Kava Kava - 30 % Extract, 300 mg

Consider Good Night Rx for a natural product with kava kava that helps to relax and induce sleep. Good Night Rx is formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D. for those who have occasional sleepless nights or those who wish to relax in the evening after a stressful day.

Kava Kava is an herb that has been widely used for hundreds of years by native South Pacific Islanders. This kava extract is standardized to assure a guaranteed percentage of its active components known as kavalactones.  

Kava Kava Supplement Facts
Kava Kava Extract Root 30% - 300 mg *

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Consider highly popular all natural products formulated by Dr. Ray Sahelian, M.D., including Mind Power Rx for better mental focus, concentration, and mood; Diet Rx which helps you eat less. It really does curb appetite; Good Night Rx with kava kava for better sleep; Eyesight Rx for better vision, often within days; MultiVit Rx a daily comprehensive multivitamin for more energy and vitality; Joint Power Rx for healthy joints; Prostate Power Rx for a healthy prostate gland; and Passion Rx for sexual enhancement, better libido, and improved performance and stamina in men and women.

Kava kava pill questions
Q. I’ve struggled with anxiety (GAD) most of my life, in bouts. I’ll have long periods of time when I feel fine but then will experience a modulator; some uncontrollable event that my mind convinces me is much, much worse than it is and I become extremely fearful and worrisome. I’ve used Kava lava in the past because it allowed me to tackle these periods (usually lasting a few days) without having to be on some pharmaceutical SSRI or anxiolytic drug full time. I’ve been a bit worried (ironic) about Kava kava the last couple years due to the negative reports coming out of Europe (so I quit using it). I also noticed that GNC took kava kava pills off the shelves and the Arizona Tea company took it out of their RX Stress tea. Can you give me any up to date info on Kava kava?
   A. Kava kava is an herb that appears to be fine when used once or twice a week. Other options for anxiety include 5-HTP, small amounts of ashwagandha, tryptophan, passionflower. Perhaps alternating different herbs and nutrients could be an option to prevent relying too much on one anti anxiety herb and thus reducing the potential side effects.

Q. I am writing to request a little info about the Kava kava supplement available at Physician Formulas. I just wished to know if it is fresh kava rhizome, and are there kava kava extracts from the stems, leaves or bark? I understand kava kava from the Eclectic Institute's 'Kava Nakamal', does not use the stems, leaves or bark.
   A. Dr. Sahelian who developed this kava kava product, is quite aware of the problems of kava kava and he only chooses kava kava root, no stems or leaves.

Q. Hello- I am subject to random drug screens for work- Would Kava supplements appear on a toxicology urine screen as a controlled substance Ie) opiates or benzodiazepines?
   A. As far as we know, kava kava is not tested in routine drug screens for employment.

Q. Hello, Dr. Sahelian, I am e-mailing you about my use of the herbal supplement kava kava. I have just recently started to use 30% kava kava capsules. I have found that it works well when I take one with lunch and one with dinner. I have been using it daily but, at least until I receive a response from you, I am going to cut it back to every other day. I guess my question is, taking two kava kava capsules a day as I am, what is a safe regimen for the use of kava kava? I would not like to stop taking kava kava as it has been the most effective anxiety reduction agent I have used and I always stick with natural supplements. Also, is it unsafe to drink alcohol while on a kava kava regimen if it is only done once a week or less? I figured I could just avoid taking the kava kava on the day I plan to drink.
   A. As a rule we prefer people not use kava kava more than 3 days a week. Drinking a glass or two of wine or alcohol on the days off from kava kava should be fine. Other supplements that can be used on the off days from kava kava in order to help relax could include passionflower, hops, valerian, ashwagnadha and the nutrients 5-HTP and tryptophan.

Q. A little over a year ago I started taking kava kava in capsule form. I took it because it made me happy. However, I took it in irregular doses, for example I would take about 15 kava kava pills in one day, and then take another 15 or 20 pills a couple months later in one day. I did this about 7 times over the course of a year and a few months. At first it made me happy, but then at about 6 or 8 months I noticed that I was beginning to have no sexual desire. Even my wildest fantasies, whether sexual or just my dreams and goals, seemed pointless and uninteresting. This made me depressed, or the depression could have caused it. But either way I decided I needed to take more kava kava to make me happy again. I took it for a couple more months and my symptoms only worsened. Now I have completely been off kava kava for 4 months and still have no sexual desire and I am somewhat depressed with life. I think the depression is mainley from the lack of sexual desire, but there have been rare instances where I am a little aroused but am still depressed. I am wondering if the kava kava directly gave me these symptoms, or caused liver damage to me that gave me these symptoms, or both, or something else?
   A. Kava kava is known to reduce sexual drive and interest. It is also a good idea to have a medical evaluation to rule out any liver damage and then you can discuss with your doctor regarding the use of natural supplements for libido improvement.

Q. I have a question for you regarding kava-kava. My brother has been long abusing prescription medications (e.g. Klonopin and many others) and has coupled with that a nasty habit of lying and under-reporting to the bitter end what goes into his body. He has sought treatment twice and both times has fallen off the wagon IMMEDIATELY the day treatment has ended. This most recent time, he was doing great for a couple of months and the day treatment ended we could hear the tell-tale signs of his opiate haze. Again, true to form, he swore up and down that he didn't take anything opiate related. Instead he says he took 4 or 5 kava kava capsules each day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Today is Thursday and he STILL sounds terrible (slurred speech, gravely voice, glassy, half-shut eyes, disorientation, not knowing what day it is or sequence of events). He swears he hasn't taken any pills in months OR any kava kava since Sunday. I know he's full of it based on his M.O., but is there any possibility that 4 or 5 kava caps taken four days ago (a total of 12 to 15 for the entire weekend) could still be impairing him in a similar fashion to his opiate symptoms?
   A. It's possible but we cannot be sure.

