How Effective Is Kava for Anxiety?
The issue of using kava kava for anxiety is one that continues to be studied. Kava (piper methysticum) is a plant that grows in the South Pacific, where it has many cultural uses. Herbal preparations of it made its way to various other parts of the world where some countries have rejected its use due to its association with causing liver disease. New preparations of it, which only contain the root of the plant, are thought safer, and it’s still sold in the places like the US in natural foods stores. Nevertheless, it efficacy, safety, and preparation quality are not regulated by agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the legitimate studies on its use as an anxiolytic are still few in number, though suggestive of benefit.
