Has anyone ever had an allergic reaction to Kava Kava?
I have some but I am hesitant to use it before I could confirm potential side effects.
I did some research but thought that maybe someone on the board has had experience with this ...
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Has anyone ever had an allergic reaction to Kava Kava?
I have some but I am hesitant to use it before I could confirm potential side effects.
I did some research but thought that maybe someone on the board has had experience with this ...
.
"Everything that is in Heaven and on earth is penetrated with connectedness." - Hildegard of Bingen [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Originally Posted by IsobelWren
Originally Posted by Nautilus
I used to use kava sometimes when I was a teenager, because my mom had it around. I would use it to try to sleep, and never noticed much of an effect besides sleepiness, certainly no allergic response.
I have heard that allergic reactions to kava are rare, but apparently it can be toxic to the liver.
What about reactions with other meds? Like I know St Johns Wort can can screw with birth control....
Kava kava is for stress right?
"Everything that is in Heaven and on earth is penetrated with connectedness." - Hildegard of Bingen [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Originally Posted by IsobelWren
Originally Posted by Nautilus
"Everything that is in Heaven and on earth is penetrated with connectedness." - Hildegard of Bingen [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Originally Posted by IsobelWren
Originally Posted by Nautilus
Meh I didn't know about the toxicity when I took it, but from looking at the information I've seen, it's pretty rare...
Apparently kava can interact with antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and l-dopa (Parkinson's medication)...and if mixed with benzos will exacerbate drowsiness.



I took Kava for a year and never had any problems, not to say that it won't happen. The worst I've heard about kava is liver problems. But I'm sure it's probably pretty darn rare. Kava is awesome for all you girlys that haven't tried it. If your wanting to go down the homepathic remedy road, as opposed to the RX road; kava works very well for stress, and for sleeplessness. I used to use mine for anxiety.
The major issues with Kava kava all seem to be associated with the extract. If you are brewing it from the dried plant, it's nearly impossible to get a high enough dose of the kavalactones to cause damage. Like most things, be careful taking it with alcohol, if you have liver damage, and if you're taking meds that are hard on the liver.
Correct about the kavalactones.
The extract for authentic kava kava, is actually supposed to be derived from the root.
The higher the kavalactone content, the more likely it will cause liver damage and conversely, the lower the kavalactone content (higher quality), the less likely it will cause damage.
However, companies that mass produce this (in the little tea bags) are more interested in their overhead than in the health of their consumers, so instead, they buy kava kava stems and leaves in bulk, which are cheaper than the roots, of course, and create the tea mixture.
Now, unbeknownst to the average consumer, within these stems and leaves resides the toxic compound of kava kava!
As a matter of fact, natives have stayed away from the stem and leaves and used only the root for hundreds of years precisely because of the toxin which can cause toxic hepatitis i.e., potentially irreversable liver damage.
The average consumer is unaware because of course, they will not and do not print this little tidbit for the health of their gross earnings and to the detriment of the hundreds of people who are walking around with undiagnosed fatty liver (caused by a diet high in saturated fat) and the such.
Now, they won't say this ^ but they might however disclose that "This product contains dairy/peanut/treenut ingredients" probably as a blanket warning to cover-their-if anyone is injured/dies as a result of taking it - That way, they can blame it on anything except their ill manufacturing techniques -
Conveniently for the company, this allows them to produce more tea for less.
So, if you are considering using this herb because of this thread, PLEASE DO SO WITH CAUTION. Kava kava has demonstrated aggravating effects to already damaged livers.
Liver damage is EXTREMELY dangerous and left unchecked DEADLY, so please (!) Use with Caution.
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"Everything that is in Heaven and on earth is penetrated with connectedness." - Hildegard of Bingen [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Originally Posted by IsobelWren
Originally Posted by Nautilus
If you're all that worried, you can buy pure root powder from a reputable Hawaiian farmer and make kava kava drink (or "waka a'wa"... Mily, did I spell it right?) yourself. The stuff in the capsules doesn't work as well, and brewing hot kava tea destroys some of the good stuff in it or something. Of course, it can still be a bit hard on the liver and kidneys, so you're supposed to avoid it if you have any outstanding problems. Otherwise, if you're in good health, drink it and love it! Real kava kava is one of my favorite things in the world. Let me see if I can find you any small farmers who ship it...
Drought was over. Where was I? Drinks were on the house.
For mixers, my love, you'd poured--what?--even the rain.
Drought was over. Where was I? Drinks were on the house.
For mixers, my love, you'd poured--what?--even the rain.
"Everything that is in Heaven and on earth is penetrated with connectedness." - Hildegard of Bingen [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Originally Posted by IsobelWren
Originally Posted by Nautilus
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