What Is Kava, and Are There Health Benefits to Drinking It?

For thousands of years, people have used herbs and plants to treat illness and support health. Kava is one such remedy that has been around for a long time but has grown in popularity. People have been turning to kava for anxiety and stress relief, among other uses. But what exactly is kava, and does research support its health benefit claims?  

What is kava?

Kava, also called kava kava, is a drink or extract made from the kava root plant — Piper methysticum. The plant is a member of the pepper family and grows on the Pacific Islands. Indigenous people of these islands have used kava for centuries. In local languages, the word “kava” refers to the drink’s bitter taste.

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What is kava used for?

Kava for anxiety and stress relief are among the most common reasons that people take it. Other traditional uses of kava include: 

• Pain relief

• Relaxation

• Sacred ritual purposes 

Scientists are also studying kava’s effects for its potential uses in treating inflammation, brain-related conditions, and cancer. But these are new areas of research. 

What is in kava, and what does it do?

The active substances in kava are called kavapyrones, or kavalactones. If you’re wondering what kavalactones are, you aren’t alone. Scientists don’t fully understand how these substances work. But they may affect how nerves send messages throughout the body. 

For example, scientists know that kava affects GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) nerve receptors. Alcohol and certain medications for anxiety and pain also work on these receptors. For some people, taking kava results in a feeling of calm or helps with pain relief. So this may point to how kava works, but more research is needed.

Short-term kava benefits

The research on kava’s benefits and safety has been mixed. But as a natural remedy for anxiety, there’s more evidence to support kava’s use than with other herbs and supplements. 

Kava may help with short-term stress and worry, especially if a particular situation is the root cause. Kava may also help with symptoms of anxiety during menopause. But it’s probably less helpful for long-term or generalized anxiety. Keep in mind that there’s no data on the safety of using kava as a long-term treatment for anxiety.  

Kava side effects

Many people assume that herbal remedies like kava don’t have side effects because they come from nature. But that’s not always the case. Here are some of kava kava’s possible side effects: 

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Sleepiness

• Feeling down or depressed

• Diarrhea

• Numbness in the mouth, throat, or tongue

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Kava interactions 

Although it’s unusual to experience serious side effects when taking kava by itself, there’s potential for kava to interact with other substances and medications. Talk with a healthcare professional or pharmacist before taking kava with:

• Alcohol

• Medications that cause drowsiness, like sedatives

• Medications that affect the liver, like acetaminophen (Tylenol)

• Anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines

• Muscle relaxants

• Medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease

• Medications that are similar to dopamine as well as those that block dopamine, like haloperidol (Haldol)

• MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors)

The potential risks of these interactions include liver damage and coma. And, keep in mind, this isn’t a complete list of substances with which kava might interact.

Are there kava drinks?

The traditional way to consume kava is to drink it as an herbal tea. Kava drinks are made by grinding up kava roots into a powder, which is then stirred into water or coconut milk. Apart from the drinkable forms like kava tea, kava is also available as a:

• Powder

• Extract

• Tablet

• Capsule

Is kava like alcohol?

Some of kava’s effects are similar to those of alcohol. Kava seems to produce a relaxing effect that’s similar to that of alcohol, but with less mental clouding. 

Because kava relaxes muscles, some of the physical effects are also similar to those that occur with alcohol. For example, when taken by itself, kava may slow down reaction times. But this finding is based on small studies, and the observed differences in reaction times between people who took kava and those who did not (placebo) wasn’t significant.

And although the evidence is mixed, one study found that having alcohol and kava together resulted in more impairment than alcohol alone. In other words, kava might increase the effects of alcohol.

Kava doesn’t seem to be addictive in the same way that alcohol can be. But more research is needed on kava’s risks and effects.

Is kava safe?

Kava is most likely safe in small amounts. Most experts agree that dosages under 400 mg of kava a day are likely safe for most people. But the appropriate dosage may be different from person to person. 

If you take too much kava at once, you may experience:

• Weak or uncoordinated muscles

• Nausea

• A slight fever 

• Dilated (large) pupils 

• Red eyes

• Feeling very sleepy

People who take a lot of kava over longer periods of time may experience: 

• Mood changes

• Weight loss

• Dry and scaly skin

• Shortness of breath

• A loss of interest in relationships and activities

• More frequent infections

If you’re worried that you’re having an abnormal reaction to kava, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. For serious symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Can kava cause liver damage?

In recent studies, the risk of liver damage related to kava appears to be small but real. Liver damage from kava may be mild or severe. But, in most cases, the damage is reversible and improves after a couple of months of not taking kava.

Kava has been restricted or banned in some countries because of the potential for liver damage. In 2002, the FDA issued a consumer advisory based on the findings of studies on kava-related liver damage. 

More recent studies suggest that the risk of liver damage is higher with:

• Doses of kava that are too high

• Poor-quality kava

• Kava in combination with alcohol and medications that affect the liver

• Long-term use of kava

Who should not take kava?

Except for children, limited amounts of kava are likely safe for most people. But kava may be riskier for some people. Avoid kava if you:

• Have liver disease

• Will be driving or operating heavy machinery

• Are also drinking alcohol or taking medications that cause sedation 

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Will be having surgery or a procedure involving anesthesia

Talk with a healthcare professional if you have questions about or are considering taking kava. Be sure to provide them with a full list of your medications and supplements, so they can help you weigh the benefits and risks of taking kava. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH

Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH has been a board-certified family physician since 1999. She worked as a full-scope family physician (inpatient, outpatient, obstetrics, and office procedures) in the Cook County Ambulatory Health Network for 15 years.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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