Scientific name
Piper methysticum
Family
Piperaceae
Origin
Polynesia
Used Parts
Drugs given by the roots
Chemical constituents
- Kavalactones (methysticina, dihydro-methysticina, kavaina, dihydro-kavaina, yangonina, demethoxy-yangonina);
- Flavonoids (flavokavaina A, B, C);
- Essential oil;
- Alkaloids (pipermethystina).
Kava Kava in Herbalist: Property of Kava Kava
Among the main activities of the plant the most important ones concern the anxiolytic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effect.
Kava Kava - Side effects
Following the intake may appear skin discolouration for high and prolonged dosages over time, by probable interaction with the absorption of niacin and B vitamins, and more rarely migraine.
Warnings
About 30 cases of acute hepatitis, some of which were fulminant, were reported in subjects who were taking Kava-kava; most of these cases occurred in Germany and two in Switzerland, and the Health Authorities of many countries, including Italy, decided to withdraw the Kava-kava market as a precautionary measure.
Pharmacological Interactions
- barbiturates: increase in induced sleep;
- anxiolytics (benzodiazepines): described a case of coma due to the simultaneous intake of alprazolam and Kava kava;
- levodopa: the effectiveness of the antiparkinsonian drug is reduced;
- caution with the simultaneous intake of kava kava and alcohol.
