoles of kavain per liter),[62] the kavalactones dihydromethysticin and methysticin may hold neuroprotective effects.[63] Animal and nonclinical studies suggest that dihydromethysticin and methysticin may also impart sedative effects through indirect GABAergic signaling.[59][56][64][65][66]

As with any plant or herbal preparation, factors such as plant part, growth conditions, and extraction methods may affect kavalactone content. Kava preparations with a standardized kavalactone concentration are more likely to produce consistent effects.

What else is Kava known as?
Note that Kava is also known as:
  • Piper methysticum
  • Kava Pepper
  • Ava Pepper
  • Kava Kava
  • Intoxicating Pepper
  • Awa
  • rauschpfeffer
  • sakau
  • tonga
  • wurzelstock
  • Tangona
Dosage information

No optimal dosages or durations for kava consumption have been determined at this point.[8] Kava dosing, especially in standardized formulations, may be done with reference to the kavalactone (specifically, kavapyrone; all known kavalactones are pyrones) content. Clinical trials have used dosages ranging from 100 to 400 mg/day of kava, and from 60 to 630 mg of kavalactones, per day.[9][10][11][12][13]

As with any plant or herbal preparation, factors such as plant part, growth conditions, and extraction methods may affect the bioactivity of kava supplements. Ideally, supplements will identify a standardized kavalactone content to improve consistency of results.[14][15][16][17][18][19] There appears to be some potential for substance abuse of kava, but when it is taken at the more commonly seen dosages, this is rare.[20]

Some of kava’s active ingredients may be secreted in breast milk. Since the effects of kava in infants are still not known, use of kava while pregnant or breastfeeding is not advised.[21]

Kava may also interact with other substances like alcohol and St. John’s wort, possibly amplifying both positive and negative effects.[22][23][24][25] Reports of these interactions are varied, though, and may depend on circumstances such as dose, timing, format, and external factors.[26][27] Therefore, combination therapies that include kava should be considered with caution.

Examine Database: Kava
What works and what doesn't?

