Quick Navigation

Kava

Kava is a herb that has traditionally been drunk as a hypnotic and anxiety reducer. It has been shown effective in reducing anxiety, sometimes at a potency similar to pharmaceuticals; may be a cognitive enhancer, but not completely safe.

Our evidence-based analysis on kava features 68 unique references to scientific papers.

Kamal Patel
Research analysis led by and reviewed by the Examine team.
Last Updated:

How to Take

Recommended dosage, active amounts, other details

When supplementing Kava, initially an extract known as WS1490 should be sought out. 300mg of this extract daily (in three divided doses of 100mg) appears to be reliable and effective for the treatment of anxiety and other cognitive issues. Doses of up to 800mg of the WS1490 extract have been tolerated for short periods of time.

Otherwise, supplementation of any product conferring 250mg collective kavalactones (the active ingredients) is used.

Although it is usually taken at multiple times throughout the day with meals, if a single dose per day is being used it tends to be used prior to sleep.

Easily stay on top of the latest nutrition research

Become an Examine Member to get access to the latest research. Get 150+ studies summarized for you across 25 different categories every month.

Members also have access to the Examine Study Database of 400+ supplements and their effects on 600+ health outcomes, as well as in-depth research analyses. Understand the whole body of nutrition and supplement evidence at a glance.

Get instant access — start your free 14-day trial

Already a Member? Click here to log in.


Human Effect Matrix

Unlocked for Examine Members

Easily stay on top of the latest nutrition research

Become an Examine Member to get access to the latest research. Get 150+ studies summarized for you across 25 different categories every month.

Members also have access to the Examine Study Database of 400+ supplements and their effects on 600+ health outcomes, as well as in-depth research analyses. Understand the whole body of nutrition and supplement evidence at a glance.

Get instant access — start your free 14-day trial

Already a Member? Click here to log in.


The Human Effect Matrix summarizes human studies to tell you what effects Kava has on your body, how much evidence there is, and how strong these effects are.

Full details are available to Examine Members. Not a Member? Try Examine Membership completely free for two weeks.
Grade Level of Evidence
Robust research conducted with repeated double-blind clinical trials
Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
Single double-blind study or multiple cohort studies
Uncontrolled or observational studies only
Level of Evidence
? The amount of high quality evidence. The more evidence, the more we can trust the results.
Outcome Magnitude of effect
? The direction and size of the supplement's impact on each outcome. Some supplements can have an increasing effect, others have a decreasing effect, and others have no effect.
Consistency of research results
? Scientific research does not always agree. HIGH or VERY HIGH means that most of the scientific research agrees.
Notes
grade-a
Anxiety
Notable Very High See all 8 studies
Appears to be quite reliable and effective in treating non-psychotic anxiety, with less reliability on the topic of generalized anxiety (which lavender shows some promise for). It is possible that long-term usage of kava may have similar side-effects as long term usage of benzodiazepines (not demonstrated, but wholly logical) and most studies on kava are of a few weeks in duration without any problems.
grade-b
Subjective Well-Being
Notable Very High See all 4 studies
The increase in well being appears to be quite large, but secondary to reducing anxiety. At least one study has noted that, in healthy persons subject to a minor stressor (testing) that kava enhanced cheerfulness
grade-c
Reaction Time
Notable - See study
The one study to measure reaction time noted an astounding decreased (approximately 40% reduction), which needs to be replicated
grade-c
Aggression
Minor - See study
Aggressive symptoms of anxiety have been noted to be decreased following kava ingestion, an outright reduction of anxiety (without treating anxiety) is uncertain
grade-c
Cognition
Minor - See study
Possibly secondary to the antianxiety effects, kava taken prior to a test is able to enhance cognition related to mood during the stressful test.
grade-c
Depression
Minor Very High See 2 studies
Depressive symptoms have been reduced vicariously through reductions in anxiety; per se antidepressant effects of kava uncertain
grade-c
Sleep Quality
Minor Very High See 2 studies
Sleep quality is enhanced via reducing the symptoms of anxiety which impair sleep
grade-c
Liver Enzymes
- Very High See 2 studies
No significant influence on liver enzymes assuming the water extract (WS1490) is being used
grade-d
Blood Pressure
Minor - See study
One study has noted a reduction in blood pressure associated with kava, of minor magnitude
grade-d
Stress
Minor Very High See 2 studies
Possible antistress effects of kava that requires larger studies

