Kava Kava

Kava is presented as a versatile plant medicine with a favorable therapeutic-effect-to-drawback ratio for most people. Kava is presented as appealing to people seeking a healthier and non-addictive alternative to alcohol. Kava is described as having meaningful acute and chronic benefits with few real side effects for most people. Kava is psychoactive but the article distinguishes it from psychedelics. Kava is not understood only as an anxiety-relieving herb in its indigenous contexts. Kava is not expected to replace alcohol for every person. Kava is projected as having the potential to become as common as coffee. Kava has been associated with South Pacific cultures for more than 3,000 years. Kava kava inhibits hepatic clearance of certain chemicals, causing drugs or alcohol consumed concurrently to remain in the liver far longer than normal and amplifying their toxic effects. Individual responses to kava may vary because of differences involving GABA receptors or related neurobiology. Food-grade kava is defined as traditional root kava prepared through water extraction and pressure rather than isolated or solvent-extracted preparations. The safety of kava kava depends on which pla…