Kava Kava in Herbal Medicine: Properties of Kava Kava

Scientific name

Piper methysticum

Family

Piperaceae

Origin

Polynesia

Parts Used

Root drug

Chemical constituents

• Kavalactones (methysticin, dihydro-methysticina, kavaina, dihydro-kavaina, yangonina, demethoxy-yangonina);
• Flavonoids (flavokavain A, B, C);
• Essential oil;
• Alkaloids (pipermethystina).

Kava Kava in Herbal Medicine: Properties of Kava Kava

Among the main activities of the plant the most important concern the anxiolytic, myorelaxant and anticonvulsant effect.

Kava Kava - Side Effects

Following ingestion, skin discoloration may appear due to high doses and prolonged over time, due to probable interaction with the absorption of niacin and B vitamins, and more rarely migraine.

Warnings

About 30 cases of acute hepatitis, some of which fulminant, have been reported in subjects who were taking Kava-kava; most of these cases occurred in Germany and two in Switzerland, and the health authorities of many countries, including Italy, have decided to withdraw Kava-kava from the market as a precaution.

Pharmacological interactions

• barbiturates - induced sleep increase;
• anxiolytics (benzodiazepines): described a case of coma due to the simultaneous intake of alprazolam and Kava kava;
• levodopa: the effectiveness of the antiparkinsonian drug is reduced;
• caution with the simultaneous intake of kava kava and alcohol.

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