Kava

© Steven Foster

This fact sheet provides basic information about kava—common 

names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and 

resources for more information.

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

Latin Name—Piper methysticum

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.

Historically, kava was used to help people fall asleep and fight fatigue, 

as well as to treat asthma and urinary tract infections. It also had a 

topical use as a numbing agent. More recent folk or traditional uses 

include anxiety, insomnia, and menopausal symptoms.

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 all your health care providers about any complementary health practices you use. Give 

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

coordinated and safe care. For tips about talking with your health care providers about 

complementary and alternative medicine, see NCCAM’s Time to Talk campaign at 

nccam.nih.gov/timetotalk/. 

Sources

Kava. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturaldatabase.com on July 14, 2009.

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

July 14, 2009.

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.

Musser SM. 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.

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

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed at 

nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/kava/ on June 3, 2010.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer Advisory: Kava-Containing Dietary Supplements May Be Associated With 

Severe Liver Injury. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site. Accessed at www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/

Consumers/ucm085482.htm on June 3, 2010.

For More Information

Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view Using Dietary Supplements Wisely

(nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm).

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

PubMed®

Web site: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

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/872.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

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Created May 2006

Updated April 2012