Kava kava goes by the botanical name, Piper methysticum, is a member of the pepper family. It grows in the South Pacific, from Hawaii to the New Guinea.
The parts used medicinally are the roots and rhizome.
James Cook first described the plant in an account of his voyage in the South Seas in 1768. Polynesian Natives consume kava steeped in milk or water, it is used by them in religious rights, as they believe it relaxes the body and mind, eases pain, and aids in a restful sleep. It has been credited with helping many things, including inflammations of the uterus, headaches, colds, rheumatism, VD, and is used as a sedative, aphrodisiac, anesthetic and more. Now lets see what Science has to say.
Scientific Information:
The flavanoids, ketones, amino acids and lactones are the actives in this herb, the lactones. A comprehensive study of kava lactone was conducted at Frieburg University Institute of Pharmacology in Germany during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Over the years they discovered that kava lactones operate by many nontraditional mechanisms. Most sedative drugs, like Valium and other benzodiazepines work by binding GABA (gamma-aminochemical acid) receptors in the brain. This leads to neurochemical changes that promote sedation. Kava lactones modify receptor domains rather than binding to receptors. They may promote sleep by changing the way the limbic system (the main seat of emotion) modulates emotional processes.
Interested in knowing about how it works on pain?
Kava doesn’t work like morphine, aspirin, ibuprofen or other pharmaceuticals, it does not lose it’s effectiveness over time. The lactones we mentioned in part 1 work with other compounds of found in the rhizome to produce a great pharmacological activity. Studies find that kava lactones are absorbed more rapidly when given orally as an extract. Scientist have found that kava acts as a sedative, analgesic, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant on laboratory animals. (Remember, you can contact me for references to these studies by email, too much to type on this blog, ask for specific study you are interested in and I’ll provide the reference.)
Another double-blind study with over eighty patients, some on placebo, and some on kavin, some on a compound from Kava, and the rest on a drug like Valium called oxazepan found that kavin and oxazepan both calmed anxiety…the advantage of the kavin being that it is has no complications, which oxazepan is both addictive and has side affects. Kava does not act as a depressant, either.
Cautionary Note: Kava kava should not be used by pregnant of lactating women. It should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol or used when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.
