KAVA PIPER METHYSTICUM

KAVA (Piper methysticum G. Forster) ++

Activities (Kava) :
- Allergenic (1; CRC); Analgesic (1; APA; FNF; WAM); Anaphrodisiac (f; MAD); Anesthetic (1; BGB; CRC; MAB; MAD; PH2); Antiaggregant (1; MAB); Antibacterial (1; MAB; MAD); Anticonvulsant (1; FNF; KOM; PH2; SHT); Antidepressant (1; APA); Antidopamine (1; MAB); Antiepileptic (1; BGB); Antifatigue (f; PNC); Antiischemic (1; MAB); Antipyretic (1; MAB); Antirheumatic (1; FNF); Antiseptic (1; FNF; MAD); Antispasmodic (1; APA; BGB; CRC; PH2; WAM); Antithrombic (1; PH2); Anxiolytic (1; KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2; WAM); Aperitif (1; MAD); Aphrodisiac (f; APA; CRC); Climacteric (f; BGB); CNS-Depressant (1; APA); Contraceptive (f; MAB); Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor (1; PH2); Diaphoretic (f; CRC; MAD); Diuretic (1; APA; MAB; MAD; PNC); Dopaminergic (1; PH2); Expectorant (f; CRC); Fungicide (1; CRC; MAB);
Hypnotic (1; MAB; PH2); Hyporeflexic (1; BGB); Lactagogue (f; CRC); Memorigenic (1; MAB); yorelaxant (1; APA; FNF; KOM; PH2; SKY); Narcotic (1; CRC); Neuroprotective (1; HH2); Psychotropic (f; PH2); Sedative (2; FNF; KOM; PH2; WAM); Serotoninergic (1; PH2); Sobering (1; MAB); Stimulant (f; CRC; PNC); Tonic (f; CRC; MAD; PNC); Tranquilizer (1; APA).

Indications (Kava) :
- Anorexia (1; MAB; MAD); Anxiety (2; APA; KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2; WAM); Arthrosis (f; MAD); Asthma (f; BGB; PH2); Backache (f; CRC); Bacteria (1; MAB; MAD); Blennorrhea (f; MAD); Bronchosis (f; PNC); Catarrh (f; MAB); Chill (f; CRC); Cholecystosis (f; MAB); Cold (f; CRC; MAB); Colic (f; MAB); Congestion (f; MAD); Convulsion (1; FNF; KOM; PH2; SHT); Cough (f; CRC; MAB); Cramp (1; APA; BGB; CRC; MAB; PH2; WAM); Cystosis (f; MAD; PH2); Debility (f; CRC; MAB); Depression (1; APA; BGB); Dermatosis
(f; CRC; MAB; MAD); Despondency (f; MAB); Dizziness (1; APA; MAB; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (1; FNF; SHT; WAM); Dyspepsia (1; APA; PH2); Dysuria (1; WAM); Earache (1; MAB; MAD); Eczema (f; MAD); Elephantiasis (f; CRC); Encephalosis (f; MAD); Enterosis (1; WAM); Enuresis (f; MAB); Epilepsy (1; BGB; MAB); Fatigue (1; MAB); Fever (1; CRC; MAD; MAB); Filariasis (f; MAB); Fungus (1; CRC; MAB); Gastrosis (f; PH2); Gonorrhea (f; CRC, MAB; MAD; PH2); Gout (f; APA; PNC); Headache (1; APA; CRC; FNF; MAD); Heart (f; CRC); Hemorrhoid (f; MAB); Herpes (f; MAD); Hot Flash (f; BGB); Hyperactivity (1; APA; WAM); Ichthyosis (f; MAD); Incontinence (f; MAB); Infection (1; CRC; MAB); Insomnia (2; APA;
FNF; KOM; MAB; PHR; PH2; WAM); Leprosy (f; MAB); Leukorrhea (f; CRC; MAB); Menopause (1; APA; BGB; MAB); Menstrual Cramp (1; FNF); Migraine (1; APA); Myalgia (1; MAB); Mycosis (1; CRC; MAB); Nephrosis (f; CRC; MAB); Nervousness (2; APA; FNF; KOM; PHR; PH2; WAM); Neuralgia (f; MAB); Neurasthenia (f; CRC; MAD); Obesity (f; PH2); OCD (1; WAF); Ophthalmia (f; MAB); Pain (1; APA; BGB; CRC; FNF; MAB; MAD; PH2; WAM); Palpitation (1; APA); Prolapse (f; MAB); Prostatosis (f; MAD); Psoriasis (f; MAD); Pulmonosis (f; CRC); Restlessness (2; APA; KOM); Rheumatism (1; CRC; FNF; PH2; PNC); Sore Throat (f; MAB); Stomachache (1; APA); Stress (2; APA; KOM; PH2; SHT); Syphilis (f; PH2); Thrombosis (1; PH2); Toothache (1; MAB; MAD); Tuberculosis (f; CRC); Urethrosis (f; CRC; MAD; PH2); UTI (f; BGB; MAB); Vaginosis (f; CRC; MAB); VD (f; APA; CRC; MAD; PH2); Vertigo (f; MAB); Water Retention (1; APA; MAB; MAD; PNC); Wet Dream (f; CRC).

