Butterflies doing the limbo in
the pit of your stomach, palms sweaty enough to scare off a date, a peculiar
lump in your throat, along with the trembles and the shakes. You may call it the
heebie jeebies. Your doctor calls it anxiety.
Everybody suffers from a little
anxiety at some time or other. It seems to be the inevitable result of our fast
paced plugged-in lifestyle. In its mildest form, it may last only minutes or
hours, and cause only minimal discomfort. But for 5% to 15% of the population,
the symptoms of chronic anxiety are a significant cause of physical and
emotional distress, and account for millions of office visits to physicians by
patients looking for relief.
Traditionally, Western
physicians have relied chiefly upon minor tranquilizers for the treatment of
mild to moderate anxiety. These medications are known for their significant side
effect of sedation, however, and the risk of tolerance and dependency on the
medication is of real concern.
More recently, it has become
common to treat some forms of anxiety with some of the newer antidepressants,
which are less sedating, but come with a hefty price tag, and in many patients,
can actually make anxiety worse.
Kava kava (piper methysticum), a shrubby plant native to Polynesia, is gaining in popularity as a viable herbal alternative in the treatment of mild anxiety. It appears to have the ability to reduce stress-related anxiety and the symptoms of anxiety disorders equal to the mild tranquilizers, and without the significant side effects.
Captain James Cook introduced
kava to Europe in 1768, after his Swedish botanists described local Fiji Island
tribal virgins chewing the fibrous leaves of kava and spitting them into a
ceremonial bowl. The saliva activated the medicinal properties of the herb. The
kava slurry was then mixed with coconut milk and served in a white cowry shell
to tribal chiefs and honored guests. He termed kava “intoxicating pepper”,
as it is a member of the pepper family.
When kava is prepared in
traditional fashion, the roots numb the mouth and it can be a very sedating
drink, causing an inebriating effect similar to alcohol. However, in a more
dilute form, the kava is more calming (rather than sedating) than tranquilizers,
and allows the patient to be more active and alert. Today, the roots are
prepared by mechanical grinding, and the kava sold worldwide as a dried crushed
root for tea, capsules, and extracts.
Health care providers often
suggest kava kava as an herbal remedy for anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain and
stiffness, and jet lag. The active ingredients are called kavalactones, and good
products will be standardized to contain at least 70% kavalactones. An effective
dose is usually in the range of 60-100 mg of kavalactones three times a day.
Dozens of studies in the medical literature describe kava as a safe alternative to prescription tranquilizers for the treatment of anxiety. When used appropriately and in low doses, there does not seem to be any physical or psychological dependency. Up to 80% of patients are reported to respond positively to the herb.
Treatment
length varies, and it can take up to four weeks to achieve peak effect. It is
recommended that a patient not use kava continuously for over three months, as
prolonged or heavy use can cause yellowing and scaling of the skin. Also, you
should not drive if you are taking higher doses.
The herb should not be used by
pregnant or breast feeding patients, and should not be mixed with alcohol or
prescription sedatives or tranquilizers. It can also interact with some
medications taken by patients with Parkinson’s Disease, so patients should
consult their physician before using the herb to avoid drug-herb interactions.
Kava is still served in ritual fashion to important visitors to the Pacific Islands. President and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, Pope John Paul II, and Hillary Rodham Clinton (who was reported to drink but did not swallow) have all shared fellowship in traditional kava ceremonies. Most patients in South Georgia will likely find kava sold in capsules to be more palatable than drinking chewed roots spit into a coconut bowl, but folks down here are an adventurous bunch, and one just never knows.
To receive more information about kava kava, please write to The Natural Connection, c/o Pauline Bellecci, MD, PO Box 777, Waycross, GA 31502 or contact us on our web site www.swampdocs.com
June 25, 2001