what is kava and is kava tea safe?

[Anonymous]

Teen DS is very into herbs, incense, etc. He wants to buy kava tea, which is supposedly a relaxant/anxiety reducer. I googled kava briefly and saw that CDC and FDA had issued warnings about it, and it is banned in some European countries. But kava tea is available at our natural foods store. What on earth is this stuff, and should I let my son drink it? I'm concerned that he is so interested in using a substance to "reduce stress," but that is another story .....

[Anonymous]

It's the root of a Pacific island plant consumed widely as a relaxant throughout the Pacific. I've tried it myself, but only with in the traditional Pacific preparation, where you pound up the root and soak it. It makes your tongue numb, gives you a fuzzy head (kind of like being drunk, a little), and makes you sleepy. It's traditionally used in ceremonial fashion.

You don't say how old your kid is. I'd be slightly concerned--especially with the "reduce stress" question on the table.

I have a younger child so I'm not really sensitive to parenting a teenager, but my gut feeling is that if my kid was old enough that I'd be comfortable with them having a glass of wine, then I would be comfortable with this, but otherwise not. Does that help?

[Anonymous]

not safe (for anxiety) - it was taken off the shelf not too long ago, maybe 5 years ago, due to kidney or liver damage problems. I've seen a re-appearance, but it's not worth it.

[Anonymous]

tried it in fiji as part of local customs during celebrations (so that tells you something ). did nothing for me except for a little tingling sensation on the lips. probably not a good idea for a teen.

[Anonymous]

Kava comes to you from farms that are nestled on the fertile volcanic slopes on the islands of Vava’u and Eu’a in the Kingdom of Tonga. We cultivate and grow all our kava right here in Tonga, sourcing directly from our network of other kava growers.Great for moments of stress, traveling on airplanes, or any other stressful situation that life may spring upon you!

[Anonymous]

I, too, thought kava was taken off the market here. While it may offer useful relaxation benefits in Fiji or elsewhere, in the US is is most commonly used to get a buzz, and I think can be kind of dangerous. Tried it at a natural foods show many years ago, tasted terrible but many people were hanging around the booth to get a buzz on, as they say.

[Anonymous]

I definitely would not want my teen using kava. I've taken it in small doses for anxiety, and it made me kind of mellow and relieved a certain painful tension throughout my body. The danger of liver damage from using too much kava is what would worry me. I'd want my teen to learn less dangerous ways of reducing anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Most kava tea is probably pretty weak. In the South Pacific, kava is either ground and juiced fresh (Vanuatu style --very strong) or mixed from dry powder kava (Fiji style, weak strength). Think of it as vodka or ever clear vs miller lite. Don't let your kid take the capsules, there is no real regulation and it would be easy to abuse this. Goes without saying don't drive on kava. FYI it is a root related to the black pepper family and has tranquilizing, analgesic, and antiseptic properties. Bula bula as the Fijians say.