Q.  A little over a year ago I started taking kava kava in capsule form. I took it because it made me happy. However, I took it in irregular doses, for example I would take about 15 kava kava pills in one day, and then take another 15 or
20 pills a couple months later in one day. I did this about 7 times over the course of a year and a few months. At first it made me happy, but then at about 6 or 8 months I noticed that I was beginning to have no sexual desire. Even my wildest fantasies, whether sexual or just my dreams and goals, seemed pointless and uninteresting. This made me depressed, or the depression could have caused it. But either way I decided I needed to take more kava kava to make me happy again. I took it for a couple more months and my symptoms only worsened. Now I have completely been off kava kava for 4 months and still have no sexual desire and I am somewhat depressed with life. I think the depression is mainly from the lack of sexual desire, but there have been rare instances where I am a little aroused but am still
depressed. I am wondering if the kava kava directly gave me these symptoms, or caused liver damage to me that gave me these symptoms, or both, or something else? I just need some answers, or just some knowledge so that I'm not alone and desperately wondering what is wrong with me.
   A. It is possible that overuse or misuse of kava kava caused these symptoms. You may wish to read the page on libido and discuss with your doctor after a thorough medical evaluation and blood studies. Herbs, such as kava kava, are potent and should be used cautiously.

Q. Are kava kava and methadone safe to take together? I am currently on a daily maintenance dose of 257mgs. of methadone and experience periodic acute anxiety. Am considering kava kava but need to know the safety issues if taken with the Methadone.
   A. We have not seen any studies regarding the safety or dangers of combining methadone and kava kava. In rare cases people taking kava kava have had liver problems. Methadone does not appear to be toxic to the liver but we have no idea what the combination of methadone and kava kava would do.

Q. I’ve reviewed your pages concerning Kava kava which I occasionally have discussions about in my Stress Management and Insomnia classes. I’ve recently written the FDA for updates on their warnings about Kava kava. I haven’t seen any follow-up studies since the initial releases nearly 5 years ago-perhaps you can offer your insights?
Also, you mentioned that one should not take kava if they drink alcohol. Do you mean with the kava kava, or if they consume alcohol on a regular basis-or both?
   A. To the best of my interpretation of the kava studies, kava kava may potentially harm the liver if used daily for prolonged periods. For this reason, the maximum use of a kava kava supplement should be three times a week with a full week off a month. A kava kava supplement can be taken with a glass of wine in the evening if there will be no driving or using of heavy machinery and the person is just staying home and going to bed. Those who drink a large amount of alcohol on a regular basis may have some liver harm or damage and it would not be advised for them to not use kava kava. This herb is also not advised to those who take stating drugs used for cholesterol or acetaminophen pain killer, or any drug that has the potential to damage the liver.

Q. I have spent nearly 3 hours on your website reading many different articles. I have subscribed to your newsletter. I have a question regarding Kava kava herb. I have been medically diagnosed with essential tremor and it affects my hands and arms primarily, but at times my legs too. This condition was induced by my use of the drug Lexapro for depression. (Essential tremor did not exist before I was prescribed Lexapro, but did exist afterwards, and today 4 years later). At first I saw a neuro and he prescribed other drugs, but they seemed to increase the tremor. I looked far and wide for a natural remedy and finally found Kava kava herb on my own. I buy it from a health food store and its total kavalactones per capsule is 75 mg. I take one of these kava kava pills per day and it totally controls my essential tremor. If I miss a dosage, the tremor is uncontrollable. I am employed (age 66) and the work requires writing, so not taking Kava kava pills means going to some prescribed medicine, which I am trying to avoid. I have no symptoms of liver damage after nearly 3 years of continuous use daily, although the new reports concern me. It seems based on what I have read that the liver damage may be related to how kava is commercially prepared. The kava kava herb product I buy is distributed by Gaia Herbs, Inc., and the label says: "alcohol free concentrated extract". One capsule per day is all that is required except in rare circumstances. I have taken two/day on occasion, but never more. I have read your recommendations of taking the kava kava herb 3 days/wk with a week off every month. That will not work for me at all. I can see taking a day off here and there, but not when I have to work or be in the public eye. By the way, it doesn't affect my typing at all, and compared to others, my essential tremor is probably mild. There seems to be no cure for essential tremor although lots of research is being done.
   A. I tend to be very cautious regarding the use of supplements and medications in order to avoid side effects of harm to the body. It is up to each person, and their health care provider, to decide the risk versus benefit ratio they wish to take with medications and supplements. There is still a lot to be learned about the role of kava kava and liver damage. Is it only certain individuals who are susceptible? Is it dosage dependent? Does the form of preparation influence it? There is much yet to learn.

Q. I sometimes throughout the year will take Ativan / lorazepam 2mg for stressful situations and was wondering if Kava Kava can replace this prescribed drug? I read about Kava Kava from your websites and was curious if this can be an alternative remedy for Ativan / lorazepam. I do not take Ativan / lorazepam regularly , at the most I consume 30 pills throughout an entire year in random days when I feel stressed out or when I feel my anxiety levels in a stressfull situation is too much.
Do you know if Kava Kava will help in replacing Ativan as a natural solution and also what dosages do you recommend? When i take the 2mg Ativan i feel very relaxed but not to the effect where i am not unalert or my visual is impaired. It is as if i feel no nervousness at all during stressfull times. I was wondering if Kava Kava can give me that same effect.
   A. It is not possible to predict any one individual's response to herbs and supplements. The best way to find out is to try the kava kava in varying dosages or to try other herbs used for anxiety reduction.