"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.
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