Anxiety reduction is the best-known use case for kava. Clinical studies indicate that standardized kava preparations (210–300 mg, containing either 30 or 70% kavalactones depending on standardization used) could be a safe and effective alternative to benzodiazepines for the treatment of short-term anxiety.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Clinical evidence still appears to be mixed, however, regarding the effectiveness of kava for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Trials of standardized preparations (300–400 mg/day) have had the strongest results, possibly through effects on vasovagal response.[10][11][12] Similar studies using different doses and/or preparations do not support kava use for GAD.[13][14][15]
Kava has also been studied for other anxiety disorders. People experiencing postmenopausal anxiety saw reductions in symptoms when hormone replacement therapy was combined with lower doses (100 mg/day) of kava extract for periods of three to six months.[16][17] Clinical studies including both menopausal and perimenopausal women similarly saw improvements in menopause-related anxiety with kava extract (100–300 mg/day over 8 to 12 weeks) compared to a control.[18][19]
Finally, there is some indication that kava can boost mood in individuals without apparent health conditions. One trial noted that a single 300 mg dose of kava extract (containing 90 mg kavalactones) resulted in mood boosts that occurred within about an hour.[20]
References
- ^Malsch U, Kieser MEfficacy of kava-kava in the treatment of non-psychotic anxiety, following pretreatment with benzodiazepinesPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2001 Sep)
- ^Pittler MH, Ernst EKava extract for treating anxietyCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2003)
- ^Pittler MH, Ernst EEfficacy of kava extract for treating anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Psychopharmacol.(2000-Feb)
- ^Kinzler E, Krömer J, Lehmann EEffect of a special kava extract in patients with anxiety-, tension-, and excitation states of non-psychotic genesis. Double blind study with placebos over 4 weeks.Arzneimittelforschung.(1991-Jun)
- ^Sarris J, Kavanagh DJ, Adams J, Bone K, Byrne GKava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS): a mixed methods RCT using an aqueous extract of Piper methysticum.Complement Ther Med.(2009-Jun)
- ^Geier FP, Konstantinowicz TKava treatment in patients with anxietyPhytother Res.(2004 Apr)
- ^Volz HP, Kieser MKava-kava extract WS 1490 versus placebo in anxiety disorders--a randomized placebo-controlled 25-week outpatient trialPharmacopsychiatry.(1997 Jan)
- ^Sarris J, Kavanagh DJ, Byrne G, Bone KM, Adams J, Deed GThe Kava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS): a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial using an aqueous extract of Piper methysticumPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2009 Aug)
- ^Gastpar M, Klimm HDTreatment of anxiety, tension and restlessness states with Kava special extract WS 1490 in general practice: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind multicenter trialPhytomedicine.(2003 Nov)
- ^Watkins LL, Connor KM, Davidson JREffect of kava extract on vagal cardiac control in generalized anxiety disorder: preliminary findings.J Psychopharmacol.(2001-Dec)
- ^Sarris J, Stough C, Bousman CA, Wahid ZT, Murray G, Teschke R, Savage KM, Dowell A, Ng C, Schweitzer IKava in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.J Clin Psychopharmacol.(2013-Oct)
- ^R J Boerner, H Sommer, W Berger, U Kuhn, U Schmidt, M MannelKava-Kava extract LI 150 is as effective as Opipramol and Buspirone in Generalised Anxiety Disorder--an 8-week randomized, double-blind multi-centre clinical trial in 129 out-patientsPhytomedicine.(2003)
- ^Connor KM, Davidson JRA placebo-controlled study of Kava kava in generalized anxiety disorderInt Clin Psychopharmacol.(2002 Jul)
- ^Sarris J, Byrne GJ, Bousman CA, Cribb L, Savage KM, Holmes O, Murphy J, Macdonald P, Short A, Nazareth S, Jennings E, Thomas SR, Ogden E, Chamoli S, Scholey A, Stough CKava for generalised anxiety disorder: A 16-week double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studyAust N Z J Psychiatry.(2019 Dec 8)
- ^Connor KM, Payne V, Davidson JRKava in generalized anxiety disorder: three placebo-controlled trials.Int Clin Psychopharmacol.(2006-Sep)
- ^De Leo V, La Marca A, Lanzetta D, Palazzi S, Torricelli M, Facchini C, Morgante GAssessment of the association of Kava-Kava extract and hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of postmenopause anxiety.Minerva Ginecol.(2000-Jun)
- ^De Leo V, la Marca A, Morgante G, Lanzetta D, Florio P, Petraglia FEvaluation of combining kava extract with hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of postmenopausal anxiety.Maturitas.(2001-Aug-25)
- ^Warnecke GPsychosomatic dysfunctions in the female climacteric. Clinical effectiveness and tolerance of Kava Extract WS 1490.Fortschr Med.(1991-Feb-10)
- ^Cagnacci A, Arangino S, Renzi A, Zanni AL, Malmusi S, Volpe AKava-Kava administration reduces anxiety in perimenopausal women.Maturitas.(2003-Feb-25)
- ^Thompson R, Ruch W, Hasenöhrl RUEnhanced cognitive performance and cheerful mood by standardized extracts of Piper methysticum (Kava-kava)Hum Psychopharmacol.(2004 Jun)