herbalmedicos.blogspot.in
Kava
(anxiety aid)
This newly popular herb—also
called kava-kava—has earned the nickname "nature's Valium" for its
ability to relieve anxiety and induce relaxation. In general, I don't usually
go for quick-fix solutions to conditions such as anxiety and stress. But for
the 65 million Americans who suffer from anxiety and related insomnia, I see
this calming herb as a much better alternative than prescription
tranquilizers, which can have serious side effects and are highly addictive.
HISTORY
& RESEARCH
Derived from the knotty root
of a large tropical shrub in the black-pepper family, kava has a rich history.
In cultures of the South Pacific, it has been cultivated for centuries as a
traditional psychoactive drug believed to have religious significance. In that
part of the world, it is generally prepared as a drink made from the fresh or
dried root and consumed at religious ceremonies and social gatherings. Today
the herb is widely used in Europe as a natural relaxant and sleep aid, and
Germany's Commission E—the national agency that evaluates and regulates
botanical
medicines—gave kava its stamp
of approval in 1990 for conditions of nervous anxiety and stress.
Studies
have shown that kava's relaxing properties are due to some 15 chemical
compounds known as kavalactones (also called kavapy-rones), which act on the
central nervous system and serve as muscle relaxants. Several well-designed
German studies have demonstrated the herb's positive effects. One double-blind
randomized trial in 1996 showed that a standardized extract of kava improved
symptoms of anxiety after just one week of use, with no adverse effects. An
earlier study, which used EEG monitoring to measure the effects of kava versus
Valium and a placebo, found that kava caused significant changes in brain
activity that suggested a sedative mechanism different from that of the
synthetic drug.
Interestingly,
the subjects who took kava showed improved performance on reaction-time tests
of mental acuity, while those taking Valium did not.
HOW TO
USE IT
buying tips
I For times of particularly high
anxiety, such as that caused by a death in the family or a job crisis, start by
taking one capsule of standardized kava extract a day and building slowly to
three a day if necessary.
If you're
having insomnia due to anxiety and muscle tension, try taking a single dose of
two or three capsules maybe an hour before going to bed (but don't take more
than three capsules in any given day).
While kava
does not appear to be addictive, I would limit its use to no longer than two
months without medical supervision. If you're still suffering from significant
anxiety after that time, I recommend that you consult a mental-health
professional.
CAUTIONS
Some people who take very
large doses of the herb for longer than two months develop a yellowing and
thinning of the skin (which goes away when they stop using it), so be sure to
keep to recommended doses. Don't mix kava with other depressants such as
alcohol, prescription sedatives, or valerian, as it may intensify their
effects, and monitor kava's effects on you before driving. Kava is not
recommended for Parkinson's patients, as it may cause increased muscular
twitching in people with this disease.
• Look for kava extract in
capsule form.
• The kavalactone
content of kava root can vary widely, so be sure to select a reliable brand of
the extract that is standardized to 70 to 85 mg of kavalactones (or
kavapyrones) per capsule.
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