Studies Excluded from Consideration

  • Excluded[1] as results are confounded with St.John's wort ingestion (150mg kavalactones, 2970mcg hypericin daily)

  • Excluded due to lack of non-active control; comparative study[2]

  • Confounded with calcium supplementation[3]

  • Confounded with Hormone Replacement Therapy[4]

Stay on top of the latest research

To unlock the full archives of our Study Database and research analyses, become an Examine Member today.

Start your 14-day free trial

Study Deep Dives

Click here to become an Examine Member and stay on top of the latest research.

Things to Note

Primary Function:

Other Functions:

Also Known As

Piper methysticum, Kava Pepper, Ava Pepper, Kava Kava, Intoxicating Pepper, Awa, rauschpfeffer, sakau, tonga, wurzelstock, yangona

Caution Notice

Kava and Kava containing products are suspected to interact adversely with drugs and other pharmaceuticals, caution should be used when pairing Kava with other compounds

Get our free 5-day course on the essentials of supplementation.

At Examine, our incentives line up with yours — getting unbiased information. That's why we don’t sell any advertising or supplements.

Join over 250,000 people who have learned about effective versus overrated supplements, tips for buying supplements, and how to combine supplements for safety and efficacy.

Research Breakdown on Kava

1Sources and Composition

1.1Source and History

1.2Composition

1.3Structure and Properties

2Pharmacology

2.1Brain

2.2Excretion

3Neurology

3.1Glutaminergic Signalling

3.2GABAergic signalling

3.3Dopaminergic signalling

3.4Serotonergic signalling

3.5Neuroprotection

3.6Cognition

3.7Mood

3.8Anxiety and Depression

4Body Weight and Obesity

4.1Food Intake

5Interactions with Aesthetics

5.1Cosmetics

6Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

6.1St.John's Wort

6.2Alcohol

6.3Itself

7Forms of Kava

7.1Brew

7.2LI 150

7.3WS 1490

8Safety and Toxicity

8.1Liver health

8.2Skin

8.3Enzymatic-Drug Interactions

8.4Pregnancy and Lactation

8.5Other Notables
Click here to see all 68 references.

This page is regularly updated, to include the most recently available clinical trial evidence.

Each member of our research team is required to have no conflicts of interest, including with supplement manufacturers, food companies, and industry funders. The team includes nutrition researchers, registered dietitians, physicians, and pharmacists. We have a strict editorial process.

This page features 68 references. All factual claims are followed by specifically-applicable references. Click here to see the full set of research information and references for Kava.

Examine.com is intended to be used for educational and information purposes only. Examine.com and its Editors do not advocate nutritional supplementation over proper medical advice or treatment and this sentiment will never be expressed through pages hosted under Examine.com. If using any pharmaceuticals or drugs given to you by a doctor or received with a prescription, you must consult with the doctor in question or an equally qualified Health Care Professional prior to using any nutritional supplementation. If undergoing medical therapies, then consult with your respective Therapist or Health Care Professional about possible interactions between your Treatment, any Pharmaceuticals or Drugs being given, and possible nutritional supplements or practices hosted on Examine.com.

Examine.com does not assume liability for any actions undertaken after visiting these pages, and does not assume liability if one misuses supplements. Examine.com and its Editors do not ensure that unforeseen side effects will not occur even at the proper dosages, and thereby does not assume liability for any side effects from supplements or practices hosted under the domain of Examine.com.

Supplements

Articles

Health Topics

Membership Free Trial

Protein Intake Guide + Calculator

How to read a study

About

Never miss an update!

Your email is safe with us. We don’t share personal data.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.