Dosages (Kava):
- 1 tsp cup/night (JAD); 1.5 - 3 g dry root/day (MAB); 100 - 300 mg root several ×/day (MAD); 2 - 4 g powdered root 1 - 3 ×/day (AHP; PNC); 2 - 4 ml liquid root extract (PNC); 3 - 6 ml fluid extract (1:2)/day (MAB); 1 - 3 ml tincture/day (SKY); 60 - 600 mg kavalactones/day (AHP); ca 250 ml kavalactones/day (24 - 70 mg 3 ×/day) (APA); 180 - 210 kavalactones 1 hour before bedtime (APA); 1 (525 mg) capsule (StX with 250 mg certified potency kava-kava root extract with at least 75 mg kavalactone) 3 ×/day (NH).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Kava) :
- Class 2b, 2c, 2d. Contraindicated for endogenous depression (AHP). Maximum tolerated doses for dogs was 60 mg/kg, for rats 320 mg/kg StX (70% kavapyrones). Perversely, if the authors didnt misspeak, the dogs tolerated 24 mg/kg/day. Of >4000 patients taking 105 mg/day StX (70% kavapyrones),
1.5% had objectionable side effects (allergy, dizziness, GI distress, and headache). At levels 100 times the therapeutic dose (roughly 13 liters kava beverage a day or 300 - 400 mg rhizome per week) caused anorexia, ataxia, dyspnea, hair loss, red eyes, skin rash, visual problems, and yellow skin. There is no potential for physical or psychological dependency. Use should not exceed 3 months. (AHP) Germans limit use to 1 - 3 months (AHP). Commission E reports contraindications: esophageal and gastrointestinal stenoses; adverse effects: allergic reactions (rarely). Other sources report intestinal obstruction (AEH). Many reports suggest a yellowing of the skin in chronic users. Chronic ingestion may lead to kawism characterized by dry, flaking, discolored skin, and reddened eyes (LRNP, May 1987). Persistent rumors suggest that overdoses can cause intoxication. Commission E warns against the concomitant use of
kava with barbituates, antidepressant medications, and CNS agents. Lactating or pregnant women should not use kava (WAM). Not permitted as a non-medicinal ingredient in oral use products in Canada (Michols, 1995). Abuse by Australian Aborigines suggest links to hematuria, infectious disease, neurological abnormalities, pulmonary hypotension, nephrosis, visual disturbances, ischemic heart disease, thrombosis, and sudden heart attacks (MAB). The following quote might scare abusers, as it should, Full consciousness is maintained with even fatal doses (APA, quoting Weiss, 1988).

Extracts (Kava) :
- Increase GABA in the synaptic cleft by increasing GABA secretion and inhibiting its reuptake (SHT). LD50 dihydrokavain = 920 mg/kg orl mouse (MAB), LD50 dihydromethysticin = 1050 mg/kg orl mouse (MAB), LD50 StX (70% kavalactones) = 16,000 mg/kg orl rat, 1800 mg/kg orl mouse, 370 mg/kg ipr rat, 380 mg/kg ipr mouse (MAB). This indicates that the mix is safer than the individual lactone, at least orally in rats and mice (MAB). Kava slows hyperactivity in mice, but not as much as antipsychotic drugs. When chewed, the root produces numbness in the mouth similar to what one would experience with
cocaine and longer-lasting than what one would experience with benzocaines (APA). In a traditional Hawaiian remedy, leaves were chewed and given to anxious or restless children for its calming effect, and to induce sleep. And for the old reprobates kava tends to lower ones interest in sexual activities. ( = ) lactones are 10 times more anticonvulsant than mephenesin against strychnine; the mixture of lactones was synergistic; the potency of the mix was equal to that of pure ihydromethysticin; synergy more pronounced with oral than ivn administration; lactones better absorbed in mix than as isolated silver bullets (MAB). Lactones = cocaine and procaine as analgesic and anesthetic; dihydromethysticin better than aspirin but inferior to morphine as analgesic (MAB).