Kava Reviews

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Kava is a type of shrub in the pepper family which is also known as Piper methysticum. It is a plant that is native to islands in the South Pacific, where it has been used in traditional remedies for thousands of years, and has also been included in ceremonial and social beverages.

The portion of the Kava plant that is usually used for medicinal purposes is the root. Though it has been traditionally made into a beverage or simply chewed, modern science has now made it possible to obtain this substance in the form of a tea, beverage, tablet, capsule, or liquid extract. This is because while the majority of the world does not consider its intake a part of any social ritual, it is seen by many as a useful remedy for insomnia and anxiety.

Kava is known to have some sedative effects, which may help to make it an effective sleep problem remedy. That said, it must be taken with a great deal of care, as it can also bring about symptoms of intoxication if it is taken in excessive amounts. In fact, in the parts of the world where it is consumed as a beverage, it is often considered to have the same type of impact as alcohol.

It is not known precisely how kava works or why it can act as a sedative. It is believed that one of the types of active components in the root – called kavalactones – can impact the neurotransmitters within the blood. In some studies, Kava has been noted to impact certain neurotransmitter levels, such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and gama aminobutyric acid (GABA).

There have been some studies that have shown that Kava helps to alleviate some anxiety better than a placebo. The results of these studies have been considered promising, though not conclusive. For individuals who have been losing sleep as a result of anxiety, this could suggest that Kava might offer an opportunity to achieve a better sleep.

At the same time, there have been warnings issued by the FDA regarding the use of Kava. A number of other countries have restricted the sale of the substance or have banned it altogether. The reason is that though the clinical trials have found that it can help with insomnia and anxiety, and have not shown liver toxicity, there have been rare case reports that link the substance to liver toxicity, such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, and even liver failure.