Kava 

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb kava—common 

names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Kava is 

native to the islands of the South Pacific and is a member of the pepper family. 

Kava has been used as a ceremonial beverage in the South Pacific for centuries. 

Common Names—kava, kava kava, awa, kava pepper 

Latin Name—Piper methysticum 

What It Is Used For 

•	 Kava has been used to help people fall asleep and fight fatigue, as well as to 

treat asthma and urinary tract infections. 

•	 Topically, kava has been used as a numbing agent. 

•	 Today, kava is used primarily for anxiety, insomnia, and menopausal 

symptoms. 

How It Is Used 

The root and rhizome (underground stem) of kava are used to prepare 

beverages, extracts, capsules, tablets, and topical solutions. 

What the Science Says 

•	 Although scientific studies provide some evidence that kava may be 

beneficial for the management of anxiety, the U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that using kava supplements has 

been linked to a risk of severe liver damage. 

•	 Kava is not a proven therapy for other uses. 

•	 NCCAM-funded studies on kava were suspended after the FDA issued its 

warning. 

Side Effects and Cautions 

•	 Kava has been reported to cause liver damage, including hepatitis and liver 

failure (which can cause death). 

•	 Kava has been associated with several cases of dystonia (abnormal muscle 

spasm or involuntary muscle movements). Kava may interact with several 

drugs, including drugs used for Parkinson’s disease. 

•	 Long-term and/or heavy use of kava may result in scaly, yellowed skin. 

•	 Avoid driving and operating heavy machinery while taking kava because the 

herb has been reported to cause drowsiness. 
 

•	 Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you 

use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure 

coordinated and safe care. 

Sources 

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Kava Linked to Liver Damage. National Center for Complementary 

and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed at http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/kava/ on July 10, 2007. 

Kava. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturaldatabase.com on July 5, 2007. 

Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst). Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturalstandard.com 

on July 3, 2007. 

Kava kava rhizome (root). In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E 

Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:221-225. 

Kava (Piper methysticum). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. New York, 

NY. Marcel Dekker; 2005:373-380. 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kava-Containing Dietary Supplements May Be Associated With Severe Liver Injury. U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration Web site. Accessed at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/addskava.html on July 10, 2007. 

For More Information 

Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view: 

•	 What’s in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements at nccam.nih.gov/health/bottle/ 

•	 Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too at nccam.nih.gov/health/supplement-safety/ 

NCCAM Clearinghouse 

Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226 

TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615 

E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov 

CAM on PubMed 

Web site: nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed/ 

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements 

Web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov 

NIH National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus 

Kava Listing: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-kava.html 

This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged. 

NCCAM has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute 

for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage 

you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The 

mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCAM. 

National Institutes of Health 

♦♦♦

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

D314 

Created May 2006 

Updated June 2008 

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