Kava Kava Root

Pharmacopoeia Name:
Piper Methysticum

Common Names:
Kava

Active Components:
Various Kavalactones

Common Uses:
Restlessness, nervousness, occasional anxiety and panic attacks, sleep difficulty

 

 

Clinical Study Meta-Analysis and Peer Reviews

 

1. Dietary Supplements and Natural Products as Psychotherapeutic Agents
Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD and Jerry M. Cott, PhD
From the Department of Health Care Sciences (A.F.-B.), George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC; and Adult Psychopharmacology Program (J.M.C.), National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, MD. Psychosomatic Medicine 61:712-728 (1999) [Read the Full Text ]

Excerpts From This Meta-Analysis:
"In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-center study, 101 outpatients with DSM-III-R anxiety disorders (agoraphobia, specific phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, or adjustment disorder with anxiety) were treated with the kava extract WS1490 (210 mg/d in divided doses) for 24 weeks. Results showed significant reductions in HAM-A scores in the kava group beginning in the eighth week and increasing throughout the trial. Improvements were also seen in secondary outcome variables, which included Hamilton subscale scores for somatic and psychic anxiety, the Clinical Global Impression scale, Self-Report Symptom Inventory, and the Adjective Mood scale. Side effects were greater in the placebo group than the kava group, the latter consisting of two patients with upset stomach. No changes were observed in clinical blood chemistry values, hematological parameters, or vital signs. In contrast to the benzodiazepines and tricyclics, both of which are used to treat anxiety disorders, treatment with kava did not lead to tolerance."

"In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 58 patients with various ICD-diagnosed anxiety and neurotic disorders were randomly assigned to receive 70 mg of kavalactones from extract WS 1490 (Laitan) or placebo three times daily for 4 weeks. Compared with the placebo group, the kava group demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety (assessed by HAM-A) by the end of the first week; differences between the two groups increased during the course of the study. Side effects were minimal, with the authors reporting no undesirable events."

2. Efficacy of kava extract for treating anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pittler MH, Ernst E.
Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Sciences, Univ. of Exeter, UK J
Clin Psychopharmacol. 2000 Feb;20(1):84-9 [Read the Abstract]

Excerpts From This Meta-Analysis:
"Eleven trials with a total of 645 participants met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis of six studies using the total score on the Hamilton Anxiety scale as a common outcome measure suggests a significant reduction in patients receiving kava extract compared with patients receiving placebo. The data available from the reviewed studies suggest that kava is relatively safe for short-term treatment (1 to 24 weeks)..."

3. Is kava really hepatotoxic? An analysis of the known data on adverse effects of kava preparations
Mathias Schmidt
Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry
May 2003 [Read the Full Text]

4. Kava Report 2003 - [Clinical] Investigation into EU Member States and Kava Products
J. Gruenwald, PhD, C. Mueller, PhD, J. Skrabal, MS
Phytopharm Consulting Part IIA - 4.3 March 2003 [Read the Full Text]

 

Clinical Trials and Laboratory Tests

 

1. Kava-kava extract WS 1490 versus placebo in anxiety disorders--a randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trial.
Volz HP, Kieser M.
Department of Psychiatry, Jena University
Pharmacopsychiatry. 1997 Jan;30(1):1-5. [Read the Abstract]

2. Efficacy of kava-kava in the treatment of non-psychotic anxiety, following pretreatment with benzodiazepines.
Malsch U, Kieser M.
Klinikum Nord/Ochsenzoll, Langenhorner Chaussee;
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001 Sep;157(3):277-83 [Read the Abstract]

3. Efficacy of a special kava extract (Piper methysticum) in patients with states of anxiety, tension, and excitedness of nonmental origin—a double-blind placebo-controlled study of four weeks treatment.
Lehmann E, Kinzler E, Friedemann J.
Phytomedicine 1996; 2: 113–9. PMID: 1930344 [Read the Abstract]

4. Kava-Kava extract LI 150 is as effective as Opipramol and Buspirone in Generalized Anxiety Disorder--an 8-week randomized, double-blind multi-centre clinical trial in 129 out-patients.
Boerner RJ, Sommer H, Berger W, Kuhn U, Schmidt U, Mannel M.
Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany. reinhard.
Phytomedicine. 2003;10 Suppl 4:38-49 [Read the Abstract]

