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Common Kava Myths: Demystifying This Popular Product

Jeff Yauck | October 7, 2024

For a long time, kava’s status in Australia was subject to intense debate. However, things became clear in December 2021 when the government stated that kava could be imported into the country for commercial purposes.

This confusion over the legal status of kava is because the popular product is deemed “controversial.” It’s made from the ground roots of a plant called Piper methysticum, which is native to the South Pacific. It has been used for centuries and contains chemicals called kavalactones which are believed to be responsible for its effects.

Kava has been linked to adverse effects, and it was even taken off the market in some nations. However, after reviewing the available evidence, most of these nations now permit its sale. Nonetheless, a few myths about kava persist, and we tackle a trio of them in this article.

Myth #1 – Kava Causes Liver Damage

This is perhaps the most enduring myth and is based on reports of over 80 people dying from liver damage in Western Europe in 2000 after using kava tablets. This resulted in a ban on the substance in most of Europe. It was a major blow to the market since European doctors were prescribing an estimated 70 million doses of kava tablets daily!

It took a long time for this situation to be rectified, and even today, this myth refuses to die, with various websites erroneously carrying this now-debunked claim. After kava was taken off European markets, a legal battle lasting more than a decade ensued.

Finally, in 2014, the Federal Court of Germany ruled that kava probably didn’t cause the reported deaths. Furthermore, it stated that liver damage from kava was so rare as to be negligible.

What Does the Research Say?

In 2007, the World Health Organization released a report titled: “Assessment of the risk of hepatotoxicity with kava products.” It stated that chemicals other than kavalactones could have been responsible for hepatotoxicity within the organic extracts consumed by the patients.

A 2015 study found that the rate of liver toxicity due to kava was one in 60 to 125 million patients! The sad truth is that cheap kava products (with adulterants added to boost weight for increased profit) are likely the primary culprits. In essence, if you buy pure kava from a reputable brand, the risk of liver damage is exceptionally low.

However, it is important to note the possibility of drug interactions. If you plan to use kava, speak to a medical professional first. This is especially the case if you’re currently using medication.

Myth #2 – Kava Is Highly Addictive

It is also claimed that kava is an inherently addictive substance. There have been instances where people have seemingly “craved” it after use, but in a huge percentage of cases, the individuals in question have used kava with other substances.

A 1998 study by Lewin that investigated the impression of kava among 19th and 20th-century colonists is one of the factors behind the “kava is addictive” myth. The researcher reported that people of the era believed kava to be an addictive substance, and a later study used certain quotes without acknowledging Lewin. Indeed, Lewin wrote that he didn’t think it was probable that kava was the primary cause of the reported addiction.

What Does the Research Say?

One interesting fact conveniently ignored by those who are anti-kava is that the substance is used as an “anti-craving agent” to mitigate tobacco and alcohol cravings! There is a smoking cessation program in New Zealand called “Kava-cation,” which reportedly has a phenomenal success rate.

Dr Vincent Labot, a renowned kava expert, says that kava is not even classified as a drug by pharmacological standards. That’s because using it doesn’t lead to dependence or addiction.

Myth #3 – Kava Is Intoxicating

Another damaging myth suggests that kava causes intoxication and is even a hallucinogenic substance. Such claims paint a dystopian view where those who consume it become zombies incapable of differentiating between reality and fiction.

The origins of this myth can be traced back to the late 1700s. Johann Forster was a naturalist who sailed on Captain James Cook’s Endeavour ship. He is responsible for giving kava the botanical name Piper methysticum, which translates into “intoxicating pepper.”

At the time, it was suggested that chewing kava during preparation turned the root’s starch into sugar, which consequently became alcohol via fermentation. Reports from the 1800s stated that kava was effectively liquor, and its effects were analogous to those of laudanum.

What Does the Research Say?

Studies show that kava is non-alcoholic, nonfermented, nonopioid, and non-hallucinogenic. Furthermore, kava does not affect a user’s reason and consciousness.

Most people who consume kava do so in a quest to feel calmer and more relaxed. There are no links between its usage and violent behaviour. In fact, it’s more likely to inhibit aggressive impulses. In simple terms, kava has a significantly different effect on the brain than alcohol and should not be compared.

Researchers have also found no noticeable impairment in cognitive function amongst heavy kava users or those who used to consume the substance frequently but no longer do so.

Kava – Let the Facts Speak for Themselves

The above kava myths only scratch the surface. Most, if not all, of them, are the result of poor research and lazy journalism, with the goal being to create shocking headlines and click-bait rather than any genuine attempt to educate readers. Sensationalism sells, and in such a scenario, facts can be discarded at will.

The truth is that millions of people use kava every day, and there is no evidence that it is highly addictive, causes intoxication, or leads to liver damage. In fact, most of the available data comprehensively debunks such assertions.

If you’re interested in using kava, feel free to conduct your own research, but be wary of the source! Above all, if you decide to purchase a kava product, only use reputable sellers who provide third-party lab reports. Finally, speak with a medical professional before embarking on the use of kava.

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