Piperaceae · peeled rhizome
Kava
Piper methysticum
Oceanic rhizome mapped to human anxiety trials of kavalactone extracts. Efficacy signals exist; liver-safety history makes this a restricted catalog entry.
Safety first
Hepatotoxicity reports led to market withdrawals and strict limits in several countries. Do not combine with alcohol or other hepatotoxic drugs. Use, if ever, is professional only. Aerial parts and wrong Piper species are the wrong drug.
Tradition vs trials
Traditional record. Pacific ceremonial aqueous rhizome drinks are not the same as acetone or ethanol extracts sold as pills. Western phytotherapy adopted the latter.
Trial literature. Human GAD and situational-anxiety trials of standardized kavalactone extracts report symptom-scale changes. Cochrane-type reviews have been mixed as products and safety rules changed.
Practical ranges
Educational ranges — not a prescription. Culinary use is not an extract.
kavalactones (professional)
Older European trial ranges were often up to about 60–120 mg kavalactones three times daily for limited duration; current legal status varies and this is not a self-care range
ESCOP / German Commission E (historical) — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.
Pregnancy, nursing, children
- Pregnancy. Avoid.
- Nursing. Avoid.
- Children. Avoid.
Contraindications
- any liver disease or unexplained transaminase rise
- alcohol use disorder
- concurrent hepatotoxic drugs
- Parkinson disease (kava may antagonize dopamine — monograph caution)
Key interactions
- alcohol and hepatotoxic drugs · contraindicated
Stacked liver-injury risk.
- CNS depressants · avoid
Additive sedation and motor impairment.