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| General
Information |
Common Name: |
Kava Kava |
|
Latin
Name:
|
Piper
Methysticum |
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Family:
|
Piperaceae |
| Other
Names: |
 |
Awa.
|
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Intoxicating
pepper.
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Kew.
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Tonga.
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| Indications
& Historical Uses |
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Anxiety (stress reliever) - induces physical and mental
relaxation.
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Insomnia.
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Restless
leg syndrome.
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Chronic
fatigue syndrome.
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Menopausal
symptoms.
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Bladder
anti-spasmodic.
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| Contraindications
& Precautions |
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Not
to be taken during pregnancy or lactation.
|
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Exercise
caution with any concurrent illness.
|
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Contraindicated
in severe depression. (See
Caution).
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Adverse
Effects:
Regular use of Kava may cause a scaly skin disorder resembling
psoriasis. This takes four months to a year of regular use to
appear, and it is not related to niacin deficiency.
Allergic
skin reaction to Kava may manifest after 2 - 3 weeks of regular
ingestion of Kava. This reaction can be aggravated by sunlight.
The condition is reversible and resolved when Kava intake is stopped.
Kava
can also cause pupillary dilatation and lack of skeletal muscle
co-ordination. Therefore people taking Kava should not drive or
operate heavy machinery.
Kava
may also exacerbate depression.
Drug
Interactions:
|
May
potentiate the effect of anxiolytics. Therefore patients
on benzodiazepines or other anxiolytics should not take
Kava without physician supervision.
|
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Alcohol
and other depressants may potentiate the action of Kava.
On the other hand, food decreases the effect of Kava.
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Kava
increases renal sodium excretion and may potentiate effects
of diuretics.
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Patients
on hypoglycemic drugs may need dosage adjustment.
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| Dosage
Information |
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How
Supplied:
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100mg,
150mg, and 200mg capsules. |
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Dosage:
|
100
- 300mg twice daily. |
| Pharmacology
|
|
The
active compounds in Kava are a group of 15 lactones unique to
the plant and are collectively known as Kavalactones. There are
some alkaloids too, but it is not certain whether any of these
are responsible for Kava's activity.
These
Kavalactones exert their effect at the level of the LIMBIC SYSTEM
in the brain as opposed to the benzodiazepines which work on the
GABA receptors in the brain.
Research
studies show that Kava does not exhibit any loss of effectiveness
over time, and there was no evidence of development of tolerance
or resistance to Kava. Thus, there is very little likelihood of
addiction at normal doses.
Kava
definitely has pharmocologic activity; hence people use Kava to
relieve anxiety, as a muscle relaxant, to induce sleep, to counteract
fatigue and as an intoxicant or alcohol substitute. People using
Kava for sedation may find that their muscles are relaxed, but
their mind is clear. High doses may cause muscle weakness. There
are some reports that suggest Kava may be neuroprotective after
strokes. Kava is not hallucinogenic, addictive or dependency-causing.
Kava is not anti microbial, but it has anti fungal activity -
However, at present, this does not have any clinical significance.
Kava also has local pain relieving properties. When chewed ,the
root produces numbness in the mouth ,similar to that one would
experience with cocaine and longer lasting than what one would
experience with benzocaine.
|
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Active
Ingredients:
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Kavalactones
(group of lactones) - extracted from dried roots.
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Enhancing
Agents:
|
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Phosphatidyl
serine.
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Valerian.
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Hops.
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Chamomile.
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Licorice.
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| Origin |
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Piper
methysticum [kava] is a hardy flowering shrub indigenous to the
South Pacific Islands.
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| Processing |
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There
are over 72 varieties of this plant. Some have stronger effects
than others. Specific strains of Kava, with demonstrated high
level of activity are cultivated in the South Pacific. The dried
roots are exported to Germany where extracts are prepared in accordance
to the OTC Pharmaceutical Standards.
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| Scientific
References |
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Lebot, V., Merlin M., and Lindstone: Kava: The Pacific Elixir,
Rochester VT: Healing Arts 1997.
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Walji: Kava - Natures Relaxant; Holm Press, Prescott,
AZ, 1997.
|
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Singh, Y.N. and Blumenthal, M. "Kava: An overview.". Special
Review, HerbalGram. 1997, No. 39: 34-56.
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Smith, R.M. "Pipermethystine: a novel pyridone alkaloid
from Piper methysticum." Tetrahedron Letters. 35
(1979): 427-439.
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Smith, R.M. "Kava lactones in Piper methysticum from Fiji."
Phytochemistry. 22 (1983): 1055-1056.
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Smith, R.M., et al. "High-performance liquid chromatography
of kava lactones from Piper methysticum." Journal of
Chromatography. 283 (1984):303-308.
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Steinmetz, E.E. "Piper methysticum (kava). Famous drug plant
of the South Seas Islands."Amsterdam. 1960. 1-46.
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Suss, R. and Lehmann, P. "Hematogenous contact eczema cause
by phytogenic drugs exemplified by Kava root extract."Hautarzt.
1996 Jun;47(6):459-61.
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Volz, H.P. "Kava kava extract WS1490 versus placebo in anxiety
disorder-a randomized, placebo-controlled 25 week outpatient
trial."Pharmacopsyc. 1997, 30:1-5.
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Warnecke, G. "Neurovegetative dystonia in the female climacteric.
Studies on the clinical efficacy and tolerance of Kava extract
WS 1490." Forschr. Med. 190 (1991): 120-122.
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Weiss, R.F. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield, England:
Beaconsfield Publishers, LTD, 1988.
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Russell, P.N., et al. "The effect of kava on altering and
speed of access of information from long-term memory." Bull,
Psychonomic Soc. 1987,25(4):236-237.
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Ruze,P. "Kava-induced dermopathy: A niacin deficiency."Lancet.
335 (1990):1442-1445.
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Schelosky, L., et al. "Kava and dopamine antagonism"[letter].
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry. 1995. May; 58(5):639-40.
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Scheuer, P. and Horigan, T.J. "A new carbonyl compound from
Piper Methysticum Forst." Nature. 1959 (184):979-980.
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Scholing, W.E. and Clausen, H.D. "On the effect of dl-kavian:
Experience with neuronika." Med. Klin. 72(1977):1301-1306.
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Schubet, K. "Chemistry and pharmacology of Kava-Kava (Piper
methysticum)." Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry.
43, no. 38 (1924):766B.
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Shulgin, A.T. "The narcotic pepper: the chemistry and pharmacology
of Piper methysticum and related species." Bull.
Narcotics. 1973(25): 59-74.
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Siegel, R.K. "Herbal intoxication."JAMA 1976(236:473-476.
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Singh, Y.N."A review of the historical, sociological and
scientific aspects of Kava and its uses in the South Pacific."Fiji
Medical Journal. 9(1981):61-64.
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Singh, Y.N. "Effects of Kava on neuromuscular transmission
and muscle contractility." Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
7 (1983):267-276.
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Singh, Y.N. Kava: a bibliography. Pacific Information Centre,
University of the South Pacific, Suva. 1986.
|
|
ingh,
Y.N. "Kava: An overview." J. of Ethnopharmacology.
37, no. 1 (1992): 13-45.
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