Unlock the full potential of Examine

Get started

Don't miss out on the latest research

Update History
References
  1. ^Ballotin VR, Bigarella LG, Brandão ABM, Balbinot RA, Balbinot SS, Soldera JHerb-induced liver injury: Systematic review and meta-analysis.World J Clin Cases.(2021-Jul-16)
  2. ^Becker MW, Lourençone EMS, De Mello AF, Branco A, Filho EMR, Blatt CR, Mallmann CA, Schneider M, Caregnato RCA, Blatt CRLiver transplantation and the use of KAVA: Case report.Phytomedicine.(2019-Mar-15)
  3. ^Gow PJ, Connelly NJ, Hill RL, Crowley P, Angus PWFatal fulminant hepatic failure induced by a natural therapy containing kava.Med J Aust.(2003-May-05)
  4. ^Brauer RB, Stangl M, Stewart JR, Pfab R, Becker KAcute liver failure after administration of herbal tranquilizer kava-kava (Piper methysticum).J Clin Psychiatry.(2003-Feb)
  5. ^Gurley BJ, Gardner SF, Hubbard MA, Williams DK, Gentry WB, Khan IA, Shah AIn vivo effects of goldenseal, kava kava, black cohosh, and valerian on human cytochrome P450 1A2, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4/5 phenotypes.Clin Pharmacol Ther.(2005-May)
  6. ^Sarris J, Stough C, Teschke R, Wahid ZT, Bousman CA, Murray G, Savage KM, Mouatt P, Ng C, Schweitzer IKava for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder RCT: analysis of adverse reactions, liver function, addiction, and sexual effects.Phytother Res.(2013-Nov)
  7. ^Gurley BJ, Swain A, Hubbard MA, Hartsfield F, Thaden J, Williams DK, Gentry WB, Tong YSupplementation with goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), but not kava kava (Piper methysticum), inhibits human CYP3A activity in vivo.Clin Pharmacol Ther.(2008-Jan)
  8. ^White CMThe Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, and Adverse Events Associated With Kava.J Clin Pharmacol.(2018-Nov)
  9. ^Cagnacci A, Arangino S, Renzi A, Zanni AL, Malmusi S, Volpe AKava-Kava administration reduces anxiety in perimenopausal women.Maturitas.(2003-Feb-25)
  10. ^Gastpar M, Klimm HDTreatment of anxiety, tension and restlessness states with Kava special extract WS 1490 in general practice: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter trialPhytomedicine.(2003 Nov)
  11. ^Lehrl SClinical efficacy of kava extract WS 1490 in sleep disturbances associated with anxiety disorders. Results of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trialJ Affect Disord.(2004 Feb)
  12. ^Thompson R, Ruch W, Hasenöhrl RUEnhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava-kava)Hum Psychopharmacol.(2004 Jun)
  13. ^R J Boerner, H Sommer, W Berger, U Kuhn, U Schmidt, M MannelKava-Kava extract LI 150 is as effective as Opipramol and Buspirone in Generalised Anxiety Disorder--an 8-week randomized, double-blind multi-centre clinical trial in 129 out-patientsPhytomedicine.(2003)
  14. ^Pittler MH, Ernst EKava extract for treating anxietyCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2003)
  15. ^Sarris J, Stough C, Bousman CA, Wahid ZT, Murray G, Teschke R, Savage KM, Dowell A, Ng C, Schweitzer IKava in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.J Clin Psychopharmacol.(2013-Oct)
  16. ^Sarris J, Laporte E, Scholey A, King R, Pipingas A, Schweitzer I, Stough CDoes a medicinal dose of kava impair driving? A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.Traffic Inj Prev.(2013)
  17. ^Sarris J, Byrne GJ, Bousman CA, Cribb L, Savage KM, Holmes O, Murphy J, Macdonald P, Short A, Nazareth S, Jennings E, Thomas SR, Ogden E, Chamoli S, Scholey A, Stough CKava for generalised anxiety disorder: A 16-week double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studyAust N Z J Psychiatry.(2019 Dec 8)
  18. ^Sarris J, Kavanagh DJ, Byrne G, Bone KM, Adams J, Deed GThe Kava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS): a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial using an aqueous extract of Piper methysticumPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2009 Aug)
  19. ^Pittler MH, Ernst EEfficacy of kava extract for treating anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Psychopharmacol.(2000-Feb)
  20. ^Kava Kava. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury; USA: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, updated April 2018, cited January 2024(2012)
  21. ^Singh YNKava: an overview.J Ethnopharmacol.(1992-Aug)
