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| Kava kava has been called the negotiation herb because of the Polynesian practice for settling disputes. The tribal leader brings both parties before him and gives them kava tea. The parties, now relaxed, find it difficult to argue. But kava has yet more significance in Polynesian culture. A tea made from the kava root and either coconut juice or water is placed in a bowl. Villagers gather at dusk and sit, drink, relax, tell stories and sing.
Kava affects the hypothalamus, amygdala, and the medulla oblongata of the brain. It does not significantly affect the cerebellum, so a typical dose of kava has little effect on coordination. Kava extract influences GABA receptor sites and blocks the action of dopamine. The effect is similar to that of Valium without the loss of motor function.
Scientific studies have reported success with kava in the treatment of anxieties, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic, post traumatic stress, agoraphobia (fear of being trapped in a public place), social phobia (fear of embarrassment), and specific phobia (fear of a specific object or situation). Kava has also been used for menopausal symptoms, as a pain killer, for insomnia, for short term reduction of mild stress, and as an analgesic for bladder infections.
Fifteen percent of Polynesian tribesmen who use kava daily report a skin rash. High doses of kava at 40,000 mg could result in liver or heart damage, but a typical strong dose is only 75 mg. You would have to take over 500 pills to reach 40,000 mg.
Copyright 2001 by Chip Engelmann
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