What is kava?

Kava, or Piper methysticum, is a plant native to the South Pacific region. It has been used for over 2,000 years as a ceremonial and recreational beverage and is known to have spiritual importance.¹

The traditional beverage is prepared by grinding the roots of the plant into a powder and mixing it with water and coconut milk.² Traditional consumption of kava can cause drunkenness-like symptoms in a dose-dependent manner including muscle relaxation, sleepiness and slurred speech.^1,3 Like alcohol, kava is a central nervous system depressant, and may be a beneficial alternative for those seeking the anxiolytic and sleep inducing effects of alcohol without many of its harmful effects.²

What is it used for?

Overall, kava is known to promote feelings of wellbeing when consumed. Kava has been traditionally used as a herbal medicine to treat a variety of conditions including: restlessness, muscular spasms, pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, urinary tract infections, asthma, rheumatism and menstrual disorders.^4,5

In modern herbal medicine, kava is one of the most researched herbs for anxiety disorders and it has been clinically trialled in generalised anxiety disorder, menopausal anxiety, anxiety with comorbid depression, sleep dysfunction, mood and stress among other conditions. It is commonly used by natural medicine practitioners to address acute anxiety and insomnia.

What are kavalactones?

Kavalactones are an active constituent primarily found in the roots and rhizomes of the kava plant, and are responsible for many of its therapeutic benefits. Eighteen different kavalactones have been identified with various possible mechanisms of action including modulation of GABA receptors and reduced neuronal reuptake of noradrenaline.³

In Australia, kava supplements are standardised to their kavalactone content and come in various doses commonly ranging from 30-60mg of kavalactones per tablet or capsule. Doses of kavalactones ranging from 60-240mg per day have been clinically trialled in generalised anxiety.⁶ The dosing of kavalactones is important for their therapeutic effects, therefore working with a qualified practitioner may help to determine the most beneficial dose for your condition. As with all herbal medicines, doses may need to be adjusted overtime to cater to changes in physiology and symptoms.

Is kava safe?

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has deemed kava supplements to be safe within certain provisions:

• Use noble kava cultivar at least 5 years old at the time of harvest
• Use peeled and dried rhizomes and roots
• Aqueous extraction only
• Doses no greater than 250mg of kavalactones daily

Kava in supplemental doses is not known to cause drowsiness or impair normal motor function. In fact, kava has been shown to have mild positive effects on cognition, therefore is safe to be consumed during the day.³

Kava may be prescribed alongside synergistic herbs such as passionflower and California poppy to maximise its anxiolytic effects. It is best taken under the guidance of a healthcare practitioner who may be able to guide your kava product selection, dosage strength and duration.  

To find a BioMedica practitioner, visit our Find a Practitioner page.

Practitioners, find technical information on kava in our Ingredients Index.

References

1. Services, D. of H. & H. (n.d.). Kava. Www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/kava
2. Whitton, P. A., Lau, A., Salisbury, A., Whitehouse, J., & Evans, C. S. (2003). Kava lactones and the kava-kava controversy. Phytochemistry, 64(3), 673–679. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0031-9422(03)00381-9
3. LaPorte, E., Sarris, J., Stough, C., & Scholey, A. (2011). Neurocognitive effects of kava (Piper methysticum): a systematic review. Human psychopharmacology, 26(2), 102–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.1180
4. Bian, T., Corral, P., Wang, Y., Botello, J., Kingston, R., Daniels, T., Salloum, R. G., Johnston, E., Huo, Z., Lu, J., Liu, A. C., & Xing, C. (2020). Kava as a Clinical Nutrient: Promises and Challenges. Nutrients, 12(10), 3044. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12103044
5. Singh, Y. N. (1992). Kava: an overview. In Journal of Ethnopharmacology (Vol. 37, Issue 1). https://doi. org/10.1016/0378-8741(92)90003-A
6. Sarris, J., Stough, C., Teschke, R., Wahid, Z. T., Bousman, C. A., Murray, G., Savage, K. M., Mouatt, P., Ng, C., & Schweitzer, I. (2013). Kava for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder RCT: Analysis of adverse reactions, liver function, addiction, and sexual effects. Phytotherapy Research, 27(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4916