  22. ^D D Jamieson, P H DuffieldPositive interaction of ethanol and kava resin in miceClin Exp Pharmacol Physiol.(1990 Jul)
  23. ^Cairney S, Clough AR, Maruff P, Collie A, Currie BJ, Currie JSaccade and cognitive function in chronic kava users.Neuropsychopharmacology.(2003-Feb)
  24. ^Cairney S, Maruff P, Clough AR, Collie A, Currie J, Currie BJSaccade and cognitive impairment associated with kava intoxication.Hum Psychopharmacol.(2003-Oct)
  25. ^Jerome Sarris, David J Kavanagh, Gary Deed, Kerry M BoneSt. John's wort and Kava in treating major depressive disorder with comorbid anxiety: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trialHum Psychopharmacol.(2009 Jan)
  26. ^Herberg KWEffect of Kava-Special Extract WS 1490 combined with ethyl alcohol on safety-relevant performance parameters.Blutalkohol.(1993-Mar)
  27. ^Foo H, Lemon JAcute effects of kava, alone or in combination with alcohol, on subjective measures of impairment and intoxication and on cognitive performance.Drug Alcohol Rev.(1997-Jun)
  28. ^Moerman, Daniel ENative American Ethnobotany: A Database of Foods, Drugs, Dyes and Fibers of Native American Peoples, Derived from Plants; University of Michigan-Dearborn, cited Feb 2024(2023 Oct)
  29. ^Ulbricht C, Basch E, Boon H, Ernst E, Hammerness P, Sollars D, Tsourounis C, Woods J, Bent SSafety review of kava (Piper methysticum) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration.Expert Opin Drug Saf.(2005-Jul)
  30. ^Sarris J, Scholey A, Schweitzer I, Bousman C, Laporte E, Ng C, Murray G, Stough CThe acute effects of kava and oxazepam on anxiety, mood, neurocognition; and genetic correlates: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.Hum Psychopharmacol.(2012-May)
  31. ^Sarris J, Kavanagh DJ, Adams J, Bone K, Byrne GKava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS): a mixed methods RCT using an aqueous extract of Piper methysticum.Complement Ther Med.(2009-Jun)
  32. ^Volz HP, Kieser MKava-kava extract WS 1490 versus placebo in anxiety disorders--a randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trialPharmacopsychiatry.(1997 Jan)
  33. ^Warnecke GPsychosomatic dysfunctions in the female climacteric. Clinical effectiveness and tolerance of Kava Extract WS 1490.Fortschr Med.(1991-Feb-10)
  34. ^De Leo V, La Marca A, Lanzetta D, Palazzi S, Torricelli M, Facchini C, Morgante GAssessment of the association of Kava-Kava extract and hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of postmenopause anxiety.Minerva Ginecol.(2000-Jun)
  35. ^De Leo V, la Marca A, Morgante G, Lanzetta D, Florio P, Petraglia FEvaluation of combining kava extract with hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of postmenopausal anxiety.Maturitas.(2001-Aug-25)
  36. ^Malsch U, Kieser MEfficacy of kava-kava in the treatment of non-psychotic anxiety, following pretreatment with benzodiazepinesPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2001 Sep)
  37. ^Kinzler E, Krömer J, Lehmann EEffect of a special kava extract in patients with anxiety-, tension-, and excitation states of non-psychotic genesis. Double blind study with placebos over 4 weeks.Arzneimittelforschung.(1991-Jun)
  38. ^Geier FP, Konstantinowicz TKava treatment in patients with anxietyPhytother Res.(2004 Apr)
  39. ^Cropley M, Cave Z, Ellis J, Middleton RWEffect of kava and valerian on human physiological and psychological responses to mental stress assessed under laboratory conditionsPhytother Res.(2002 Feb)
  40. ^Münte TF, Heinze HJ, Matzke M, Steitz JEffects of oxazepam and an extract of kava roots (Piper methysticum) on event-related potentials in a word recognition task.Neuropsychobiology.(1993)
  41. ^Martin JL, Mysliwiec V, Chowdhuri S, Ulmer CSThe Veterans Administration and Department of Defense clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders: what does this mean for the practice of sleep medicine?J Clin Sleep Med.(2020-Aug-15)
  42. ^Zhao FY, Xu P, Kennedy GA, Conduit R, Zhang WJ, Wang YM, Fu QQ, Zheng ZIdentifying complementary and alternative medicine recommendations for insomnia treatment and care: a systematic review and critical assessment of comprehensive clinical practice guidelines.Front Public Health.(2023)
  43. ^Jacobs BP, Bent S, Tice JA, Blackwell T, Cummings SRAn internet-based randomized, placebo-controlled trial of kava and valerian for anxiety and insomnia.Medicine (Baltimore).(2005-Jul)
