Kava Kava Root Wildcrafted

Background

• Kava is native to the South Pacific and is a member of the pepper family.
• Pacific Islanders have used kava beverages for thousands of years for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. More recently, the use of kava as a beverage has grown both in the Pacific Islands and in other parts of the world. Kava drinks are now sold at kava bars at many locations in the United States. 
• Kava products are sold in the United States as dietary supplements and in some other countries as drugs or herbal medicines. These products are promoted for anxiety and other health conditions.

How Much Do We Know?

• There has been a fair amount of research in people on the use of kava for anxiety, but few studies have been done on other conditions.
• There has also been substantial investigation of rare but sometimes severe cases of liver injury associated with the use of kava.