One reported benefit of kava, especially in comparison to many other anxiolytics, is its ability to relieve symptoms without compromising mental clarity. For this reason, claims that kava is a hypnotic or psychedelic may be exaggerations.[1]
Kava is best known for anxiety reduction but may not affect all types of anxiety. The clinical evidence of its effectiveness for generalized anxiety disorder or anxiety that is comorbid with depression is mixed.[2][3][4][5][6][7] However, clinical evidence for kava’s effectiveness for short-term anxiety and for anxiety resulting from specific circumstances or situations is more consistently positive.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Several clinical studies have shown that kava may be able to reduce anxiety without the deleterious effects on cognition seen with other anxiolytics. It has also been suggested that kava could improve cognitive processing, although such cognitive improvements may simply be byproducts of anxiety reduction; more research is needed to clarify this point.[16][17][18][19][20]
Kava use has also been connected with a near-immediate mood boost[17] and may treat sleep disturbances associated with anxiety.[21] However, kava is still not widely recommended or accepted as a treatment for insomnia, especially in place of therapies with stronger evidence of safety and efficacy.[22][23][24]