HerbKava
Limited evidence suggests kava may help with anxiety, but not generalized anxiety disorder; significant safety concerns regarding liver toxicity exist.
Benefits
- May help with anxiety
- stress
- and insomnia
- possesses muscle relaxant
- pain relief
- and anticonvulsant properties.
Key compounds
Kavalactoneskavainkavapyronespipermethystine
May help with
- Traditionally used by Pacific Islanders for ceremonial and medicinal purposes
- including social beverage consumption
- and to relieve anxiety
- stress
- and insomnia.
Best for these goals
May help with anxietystressand insomniapossesses muscle relaxantpain reliefand anticonvulsant properties.
How to use it
Beverages, dietary supplements
Evidence level
Limited
Cautions & interactions
Associated with rare but serious liver injury; can cause digestive upset, headache, dizziness, kava dermopathy, and impaired reflexes. Contraindicated in liver/kidney problems, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. | Interactions: Avoid with alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, sedatives, acetaminophen, and CYP450 substrate drugs (especially CYP1A2 or CYP2E1).
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