Kava Herb Info

Kava herb (also known as kava kava or kava root) is a member of the pepper family.

It's indigenous to South Pacific islands where it has long been used as a traditional beverage in social gatherings.

Kava herb is a boon to Western society as it is a natural tranquilizer that soothes nerves, calms emotions, and minimizes anxiety without the negative side effects of over-the-counter (OTC) prescription medications.

And that, we suspect, is why it has gained in popularity.

Benefits of Kava Herb or Kava Root

Kava has been prescribed in Europe for many years as a alternative to prescription tranquilizers, but no longer.

Many herbalists consider valerian a better alternative.

Kava root herb has been used for years but is to be used wisely and with care. Key benefits are:

1. Relieves muscle aches and pains, helps minimize or reduce muscle spasms
2. Kava root may actually to control epileptic seizures
3. It improves the recovery after a stroke.
4. Induces sleep for insomniacs
5. Helps to relax you
6. Helps minimize anxiety associated with depression, clinical or otherwise.
7. Minimizes anxiety from stress-induced panic, nervousness, restlessness, etc.

Guidelines & Warnings

It is vitally important that you stick to dosages no larger than 250 milligrams to 750 milligrams per day. This is important as if you take more than the recommended dose, liver toxicity is possible. Also, only take kava herb on a short-term basis.

(Less than for one month maximum.) Herbalists say use it only on a as-needed basis. Some drugs also can interact with the nervous system and cause drowsiness when taken with kava herb, including antidepressants, psychiatric drugs, sedatives, and tranquilizers.

It goes without saying but here goes: don't take kava root with alcohol. (Also don't take it if you have Parkinson's disease -- it aggravates the symptoms.)

Those with a pre-existing liver condition should avoid it as well. Reported side effects are: stomach upset (the most popular one), morning tiredness, loss of appetite, pain over the right upper abdomen, darkening of the urine, yellowness of one's eyes, dry scaly skin, etc.

Kava root herb is very potent but it is most definitely a short-term solution. Like many other things in nature, when taken to excess actually becomes a detriment.

If you want more of a long-term solution consider St Johns wort, a powerful antidepressant herb. Lastly, pregnant and/or nursing women should not use kava herb without talking to their doctor.

Generally speaking, it's wise anyway to talk in depth to your physician first before embarking on any supplementation program. Our recommendation? We recommend valerian or St. Johns Wort over kava kava. I believe it is better to err on the side of caution. Kava root is an extremely powerful herb, but should only be used with the utmost care.

Choosing A Kava Herb Supplement

• The supplements should be produced at pharmaceutical standard GMP registered facilities. Facilities that are GMP registered comply with the most rigid standards so as to minimize the possibility of product contaminants. (These are the same standards pharmaceutical companies in the United States are required to operate under as mandated by the FDA.) Supplement products of every category are not regulated by FDA and as such fraud is rampant with many so-called supplements containing contaminants with 1 in 5 not having the ingredients as proclaimed on the label! Of course, the FDA is not a lily-white virgin. They do some very questionable things so this is a pro and a con, I think.
• Ensure the supplement manufacturer has a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on file for review by you the customer thus confirming the potency of the herbal ingredients listed on the label.
• The kava kava supplement should ideally be made from standardized extracts of at least 30% of the active ingredient, namely kavalactones.
• Look for a kava root supplement that's extracted from the root of the plant rather than kava with only purified kavalactones.

Quality Kava Kava

We've been taking a supplement from a company based in New Zealand. It's a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin and it meets the criteria discussed in the preceding section. We have experienced better sleep, more energy, and better mental clarity since taking this supplement.

This alternative health supplement is scientifically engineered and completely assimilable.

Most importantly, it's completely safe and can be used daily.

I've experienced an evening out of our emotions and an overall sense of emotional well-being since taking this supplement.

In other words, it provides the same benefits as kava root without the potential side effects as it's made with, among other things, dense herbal standardized extracts.

I hope this kava herb info have been helpful to you.

Yours in health,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com