KAVA KAVA – REPORTS OF HEPATOXICITY
Kava Kava may be the cause of liver toxicity in some individuals. There have about 30 case reports received by the German authorities to date, who have issued an international alert. In most, but not all, of these case reports, the patient has been taking other medication concomitantly. It is not known at this stage what exactly is causing these incidences – it could be any of the following:
1. The conventional medicines.
2. Kava kava at very high doses.
3. Combination of Kava and conventional medicines.
The Health Food Manufacturers Association (HFMA) in the UK have requested their members to suspend supply of Kava Kava. At this moment of time there has been no request from the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) to withdraw the product. ‘To date, the IMB has received no reports of liver toxicity occurring in Ireland and understand there have been no reports in the UK.’ The IMB also states that they are ‘keeping the situation under review at both national and European level.’
To be on the safe side I would like to advise all my customers, who take Kava Kava (piper methysticum), not to take it with alcohol or other drugs for the nervous system. Long term use is not advisable (take Kava Kava for one month and give it a rest for a month). Do not exceed the recommended dosage.