Kava Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium
AHP is ecstatic to release its long-awaited Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium for kava rhizome and root. The genesis of the monograph began in the early 2000s, when kava was booming worldwide. Then concerns regarding potential hepatotoxicity emerged that led to an almost entire world ban on this precious botanical. All work on kava stopped and it has taken decades to really understand the issues of concern.
Many theories regarding the potential for liver toxicity were put forth, all of which seem plausible; the wrong type of kava was used (noble vs today), wrong plant part (root vs stem); islander vs European genetic polymorphisms, microbial contamination, organic solvents in modern preparations vs. traditional water preparations, and the list goes on but these are primary. it is accurate to say that some of these things occurred but when all the data are critically reviewed, it is clear that hepatotoxicity is idiosyncratic; it does not appear to be dose, solvent, or time dependent.
Based on an abundance of clinical and pre-clinical studies, meta analyses, and systematic reviews, kava remains one of the safest and most effective botanical anti-anxiety herbs we have, especially when used within its cultural context of bringing community together, but also when used according to well-established guidelines provided in numerous clinical trials. Additionally, kava has also been used successfully for depression and sleeplessness, while emerging data suggest a significant anticancer potential, among other uses.
The issue of hepatotoxicity has been thoroughly discussed, with clarity provided for each theory that has been postulated. One emerging concern is the mixing of kava with kratom without clear dose limitation, primarily of kratom, and the potential for indiscriminate kratom-kava use to lead to dependence that otherwise would not occur with kava alone.
The monograph was developed and reviewed by some of the leading kava researchers in the world and represents one of the most comprehensive and up to date pieces on the botanical to date. We hope you enjoy it.
Funding for the kava monograph was provided by: NOW Foods, Herb Pharm, GetWellFoundation.org, Planetary Herbals, and the Kava Coalition. ENJOY!