  44. ^Clouatre DLKava kava: examining new reports of toxicity.Toxicol Lett.(2004-Apr-15)
  45. ^Russmann S, Lauterburg BH, Helbling AKava hepatotoxicity.Ann Intern Med.(2001-Jul-03)
  46. ^Humberston CL, Akhtar J, Krenzelok EPAcute hepatitis induced by kava kava.J Toxicol Clin Toxicol.(2003)
  47. ^Olsen LR, Grillo MP, Skonberg CConstituents in kava extracts potentially involved in hepatotoxicity: a review.Chem Res Toxicol.(2011-Jul-18)
  48. ^Zhang W, Yan Y, Wu Y, Yang H, Zhu P, Yan F, Zhao R, Tian P, Wang T, Fan Q, Su ZMedicinal herbs for the treatment of anxiety: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Pharmacol Res.(2022-May)
  49. ^Ruze PKava-induced dermopathy: a niacin deficiency?Lancet.(1990-Jun-16)
  50. ^Guro-Razuman S, Anand P, Hu Q, Mir RDermatomyositis-like illness following kava-kava ingestion.J Clin Rheumatol.(1999-Dec)
  51. ^Norton SA, Ruze PKava dermopathy.J Am Acad Dermatol.(1994-Jul)
  52. ^Ernst EAdverse effects of herbal drugs in dermatology.Br J Dermatol.(2000-Nov)
  53. ^Kaforau LS, Tessema GA, Jancey J, Bugoro H, Pereira GPrevalence and Factors Associated With Low Birth Weight in the Solomon Islands: Evidence From the 2015 Solomon Islands Demographic and Health Survey data.Asia Pac J Public Health.(2023-Mar)
  54. ^Weiss J, Sauer A, Frank A, Unger MExtracts and kavalactones of Piper methysticum G. Forst (kava-kava) inhibit P-glycoprotein in vitro.Drug Metab Dispos.(2005-Nov)
  55. ^X G He, L Z Lin, L Z LianElectrospray high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in phytochemical analysis of kava (Piper methysticum) extractPlanta Med.(1997 Feb)
  56. ^Kennon M Garrett, Garo Basmadjian, Ikhlas A Khan, Brian T Schaneberg, Thomas W SealeExtracts of kava (Piper methysticum) induce acute anxiolytic-like behavioral changes in micePsychopharmacology (Berl).(2003 Oct)
  57. ^Keledjian J, Duffield PH, Jamieson DD, Lidgard RO, Duffield AMUptake into mouse brain of four compounds present in the psychoactive beverage kava.J Pharm Sci.(1988-Dec)
  58. ^Schelosky L, Raffauf C, Jendroska K, Poewe WKava and dopamine antagonism.J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.(1995-May)
  59. ^Baum SS, Hill R, Rommelspacher HEffect of kava extract and individual kavapyrones on neurotransmitter levels in the nucleus accumbens of rats.Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry.(1998-Oct)
  60. ^Serdarevic N, Eckert GP, Müller WEThe effects of extracts from St. John's Wort and Kava Kava on brain neurotransmitter levels in the mouse.Pharmacopsychiatry.(2001-Jul)
  61. ^Dinh LD, Simmen U, Bueter KB, Bueter B, Lundstrom K, Schaffner WInteraction of various Piper methysticum cultivars with CNS receptors in vitro.Planta Med.(2001-Jun)
  62. ^Mulholland PJ, Prendergast MAPost-insult exposure to (+/-) kavain potentiates N-methyl-D-aspartate toxicity in the developing hippocampus.Brain Res.(2002-Jul-26)
  63. ^Backhauss C, Krieglstein JExtract of kava (Piper methysticum) and its methysticin constituents protect brain tissue against ischemic damage in rodents.Eur J Pharmacol.(1992-May-14)
  64. ^Davies LP, Drew CA, Duffield P, Johnston GA, Jamieson DDKava pyrones and resin: studies on GABAA, GABAB and benzodiazepine binding sites in rodent brain.Pharmacol Toxicol.(1992-Aug)
  65. ^Jussofie A, Schmiz A, Hiemke CKavapyrone enriched extract from Piper methysticum as modulator of the GABA binding site in different regions of rat brain.Psychopharmacology (Berl).(1994-Dec)
  66. ^Cribb L, Sarris J, Savage KM, Byrne GJ, Metri NJ, Scholey A, Stough C, Bousman CAEffect of kava (Piper methysticum) on peripheral gene expression among individuals with generalized anxiety disorder: A post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial.Phytother Res.(2023-Dec)
  67. ^Izaak L Williams, George K Makini, William C Rezentes 3rdIndigenous Hawaiian Psychoactive Drug Use: Before European Contact, and after 1778J Psychoactive Drugs.(2021 Apr-Jun)
  68. ^Sakai M, Nakazawa MThe Current Use of (Kava) in Pohnpei Island, Federated States of Micronesia.Hawaii J Health Soc Welf.(2022-Jul)
  69. ^Aporosa S', Ballard H, Pandey R, McCarthy MJThe impact of traditional kava (Piper methysticum) use on cognition: Implications for driver fitness.J Ethnopharmacol.(2022-Jun-12)
  70. ^Robinson V, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, , Andersen FAFinal report on the safety assessment of Piper methysticum leaf/root/stem extract and Piper methysticum root extract.Int J Toxicol.(2009)
