Kava Kava

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Kava Kava

Kava, commonly referred to as kava kava, among other names, is a plant indigenous to islands in the South Pacific. Originally used for native beverages, kava kava is now a common ingredient in dietary supplements sold around the world. Kava kava is marketed to relieve stress, tension, anxiety, and insomnia, although the FDA has not confirmed that kava kava use actually reduces symptoms of any of these problems.

In recent years, kava kava has become more popular in the United States, ranking ninth in sales of herbal supplements, and averaging sales in the tens of millions annually. Products containing kava kava may not include the word "kava" in their name, or may list kava kava under another name, such as kavain, long pepper, awa, gea, gi, etc. Kava kava is a leafy plant that is a type of pepper. The most potent part of the plant is the root, which is processed to make powders and teas, although in some cases, the whole kava kava plant is used.

In November of 2001, German scientists announced that kava kava may be responsible for 30 cases of liver toxicity in Germany and Switzerland. Swiss officials ordered kava kava removed from stores, Britain asked for its voluntary withdrawal, and Germany warned kava kava manufacturers that the government might soon ban the supplement. In early 2002, France banned the sale of kava kava, and a few weeks later, Canada issued a formal warning that kava kava can cause liver failure.

Federal regulations mean that the FDA has limited control over the manufacture and distribution of kava kava and similar herbal supplements. For this reason, it is very important for any consumer who is currently taking kava kava to immediately report any side effects or complications that he/she believes is linked to the use of kava kava.

Kava kava, as previously mentioned, may be listed as an ingredient under any of these names. In some cases, the name may be accompanied by the word "pepper" or "root":

Kava, kava kava, kavain, kavapipar, kawa, kawa kawa, kawapfeffer, maori kavi, rhizoma di kava-kava, ava, awa, gea, gi, intoxicating pepper, long pepper, kao, piper methysticum , Macropiper Latifolium, Piper inebrians, malohu, maluk, maruck, milik, kew, Rauschpfeffer, sakau, tonga, Wurzelstock, yagona, yangona, yaqona, yongona.

Defective Drugs Breaking News

"FDA Warns About Kava and Severe Liver Injury"

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory to consumers about the potential risk of severe liver injury resulting from the use of dietary supplements containing kava. A plant indigenous to the South Pacific, kava (also commonly referr...

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