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Kava kava has been used
for centuries by the inhabitants of the South Pacific
with no ill effects and over the last ten years Kava
kava has become one of the top selling herbal
supplements worldwide. Recently a few concerns have been
reported that Kava kava may have caused some liver
problems.
To put this in
perspective, hundreds of thousands of men and women use
Kava kava regularly but there have been just 4 reported
cases of liver problems where kava may have been the
cause, but it is equally likely, that another product,
alcohol, or medicine could have caused the problem.
As far as Kava kava is concerned, to quote the Medicines
Control Agency (M.C.A.) which was responsible for
reviewing kava: "No case has been identified with a
causality classification of certain." (20th December
2002).
As a farm and a company, we believe that the therapeutic
benefits of Kava kava far outweigh any "unproven" side
effects. Many respected organizations believe Kava kava
to be highly effective and should remain available,
including the National Institute of Medical Herbalist (N.I.M.H.).
In fact, a closer
examination of the facts reveals that kava kava is safer
than its prescription alternatives.
Jerry Cott, PhD., former
Chief of the Psychopharmacology Research Program at the
National Institute of Mental Health said, "If the
incidence of liver toxicity for kava is correct, then
according to German researchers it is less than that of
conventional pharmaceutical anti-anxiety and
antidepressant prescription drugs. These are generally
considered to be acceptable (though small) risks," he
said, referring to the risk-benefit comparison by which
conventional medicines are evaluated.
Cott also pointed out that
a small clinical study from Duke University published in
October 2002 showed no adverse effects from kava on the
liver.
The fact is, you are far likelier to suffer from liver
damage by taking the prescription, anti-anxiety drug,
Valium, as you are Kava, yet this is taken by millions
daily with little question-and with no major adverse
publicity.
The Research
Kava has a long traditional use in the South Pacific at
often considerably higher doses than those used in
Europe with few reported liver toxic effects, and its
safety/toxicity has been studied extensively in recent
years.
In 1990 the German
government's Commission E, a panel of herbal experts in
the fields of medicine and pharmacy, evaluated the
scientific and medical literature and had approved the
use of kava as a non prescription medicine for "nervous
anxiety, stress, and restlessness."
The longest running study conducted to date, with 101
people for 6 months taking 70mg 3/day had negligible
side effects, and in fact, more of the placebo subjects
reported side effects than those taking kava. The
researcher concluded that, "in contrast to both
benzodiazapines and antidepressants, kava possesses an
excellent side-effect profile."
The safe and effective benefits of kava to relieve
symptoms of anxiety were also supported in a
meta-analysis, a systematic statistical review of seven
human clinical trials published in 2000 in the Journal
of Clinical Psychopharmacology, and again in a similar
critical review in 2001. The reviews did not find
significant adverse effects related to liver toxicity.
In conclusion, the liver is affected by many substances,
including prescription and non- prescription drugs, as
well as alcohol, which is a major cause of liver damage.
We must be aware that herbs are potent medicines, to be
treated with the appropriate respect regarding potential
interactions and toxicity, including to the liver. On
the other hand, Kava kava's margin of safety far
surpasses that of it's pharmaceutical equivalent.
We would advise at this stage, until further research
has been conducted, that those people with liver
problems, or those people with a history of liver
problems should avoid kava kava.
- Excerpted from Dashwood Direct.
A Story about LOCAL KAVA
is HERE. |