5. Clinical efficacy of kava extract WS 1490 in sleep disturbances associated with anxiety disorders. Results of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.
Lehrl S.
Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology
Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 [Read the Abstract]

6. Kava and valerian in the treatment of stress-induced insomnia.
Wheatley D.
Psychopharmacology Research Group, London, UK.
Phytother. Res. 2001 Sep;15(6):549-51. PMID: 11536390 [Read the Abstract]

7. Evaluation of combining kava extract with hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of postmenopausal anxiety.
De Leo V, la Marca A, Morgante G, Lanzetta D, Florio P, Petraglia F.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena,
Maturitas. 2001 Aug 25;39(2):185-8. PMID: 11514117 [Read the Abstract]

8. A systematic review of the safety of kava extract in the treatment of anxiety
Stevinson C, Huntley A, Ernst E.
Department of Complementary Medicine, University of Exeter,UK.
Drug Saf. 2002;25(4):251-61. PMID: 11994028 [Read the Abstract]

9. Drug absorption in vitro model: filter-immobilized artificial membranes. 2) Studies of the permeability properties of lactones in Piper methysticum Forst.
Avdeef A, Strafford M, Block E, Balogh MP, Chambliss W, Khan I.
Eur J Pharm Sci. 2001 Dec;14(4):271-80. PMID: 11684401 [Read the Abstract]

10. Effect of kava extract on vagal cardiac control in generalized anxiety disorder: preliminary findings.
Watkins LL, Connor KM, Davidson JR.
Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
J Psychopharmacol. 2001 Dec;15(4):283-6. PMID: 11769822 [Read the Abstract]

11. Kavalactones from Piper methysticum, and their 13C NMR spectroscopic analyses.
Dharmaratne HR, Nanayakkara NP, Khan IA.
National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Phytochemistry. 2002 Feb;59(4):429-33. PMID: 11830162 [Read the Abstract]

12. Kavapyrone enriched extract from Piper methysticum as modulator of the GABA binding site
Jussofie A, Schmiz A, Hiemke C.
Institut fur Physiologische Chemie, Universitatsklinikum Essen.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1994 Dec;116(4):469-74. PMID: 7701051 [Read the Abstract]

13. The action profile of D,L-kavain. Cerebral sites and sleep-wakefulness-rhythm in animals
Holm E, Staedt U, Heep J, Kortsik C, Behne F, Kaske A, Mennicke I.
Abteilung fur Pathophysiologie, I. Medizinische Klinik Mannheim, Universitat Heidelberg, Mannheim. 1991 Jul;41(7):673-83  PMID: 1772452 [Read the Abstract]

14. Development of tolerance to kava in mice in clinical trials. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
Duffield PH, Jamieson D.
School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of NSW, Kensington, Australia.
1991; 18:571-578. PMID: 1914254 [Read the Abstract]

15. Kava Report 2003 - [Clinical] Investigation into EU Member States and Kava Products
J. Gruenwald, PhD, C. Mueller, PhD, J. Skrabal, MS
Phytopharm Consulting Part IIA - 4.3 March 2003 [Read the Full Text]

16. Kava, used traditionally and widely considered safe, is suprisingly linked to liver damage
Alan R. Gaby, MD
Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, Washington
General Nutrition Center - Weekly News Wire; December 13, 2001 [Read the Article]

 

Learn More:

 

Active Ingredients 5-HTP American Ginseng Bacopa German Chamomile Hops Kava Root Lemon Balm Melatonin Passion Flower Rhodiola Rosea St. Johns Wort SAM-e Valerian Winter Cherry   Essential Co-Factors Acetyl-L-Carnitine Choline DMAE GABA Inositol Lecithin Magnesium Rosehips Zinc Vitamin-C Clarocet Essential-b   Learn More Ingredient Reference Library Ingredient Profiles Which Clarocet is right for me? Healthcare Providers

   © 1997 - 2007 Medicor Labs Corporation.  All rights reserved. Copyright and Terms of Use.

This website does not provide medical advice. Clarocet products are dietary supplements that are not approved by the FDA to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The health benefits of Clarocet products are supported by independent clinical evaluation. Clarocet products are formulated using a combination of ingredients that are FDA-regulated. Consult with a physician if you believe you are experiencing emotional stress responses such as anxiety, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, depression, mood swings, sleep difficulty or problems focusing and concentrating. Only a qualified healthcare professional can provide you with a correct diagnosis and recommend treatment options.