Kava Or P. Methysticum

Safer Use Of Too Much Defamed Herb

Kava  is a good herb with Anxiolytic property. Use this herb by all means. First know its benefits, use and side effects. Then make the informed choice. There had been some controversies with Kava and now they had been quieted and further observation is continuing with better guidelines for its use safely. Good Luck with Best of our effort.

Under Normal Therapeutic Dosage, Kava Is Safe:

• With normal dosage and with right product with right processes and With cycling regimen, there could be no harm in using it for almost all persons.

• Still, there is Idiosyncrasy found in all persons toward some chemicals - even for normal phytochemicals. This can cause abnormalities beyond control by anybody but God. By God's grace, it is extremely rare.

• Some persons can have or develop allergy toward Kavalactones. They should seek the information and should see the doctor if sometime allergy develops.

Use Kava Properly:

• Use Weekly and Monthly Cycling i.e. take it for 3-4 days in a week and leave a week in a month.

• Don't use it with other medications, alcohol. If you need to take other medicine, seek the help of doctor or herbalist.

• Don't drive after taking heavy dosage.

Who Suffers From Side Effects Of Kava?

• Some common and mild side effects can be felt by any user.

• The persons who don't use weekly or monthly cycling while taking it.

• The people who use it continuously for more than 4 - 6 months.

• Who takes the more than suggested dosage.

• Who takes it with other medication or with alcohol.

Common Side Effects Of Kava:

• The drink of this herb is pungent and bitter and numbing to mucus membrane of mouth.

• Some tiredness after weeks of use.

• Continual chewing can destroy the enamel of tooth.

Heavy Abusers Suffer From:

• Respiratory problems - shortness of breath.

• Skin problems - dry scaly skin rashes.

• Liver damage.

• Alterations in White, Red blood cells and Platelets.

• Diminished sexual drive.

• Loss of appetite.

• Some people complain of mild double vision.

• Feeling of tiredness.

• Muscle Weakness.

Liver Damage Possibility - The Truth:

Some cases of Liver problems after using it have come across mostly in European Countries. However no definitive study has come out affirming that using this herb can cause Liver damage.

What Are The Features of Liver Disorder?

• Jaundice i.e. yellowish tinge in eyes, tongue, nails.

• loss of appetite; nausea aggravated by fried food.

• fatigue.

Pipermethystine In Leaves & Stem Peelings Of Kava Vs Kavalactones & Liver Damage:

This study is the result of in-vitro observation of toxicity of Pipermethystine and Kavalactones on HepB2 cells. This study at College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources suggested that Pipermethystine is responsible for rare but severe hepatotoxic reactions to this herb.

Pipermethystine is found in leaves and stem peelings of this herb. It was supposed that its products that caused liver damage could have contained these parts of Kava herb as contamination. Native people never used any other part of kava other than the root.

Manufacturing Process Of Kava Extract In Europe Vs US:

•  European produced its extract with Acetone and Ethanol. This method produced high concentration of kavalactones 50 -90%. This  concentration in Europe in comparison with US 30 - 50% is very high.

• The amino acid Glutathione is a buffer for free radicals in Liver. This amino acid in this herb plant degrades after processing with Acetone or Ethanol. It might have aggravated to the liver disorder.

Besides the above mentioned factors there is space for not following the guidelines the safe use of this herb that might have contributed to the liver damage like its use with alcohol, other drugs or heavy use.

Rare Allergies From Kava:

• Out of a few hundred people, one might report a rare allergy to its products. This allergy is manifested in two different ways.

• The one is the mild form with itching sensation over the skin and/or in throat region. Light hives or urticaria might develop.

• The second form of allergy is severe with itching, hives in stomach region sometimes over back, abdomen and loin region, the swelling of fingers. Face and skin might turn red.

• In both cases, stop the its use and see the doctor immediately. All the manifestation of allergy will go away in a few days after stopping its use.

• One can have Cross Allergy with other members of Pepper family like black pepper. If you are allergic to black pepper, seek the help of doctor before taking it.

Kava Dermopathy Or Skin Disorder:

It is the condition of skin found in heavy and long term users of this herb. It is characterized by dry scaly skin rash, discolored skin. It disappears after a few weeks of discontinuation of this herb. It can be prevented by Cycling Dosage regimen and by taking Vit. B3 or Niacin supplement.

Driving After Kava Use:

Kava is not considered legally a drug by Federal Health Officials. Rather FDA considers it as a herbal nutritional supplement beneficial for anxiety. Driving should not be done after taking a heavy dosage of this herb or after taking it with alcohol or other medication.

Pharmacology Of Kava:

• The t1/2 or Half Life of kava is not confirmed. Its anxiolytic effects remain for few hours.

• It is not evaluated for use in pregnancy, for breast feeding mothers and  for children.

• Kavalactones are not measured in routine drug tests.

• Kava is Non-addictive.

• It might not alter the Serotonin level significantly.

• No studies are done for its use in Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. However it can be judiciously used after weighing its benefits and risk and the patient should be closely monitored initially.

• Preferably alcohol should not be used with this herb. People using it experienced no harm in taking one or two unit of wine (30 - 60ml) occasionally. However Driving should be restricted in such conditions.

• In European journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 27 persons who were heavy drinkers of this herb from New Caledonia were found to have elevated gamma glutamyl transferase with slightly elevated transaminases. It was suggested that it couldn't be a sign of liver disorder but might be due to the induction of CYP450 enzymes.

• It exerts more of psychedelic action rather than narcotic or sedative.

Kawanism:

It is the name of syndrome or group of symptoms present in persons who abuse this herb for a long time. The person with Kawanism has - a dry, scaly skin rash, discolored skin; swollen face, eyes reddened, muscular weakness, alternation in blood cells, poor health, emaciated condition, loss of appetite.

Even after all such discussion, Kava is a great herb that should be used in Anxiety, GAD, stressed condition. It will never disappoint its user for its good effects and it won't harm the user if taken in the right way.

Dear Friends, No Fear With Kava!

Kava-Liquid (Click Image)

Use Kava For:

1. As anxiolytic, tranquilizer or calming agent; in anxiety, nervous restlessness.
2. In tension and stress.
3. In agitated state.
4. Weakness or fatigue with anxiety.
5. Chronic pain with tense muscles.
6. Read Kava related pages on Holistic-Herbalist for dosage, safety and side effects.
7. Take one capsule or 300 mg during acute condition or once every two day. Prefer to take other anxiolytic herbs like passionflower for long term and continuous use. Alternatively you can take drops - 1.6 ml or 2 dropperfuls instead of capsule. Never exceed dosage more than twice a day for drops or capsules.

Buying Information:

1. We recommend the interested visitors to get Kava Kava Capsules supplements from this place. This is a good store, with reputable quality and one of the most reasonable price. Get a pack of 30 capsules.
2. We recommend the interested visitors to get Kava-Liquid Drops supplements from this place. Get a pack of 60 ml of bottle with 37 dosage.

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Piper methysticum - Research Based Benefits & Uses
Piper methysticum Or Kava - Traditional Benefits & Uses
Kava Dosage & Bio-chemical Composition
Kava Side Effects, Liver Controversy, Allergies
About The Plant & Pictures Of Kava
Clinical Research & Resources Of Kava

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