  71. ^Mamallapalli J, Kanumuri SRR, Corral P, Johnston E, Zhuang C, McCurdy CR, Mathews CA, Sharma A, Xing CCharacterization of Different Forms of Kava (Piper methysticum) Products by UPLC-MS/MS.Planta Med.(2022-Nov)
  72. ^Watkins LL, Connor KM, Davidson JREffect of kava extract on vagal cardiac control in generalized anxiety disorder: preliminary findings.J Psychopharmacol.(2001-Dec)
  73. ^Connor KM, Davidson JRA placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorderInt Clin Psychopharmacol.(2002 Jul)
  74. ^Connor KM, Payne V, Davidson JRKava in generalized anxiety disorder: three placebo-controlled trials.Int Clin Psychopharmacol.(2006-Sep)
  75. ^Scherer JKava-kava extract in anxiety disorders: an outpatient observational study.Adv Ther.(1998)
  76. ^Spillane PK, Fisher DA, Currie BJNeurological manifestations of kava intoxication.Med J Aust.(1997-Aug-04)
  77. ^Clough AR, Jacups SP, Wang Z, Burns CB, Bailie RS, Cairney SJ, Collie A, Guyula T, McDonald SP, Currie BJHealth effects of kava use in an eastern Arnhem Land Aboriginal community.Intern Med J.(2003-Aug)
  78. ^Zhang Q, Liu H, Wu D, Yu H, Wang K, Jiao W, Zhao XMethysticin Acts as a Mechanism-Based Inactivator of Cytochrome P450 2C9.Chem Res Toxicol.(2022-Jun-20)
  79. ^James M Mathews, Amy S Etheridge, Sherry R BlackInhibition of human cytochrome P450 activities by kava extract and kavalactonesDrug Metab Dispos.(2002 Nov)
  80. ^L Zou, G L Henderson, M R Harkey, Y Sakai, A LiEffects of kava (Kava-kava, 'Awa, Yaqona, Piper methysticum) on c-DNA-expressed cytochrome P450 enzymes and human cryopreserved hepatocytesPhytomedicine.(2004)
  81. ^Unger M, Holzgrabe U, Jacobsen W, Cummins C, Benet LZInhibition of cytochrome P450 3A4 by extracts and kavalactones of Piper methysticum (Kava-Kava).Planta Med.(2002-Dec)
Examine Database References
  1. Subjective Well-Being - Volz HP, Kieser MKava-kava extract WS 1490 versus placebo in anxiety disorders--a randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trialPharmacopsychiatry.(1997 Jan)
  2. Subjective Well-Being - Gastpar M, Klimm HDTreatment of anxiety, tension and restlessness states with Kava special extract WS 1490 in general practice: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter trialPhytomedicine.(2003 Nov)
  3. Subjective Well-Being - Malsch U, Kieser MEfficacy of kava-kava in the treatment of non-psychotic anxiety, following pretreatment with benzodiazepinesPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2001 Sep)
  4. Anxiety Symptoms - Zhang W, Yan Y, Wu Y, Yang H, Zhu P, Yan F, Zhao R, Tian P, Wang T, Fan Q, Su ZMedicinal herbs for the treatment of anxiety: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Pharmacol Res.(2022-May)
  5. Anxiety Symptoms - Pittler MH, Ernst EKava extract for treating anxietyCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2003)
  6. Anxiety Symptoms - Geier FP, Konstantinowicz TKava treatment in patients with anxietyPhytother Res.(2004 Apr)
  7. Anxiety Symptoms - Pittler MH, Ernst EEfficacy of kava extract for treating anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Psychopharmacol.(2000-Feb)
  8. Anxiety Symptoms - Lehrl SClinical efficacy of kava extract WS 1490 in sleep disturbances associated with anxiety disorders. Results of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trialJ Affect Disord.(2004 Feb)
  9. Anxiety Symptoms - Connor KM, Davidson JRA placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorderInt Clin Psychopharmacol.(2002 Jul)
  10. Anxiety Symptoms - Sarris J, Kavanagh DJ, Byrne G, Bone KM, Adams J, Deed GThe Kava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS): a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial using an aqueous extract of Piper methysticumPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2009 Aug)
  11. Stress Signs and Symptoms - D WheatleyKava and valerian in the treatment of stress-induced insomniaPhytother Res.(2001 Sep)
  12. Stress Signs and Symptoms - Cropley M, Cave Z, Ellis J, Middleton RWEffect of kava and valerian on human physiological and psychological responses to mental stress assessed under laboratory conditionsPhytother Res.(2002 Feb)
  13. Reaction Time - Thompson R, Ruch W, Hasenöhrl RUEnhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava-kava)Hum Psychopharmacol.(2004 Jun)