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KAVA
This bitter-tasting root from the Pacific Islands has all the makings of a new herbal superstar. Ads placed by the supplement industry and popular books alike tout kava as a natural tranquilizer that will make drugs obsolete. Torrents of hype aside, it seems to provide relief to some people seeking alternatives to prescription drugs.
In Europe the herb is used to treat several ailments, including menstrual cramps, insomnia, and muscle tension. But the evidence for effectiveness is strongest for mild anxiety disorders -- when everyday worries become so overwhelming that they interfere with social interactions and sleep. One study showed kava can measure up to the benzodiazepine family of drugs, which includes Valium.
Years of use in Germany have produced no reports of serious side effects. The herb can be habit-forming, though. And it shouldn't be combined with antianxiety medications -- or with alcohol, since the combination compounds the effects of both substances.
The bottom line:
If your worries seem severe enough to warrant trying it, have your doctor rule out medical causes first. Until long-term use has been studied more closely, you shouldn't take kava regularly for longer than three months. Kava is available in pills or as a tea. Most studies have used between 40 and 70 mg of kavalactones (the herb's active chemical), given three times a day.
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