Kava (Piper methysticum)
Mental Health · GABA-A modulator / TRPV1
Tier C+
What this is
Hepatotoxicity reputation driven by pre-2002 use of acetone/ethanol extracts of stem peelings and basal stumps (higher pipermethystine content). Noble cultivar, water-extracted preparations (traditional Polynesian method) appear much safer. Sarris group advocates for use with standardized safer extracts.
Mechanism
Polynesian ceremonial drink; kavalactones (kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin) act at GABA-A, TRPV1, NMDA, dopamine systems; anxiolytic without cognitive impairment of benzodiazepines
Dose & route
100-300 mg kavalactones/day
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23635869/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12493084/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3703330/
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