Kava kava is a very helpful herb that I often use in my own house hold. Being a high strung and (sometimes,) over worked woman I find kava to be most helpful when I’m stressed and and too much on my plate. It’s no surprise either since at least one study it was found that people taking kava had a more accurate memory and they were able to focus better with an uplifted mood while taking about 300 mg.
Studies also find that kava is a mild sedative and kava has similar effects to benzodiazepine medications, including muscle relaxants, anesthetics and anticonvulsants; which is wonderful when your house is a mess, errands keep being delayed due to third party issues and your toilet just started to leak and you just realized that you have work in twenty minutes and you forgot to put your work clothes you washed two hours ago in the dryer. Oops…
Research currently suggests that kavalactones potentiate GABA (an amino acid that is known for giving people a calm and uplifted mood,) but does not alter levels of dopamine and serotonin in the Central Nervous System. This is especially helpful to herbalists who may think someone has a chemical imbalance of dopamine or serotonin but isn’t sure which one and if it is one are they depleted or elevated. It someone is currently unable to see a doctor to correct this imbalance kava kava could potentially be used to help said person until a doctors help can be enlisted.
Kava kava does have some side effects though. When taken consistently over long periods of time can cause liver damage due to an increase of liver enzymes. There are some who think that kava may even be addictive (mostly because it’s yummy,) when taken in large doses for an extended period of time due it a euphoric sensation some people receive. Also chewing kava may result in a numbing effect of the gums and throat which has been used in medicine for a sore mouth or throat.
