March 17, 1998 – In a study to be made public at the 3rd Symposium of the scientific journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, three researchers confirm that kava kava (Piper methysticum) extracts can be safely used to decrease the effects of stress and anxiety.
Kava, a plant native to Polynesia, has been used for centuries by local people to reduce stress and induce a state of relaxation without side effects. These properties have been evaluated in a number of clinical studies which have confirmed the effects and the absence of danger in kava. These studies suggest that the pharmacological activity of kava is comparable to that of drugs of the benzodiazepine family (for example: Ativan, Librium, Valium) without having side effects. In addition, kava would not create addiction or tolerance. Current knowledge suggests that kava can be safely used up to doses of 400 mg of kava-lactones per day. The aim of the present research was to measure the effects and the degree of danger of kava in an adult population subjected to daily stress but without clinical level anxiety.
The study was carried out in a double-blind, randomized manner, with a placebo control group and a fixed dose of kava. The group consisted of 28 men and 32 women with an average age of 37 years who received daily 400 mg of kava containing 120 mg of kava-lactones or placebo capsules.
The study showed that Kavatrol (trade name of the product) reduced stress and anxiety levels in subjects compared to the control group. This study is the first to show that kava reduces stress associated with common life problems. The study also found that stress decreased with the duration of consumption of the product. Stress was reduced more markedly in people who used Kavatrol for a longer period of time. Since the pharmacological activity of kava can be compared to that of benzodiazepines without their untoward effects (tolerance and addiction), the researchers conclude that Kavatrol may be a valid treatment for everyday stress and anxiety.
Singh NN, Ellis CR, Singh YN, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Vol 4, no 2, March 1998, pp 97-98
HealthPassport.net