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KAVA KAVA -
MYSTICAL PEPPER FROM POLYNESIA
by Lynn Hinderliter CN, LDN |
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"With all of the horror stories
lately about the dangers of using kava, what was your reaction? "
"The fact is, you are far likelier
to suffer from liver damage by taking the prescription anti-anxiety
drug, Valium, as you are kava, yet it is taken by millions daily
with little question - and with no major adverse publicity. The
over-the counter pain medication, acetaminophen (Tylenol), also has
a high incidence of liver toxicity, especially when combined with
alcohol."
This and other eye-opening statements
are in the article "Kava: Is It Safe?" by Hyla Cass M.D
This points up the importance of
looking into the details of any Adverse Event Reports (AERs) making
headlines. In the case of Kava, two thirds of the 30 cases (yes,
only 30) reported by German and Swiss health authorities involved
abuse of drugs and/or alcohol. Yet based on these 30 cases entire
nations are banning kava as an unsafe herb.
Amazing, isn't it! So this article is mainly academic: insurance
considerations mean most companies have taken their Kava Kava
products off the market.
Actually, now there
is an emerging
explanation for the baffling connection between Kava
Kava and liver problems: and as usual the explanation
is GREED.
Some companies,
unable to find supplies of the roots traditionally
used to make this supplement at a price they liked,
began buying the cheaper stem peelings and leaves which
are usually thrown away. It appears that these were
always traditionally avoided by the native cultures who
first developed this relaxant because - wait for it- the
peels were harmful. Yes, it turns out University of
Hawaii researchers have determined the presence of a
toxic element called Pipermethystine, which has a
"strong negative effect" on liver culture cells !
See RESOURCES at right.
I once attended a lecture given by Dr. Harold
Bloomfield, M.D., author of Herbs for Anxiety. I
was extremely eager to hear him speak in person, since
his approach to anxiety and depression is one that I
have supported and espoused for many years. However, his
closely argued and scientifically supported presentation
was hugely augmented by his personal charm, and by the
many pertinent case histories he brought up. It was an
instructive afternoon.
His interest in herbal approaches to
depression and anxiety began because of his discomfort
with having to prescribe the limited number of
pharmaceutical drugs available, finding that even minor
episodes of depression all too often ended with the
patient dependent on a chemical fix. He points out that
even though such drugs as Xanax, Valium and Ativan are
only supposed to be taken for short periods, extended
use is all too common.
Not only that, studies suggest
that Prozac actually causes atrophy of the dendrites in
the limbic system, damage which can take up to 6 months
after cessation of use to heal. He wanted to find an
approach which was effective, but much less potentially
harmful. The work being done in Europe caught his
attention, and he soon found that the scientific
research supporting the use of plant antidepressants was
compelling enough to justify trying them. He was
extremely impressed and pleased with the results. He
emphasizes throughout his book that these gentler
remedies are only appropriate for mild to moderate forms
of depression and anxiety, though some research is being
done now on the proper methods necessary to use them for
more serious f mental disorders.
His first interest was St. John's Wort: recently,
however, he has been very impressed with the herb Kava Kava -
something which doesn't surprise me at all, since I am very
impressed with its effects myself! He recommends it particularly for
the kind of nervous worry and anxiety that is accompanied by tense
muscles , since Kava is excellent for relaxing musculo-skeletal
tension. Some chiropractors find it helpful to use before
adjustments to help relax their patients.
Dr. Bloomfield cited studies which show that Kava
Kava (in the proper concentrations) is as effective as the
benzodiazepine drug called Serax in treating anxiety. The strength
used in the studies was three 100 mg doses of Kava, standardized to
70% kavalactones. This strength of kavalactones is not yet available
in the U.S.A., but there are preparations available standardized to
55% or 30% which can be manipulated to get the proper dose. He
suggests starting with 70 to 84 mg of the kavalactones, because if
that is effective in relieving your anxiety, you will not need to
take more: however, if it is not, he says it is safe to increase the
dose gradually until you reach three times that amount. though he
cautions that Kava should not be used at that level for more than 6
months without a break. He also does not recommend its use for
people with Parkinson's disease, since some cases of increased
muscle twitching have been reported, nor should it be taken with
alcohol.
He stresses that Kava Kava is an alternative
to pharmaceutical drugs, not something that you can safely take in
addition to them: he is very insistent that anyone already using a
tranquilizer, antidepressant or sleeping pills work with their
Doctor to substitute the natural remedy for the chemical. However,
his account of the results obtained using Kava Kava make it quite
clear that this is an enormously effective and safe natural
alternative for a problem that is sometimes seriously overmedicated.
In Germany, England and Switzerland, among other countries, health
boards have approved Kava for use in the treatment of insomnia and
anxiety.
There is much controversy in Germany at the moment
about the safety of Kava Kava, some cases of liver damage leading to
death being attributed to the herb. However, in these cases,
heavy-duty medical drugs were also being used. There is no
doubt, that Kava Kava is not intended to be an everyday herb, but
rather one to use occasionally as the need arises. It would also be
wise not to combine it with other liver unfriendly substances, to
include alcohol.
Interestingly, he gave a short report on the use
of Kava Kava together with GABA (an amino acid) and
Valerian (another herb with calming effects on the nervous
system) on ADHD, saying that while research results are not
yet in, preliminary reports suggest the combination can be very
helpful.
| Keywords: kava kava, kava,
anxiety, muscle relaxant, musculo-skeletal tension, kava
insomnia, kava liver, kava defense, the vitamin lady writes
about kava kava |
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Links of interest
These are NOT sponsored/paid links,
but provided for you as being relevant to your search.
University of Hawaii
Research into Pipermethystine
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